Identifier: indianmythlegend00inmack (find matches)
Title: Indian myth and legend
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Mackenzie, Donald Alexander, 1873-1936
Subjects: Hindu mythology
Publisher: London, Gresham
Contributing Library: Indiana University
Digitizing Sponsor: Indiana University

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long they began to pursue them amongthe trees. Then of a sudden the bird which Damayantifollowed spoke to her in human language and said: Damayanti, hear! The noble king Nala dwells inNishadha. Comely is he as a god, nor can his equal befound in the world. Thou art the pearl of women, andhe is the pride of men. If thou wert wed to him, thenwould perfect beauty and noble birth be united. Blessedindeed would be the union of the peerless with the peer-less. Wondering, the maiden listened while the bird con-versed thus strangely, and then she said: Speak alsounto Nala in this manner. The swan made answer: So be It, and thereupontook flight with the others to Nishadha, where it relatedunto Nala all that had taken place. Ever after that day Damayanti ceased to live for her-self alone; all her thoughts were given up to Nala. Shedesired most to sit apart in silent reverie; the bloomfaded from her cheeks, and she grew dejected and melan-choly. Indeed, the maiden yielded up her soul to sorrow,
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DAMAYANTI AND THE SWANFrom the painting hy Jtarivick Goble NALA AND DAMAYANTl 331 and much she sighed in secret, gazing upward and medi-tating, for love had taken possession of her heart; nordid she find pleasure in sleep, or in gentle converse, or inmerry banquets. In the midst of her broken slumbers shewas wont to weep and cry out: Oh, woe is me! The virgin handmaidens read her heart, and theywent before her sire and told that his gentle daughterwas pining for the monarch among men. When Bhimaheard this, he pondered deeply what should be done forDamayanti, and he perceived that her time for thesway am vara ^ had come. So he summoned all thehigh-born rajahs upon earth, saying: O heroes of theworld, come ye to the swayamvara. Then did the whole land resound with the tramplingof elephants and horses and the rumbling of chariots,for the stately princes, followed by their armies, swarmedtowards the court of Bhima. By the strong lord of Vid-arbha were they welcomed with honour, and they s

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