ous one thought within herself, ‘Oh, how shall I distinguish the celestials, and how discern the royal Nala?’ And thinking thus, the
daughter of Vidarbha became filled with grief. And, O Bharata,
recollecting the marks belonging to the celestials, of which she had
heard, she thought, ‘Those attributes of the celestials, of which I have
heard from the aged, do not pertain to any of these deities present
here upon the earth.’ And revolving the matter long in her mind, and
reflecting upon it repeatedly, she decided upon seeking the protection
of the gods themselves. And bowing down unto them with mind and
speech, with folded hands, she addressed them trembling, ‘Since I heard
the speech of the swans, I chose the king of the Nishadhas as my lord.
For the sake of truth, O, let the gods reveal him to me. And as in
thought or word I have never swerved from him, O, let the gods, for
the sake of that truth, reveal him to me. And as the gods themselves
have destined the ruler of the Nishadhas to be my lord, O, let them,
for the sake of that truth, reveal him to me. And as it is for paying
homage unto Nala that I have adopted this vow, for the sake of that
truth, O, let the gods reveal him unto, me. O, let the exalted guardians
of the worlds assume their own proper forms, so that I may know the
righteous king.’ Hearing these piteous words of Damayanti, and ascertaining her fixed resolve, and fervent love for the king of Nishadhas,
the purity of her heart and her inclination and regard and affection for
Nala, the gods did as they had been adjured, and assumed their respective attributes as best they could. And thereupon she beheld the
celestials unmoistened with perspiration, with winkless eyes, and unfading garlands, unstained with dust, and staying without touching the
ground. And Naishadha stood revealed to his shadow, his fading garlands, himself stained with dust and sweat, resting on the ground with
winking eyes. And, O Bharata, discerning the gods and the virtuous
Nala, the daughter of Bhima chose Naishadha according to her truth.
And the large-eyed damsel then bashfully caught the hem of his garment and placed round his neck a floral wreath of exceeding grace. And
when that fair-complexioned maiden had thus chosen Nala for her
husband, the kings suddenly broke out into exclamations of Oh! and
Alas! And, O Bharata, the gods and the great Rishis in wonder cried
Excellent | Excellent !, applauding the king the while. And, O Kauravya,
the royal son of Virasena, with heart filled with gladness, comforted the
beauteous Damayanti, saying, ‘Since thou, O blessed one, hast chosen a
mortal in the presence of the celestials, know me for a husband even
obedient to thy command. And, O thou of sweet smiles, truly do 1
tell thee this that as long as life continueth in this body of mine, I will
remain thine and thine alone. Damayanti also, with folded hands
paid homage unto Nala in words of like import. And the happy pair
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