Chapter XVIII: Book XVII

"In Vidarbha the just monarch--Bhima, in his glory dwells.
Of that king is she the daughter--Damayanti is her name;
And the raja of Nishadha--Nala, Virasena's son,
Of that king is she the consort--Punyasloka named, the Wise.
Him in play his brother worsted--spoiled of realm the king of earth:
He set forth with Damayanti--whither is unknown of men.
For the sake of Damayanti--wander we about the earth;
Till I found yon noble woman--in the palace of your son.
Like to her of mortal women--is there none, her beauty's peer;
In the midst, between her eyebrows--from her birth a lovely mole,
Dark was seen, and like a lotus--that hath vanished from my sight,
Covered over with defilement--like the moon behind a cloud.
This soft mark of perfect beauty--fashioned thus by Brahma's self,
As at change the moon's thin crescent--only dim and faintly gleams.
Yet her beauty is not faded--clouded o'er with toil and mire
Though she be, it shines apparent, like the native unwrought gold.
With that beauteous form yon woman--gifted with that lovely mole,
Instant knew I for the Princess--as the heat betrays the fire."

VRIHADASVA _spake_.

To Sudeva as she listened--uttering thus his strange discourse:
All the dust that mole concealing--young Sunanda washed away.
By the obscuring dust unclouded--shining out that mole appeared;
On the brow of Damayanti--like the unclouded moon in heaven.
Gazing on that mole, Sunanda--and the mother of the king,
Wept as fondly they embraced her--and an instant silent stood.
Then her tears awhile suppressing--thus the royal mother spake:
"Thou art mine own sister's daughter--by that beauteous mole made known;
I, Oh beauteous, and thy mother--of that lofty-minded king,
Are the daughters, king Sudaman--he that in Dasarna[116] reigns;
She was wedded to king Bhima--and to Viravahu I.
In my fathers home, Dasarna--once I saw thee, newly born.
As to me thy father's lineage--is akin, so mine to thee;
Whatsoe'er my power commandeth--Damayanti, all is thine."
To the queen did Damayanti--in the gladness of her heart,
Having bowed in courteous homage--to her mother's sister, speak:
"While unknown I might continue--gladly dwelt I here with thee;
Every want supplied on th' instant--guarded by thy gentle care.
Yet than even this pleasant dwelling--a more pleasant may there be;
Long a banished woman, mother!--give me leave from hence to part,
Thither where my infant children--dwell my tender little ones,
Orphaned of their sire, in sorrow--orphaned, ah, how long of me!
If thou yet wilt grant a favour--o'er all other favours dear,
To Vidarbha would I journey--quick the palanquin command."
"Be it so," her mother's sister--joyful, instant made reply.
Guarded by a mighty army--with th' approval of her son,
Sent the queen, that happy lady--in a palanquin, by men
Borne aloft, and well provided--with all raiment, drink, and food.
Thus the princess to Vidarbha--after brief delay returned.
Her her whole assembled kindred--welcomed home with pride and joy,
All in health she found her kinsmen-and that lovely infant pair,
With her mother, with her father--and her sister troop of friends.
To the gods she paid her worship--to the Brahmins in her joy;
So the queenly Damayanti--all in noblest guise performed.
And her royal sire Sudeva--with the thousand kine made glad,
Joyous to behold his daughter,--with a village and much wealth.
There, when in her father's palace--she the quiet night had passed,
In these words the noble lady--to her mother gan to speak:
"If in life thou would'st preserve me--mother, hear the truth I speak;
Home to bring the hero Nala--be it now thy chiefest toil."
Thus addressed by Damayanti--very sorrowful the queen
Clouded all her face with weeping--not a word in answer spake.
But the princess, thus afflicted--when the female train beheld,
"Woe! oh woe!" they shrieked together--all in pitying sadness wept.
To the mighty raja Bhima--did the queen that speech relate.
"'Damayanti, Lo thy daughter--for her husband sits and mourns.'
Breaking through all bashful silence--thus, oh king, to me she spake:
'Be it now thy servants' business--to find out the king of men.'"
Urged by her the king his Brahmins--to his will obedient all,
Sent around to every region--"Be your care the king to find."
Then those Brahmins at the mandate--of Vidarbha's royal lord,
First drew near to Damayanti--"Lo, now set we forth," they said.
Then to them spake Bhima's daughter--"In all realms be this your speech,
Wheresoever men assemble--this repeat again, again:
Whither went'st thou then, oh gamester!--half my garment severing off,
Leaving me within the forest--all forsaken, thy beloved.
Even as thou commandedst, sits she--sadly waiting thy return.
Parched with sorrow sits that woman--in her scant half garment glad.
Oh to her thus ever weeping--in the extreme of her distress,
Grant thy pity, noble hero--answer to her earnest prayer.
Be this also said, to move him--to compassionate my state,
(By the wind within the forest--fanned, intensely burns the fire).[117]
Ever by her consort cherished--and sustained the wife should be.
Why hast thou forgot that maxim--thou in every duty skilled.
Thou wert ever called the generous--thou the gentle and the wise.
Art thou now estranged from pity--through my sad injurious fate.
Prince of men, O grant thy pity--grant it, lord of men, to me;
'Mercy is the chief of duties,'--oft from thine own lips I've heard.
Thus as ye are ever speaking--should there any one reply,
Mark him well, lest he be Nala--who he is, and where he dwells.
He who to this speech hath listened--and hath thus his answer made,
Be his words, O best of Brahmins--treasured and brought home to me,
Lest he haply should discover--that by my command ye speak,
That again ye may approach him--do ye this without delay.
Whether he be of the wealthy--whether of the poor he be;
Be he covetous of riches--learn ye all he would desire."
Thus addressed, went forth the Brahmins--to the realms on every side,
Seeking out the royal Nala--in his dark concealed distress.
They through royal cities, hamlets--pastoral dwellings, hermits' cells,
Nala every-where went seeking--yet those Brahmins found him not.
All in every part went speaking--in the language they were taught;
In the words of Damayanti--spake they in the ears of men.