lord.  Truly do I tell thee this.’  The king, who had come as the messenger of the gods, replied unto the trembling Damayanti standing with folded hands, ’O amiable one, do as thou pleasest.  Having given my pledge, O blessed one, unto the gods in especial, how can I, having come on other’s mission, dare seek my own interest?  If seeking my own interest consists with virtue, I will seek it, and do thou also, O beauteous one, act accordingly.’  Then Damayanti of luminous smiles slowly spake unto king Nala, in words choked with tears, ’O lord of men I see a blameless way, by which no sin whatever will attach unto thee.  O king, do thou, O foremost of men, come to the Swayamvara in company with all the gods headed by Indra.  There, O Monarch, in the presence of the Lokapalas I will, O tiger among men, choose thee—­at which no blame will be thine.’  Thus addressed, O monarch, by the daughter of Vidarbha, king Nala returned to where the gods were staying together.  And beholding him approach those great gods, the Lokapalas, eagerly asked him about all that had happened saying, ’Hast thou, O king, seen Damayanti of sweet smiles?  What hath she said unto us all?  O sinless monarch, tell us everything.’  Nala answered, ’Commanded by you I entered Damayanti’s palace furnished with lofty portals guarded by veteran warders bearing wands.  And as I entered, no one perceived me, by virtue of your power, except the princess.  And I saw her hand-maids, and they also saw me.  And, O exalted celestials, seeing me, they were filled with wonder.  And as I spake unto her of you, the fair-faced maiden, her will fixed on me, O ye best of the gods, chose me (for her spouse).’  And the maiden said, ’Let the gods, O tiger among men, come with thee to the Swayamvara, I will in their presence, choose thee.  At this, O thou of mighty arms, no blame will attach to thee.’  ’This is all, ye gods, that took place, as I have said.  Finally, everything rests with you, ye foremost of celestials.’”

SECTION LVII

“Vrihadaswa continued, ’Then at the sacred hour of the holy lunar day of the auspicious season, king Bhima summoned the kings to the Swayamvara.  And hearing of it, all the lords of earth smit with love speedily came thither, desirous of (possessing) Damayanti.  And the monarchs entered the amphitheatre decorated with golden pillars and a lofty portal arch, like mighty lions entering the mountain wilds.  And those lords of earth decked with fragrant garlands and polished ear-rings hung with jewels seated themselves on their several seats.  And that sacred assembly of Kings, graced by those tigers among men, resembled the Bhogavati swarming with the Nagas, or a mountain cavern with tigers.  And their arms were robust, and resembling iron maces, and well-shaped, and graceful, and looking like five-headed snakes.  And graced with beautiful locks and fine noses and eyes and brows, the countenance of the kings shone like stars in the