And, learning them, he sped, and thither came-- That Bráhmana Sudêva--and he spake To Maharaja Rituparna so. Now when the Raja Rituparna heard Sudêva's words, quoth he to Vahûka Full pleasantly: "Much mind I have to go Where Damayanti holds Swayamvara, If to Vidarbha, in a single day, Thou deemest we might drive, my charioteer!" Of Nala, by his Raja thus addressed, Torn was the heart with anguish; for he thought:-- "Can Damayanti purpose this? Could grief So change her? Is it not some fine device For my sake schemed? Or doth my Princess seek, All holy as she was, this guilty joy, Being so wronged of me, her rash weak lord? Frail is a woman's heart, and my fault great! Thus might she do it, being far from home, Bereft of friends, desolate with long woes Of love for me--my slender-waisted one! Yet no, no, no! she would not--she that is My children's mother! Be it false or true, Best shall I know in going; therefore now The will of Rituparna must I serve." Thus pondering in his mind, the troubled Prince With joined palms meekly to his master said:-- "I shall thy hest accomplish! I can drive In one day, Raja, to Vidarbha's gates." Then in the royal stables--steed by steed, Stallions and mares, Vahûka scanned them all, By Rituparna prayed quickly to choose. Slowly he picked four coursers, under-fleshed, But big of bone and sinew; fetlocked well For journeying; high-bred, heavy-framed; of blood To match the best, yet gentle; blemish-free; Broad in the jaw, with scarlet nostrils spread; Bearing the _Avarthas_, the ten true marks-- Reared on the banks of Indus, swift as wind. Which, when the Raja looked upon, he cried, Half-wrathful: "What thing thinkest thou to do? Wilt thou betray me? How should sorry beasts, Lean-ribbed and ragged, take us all that way, The long road we must swiftly travel hence?" Vahûka answered: "See on all these four The ten sure marks: one curl upon each crest, Two on the cheeks, two upon either flank, Two on the breast, and on each crupper one.[26] These to Vidarbha--doubt it not--will go; Yet, Raja, if thou wilt have others, speak; And I shall yoke them." Rituparna said:-- "I know thou hast deep skill in stable-craft; Yoke therefore such four coursers as thou wilt, But quickly!" Thus those horses, two by two, High-mettled, spare, and strong, Prince Nala put Under the bars; and when the car was hitched, And eagerly the Raja made to mount, At sign the coursers bent their knees, and lay Along the earth. Then Nala (O my King!), With kindly voice cheering the gaunt bright steeds, Loosed them, and grasped the reins, and bade ascend Varshneya: so he started, headlong, forth. At cry of Vahûka the four steeds sprung