ng--at full speed then set he forth.
Urged by Vahuca, those coursers--to the utmost of their speed,
All at once in th' air sprung upward--as the driver to unseat.
Then, as he beheld those horses--bearing him as fleet as wind,
Did the monarch of Ayodhya--in his silent wonder sit.
When the rattling of the chariot--when the guiding of the reins,
When of Vahuca the science--saw he, thus Varshneya thought:
"Is it Matali,[121] the chariot--of the king of heaven that drives?
Lo, in Vahuca each virtue--of that godlike charioteer!
Is it Salihotra skilful--in the race, the strength of steeds,
That hath ta'en a human body--thus all-glorious to behold?
Is't, or can it be, king Nala--conqueror of his foemen's realms?
Is the lord of men before us?"--thus within himself he thought.
"If the skill possessed by Nala--Vahuca possesseth too,
Lo, of Vahuca the knowledge--and of Nala equal seems;
And of Vahuca and Nala--thus alike the age should be.
If 'tis not the noble Nala--it is one of equal skill.
Mighty ones, disguised, are wandering--in the precincts of this earth.
They, divine by inborn nature--but in earthly forms concealed.
His deformity of body--that my judgment still confounds;
Yet that proof alone is wanting--what shall then my judgment be?
In their age they still are equal--though unlike that form misshaped,
Nala gifted with all virtues--Vahuca I needs must deem."
Thus the charioteer Varshneya--sate debating in his mind;
Much, and much again he pondered--in the silence of his thought.
But the royal Rituparna--Vahuca's surpassing skill,
With the charioteer Varshneya--sate admiring, and rejoiced.
In the guiding of the coursers--his attentive hand he watched,
Wondered at his skill, consummate--in consummate joy himself.

BOOK XX.

Over rivers, over mountains--through the forests, over lakes,
Fleetly passed they, rapid gliding--like a bird along the air.
As the chariot swiftly travelled--lo, Bhangasuri the king
Saw his upper garment fallen--from the lofty chariot seat;
Though in urgent haste, no sooner--he his fallen mantle saw,
Than the king exclaimed to Nala--"Pause, and let us take it up:
Check, an instant, mighty-minded!--check thy fiery-footed steeds,
While Varshneya, swift dismounting--bears me back my fallen robe."
Nala answered, "Far behind us--doth thy fallen garme