Chapter XIX: Book XVIII

Long the time that passed, a Brahmin--wise Parnada was his name,
Home returning to the city--thus to Bhima's daughter spake:
"Damayanti! royal Nala--as I sought Nishadha's king,
Came I to Ayodhya's city--the Bhangasuri's abode.
Stood before me, eager listening--to the words thou bad'st us speak,
He, the prosperous Rituparna--all excelling! such his name.
Thus as spake I, answered nothing--Rituparna, king of men;
Nor of all that full assemblage--more than once addressed by me.
By the king dismissed, when sate I--in a solitary place,
One of Rituparna's household--Vahuca, his name, drew near,
Charioteer of that great raja--with short arms and all deformed,
Skilled to drive the rapid chariot--skilled the viands to prepare.
He, when much he'd groaned in anguish--and had wept again, again,
First his courteous salutation--made, then spake in words like these:
Even in the extreme of misery--noble women still preserve,
Over their ownselves the mastery--by their virtues winning heaven;
Of their faithless lords abandoned--anger feel not even then.
In the breastplate of their virtue--noble women live unharmed.
By the wretched, by the senseless--by the lost to every joy,
She by such a lord forsaken--yet to anger will not yield.
Against him his sustenance seeking--of his robe by birds despoiled,
Him consumed with utmost misery--still no wrath the dark-hued feels;
Treated well, or ill entreated--when her husband she beholds,
Spoiled of bliss, bereft of kingdom--famine-wasted, worn with woe.
Having heard the stranger's language--hither hasted I to come.
Thou hast heard, be thine the judgment--to the king relate thou all."
To Parnada having listened--with her eyes o'erflowed with tears,
Secretly went Damayanti--and her mother thus addressed:
"Let not what I speak to Bhima--O my mother, be made known--
In thy presence to Sudeva--best of Brahmins, I would speak.
Let not this my secret counsel--to king Bhima be disclosed;
This the object we must compass--if thy daughter thou wouldst please,
As myself was to my kindred--swiftly by Sudeva brought,
With the same good fortune swiftly--may Sudeva part from hence,
Home to bring the royal Nala--mother, to Ayodhya's town."
Resting from his toil, Parnada--of the Brahmin race the best,
Did the daughter of Vidarbha--honour, and with wealth reward.
"Brahmin! home if come my Nala--richer guerdon will I give;
Much hast thou achieved, and wisely--so as none but thou has done.
That again with my lost husband--noblest Brahmin, I may meet."
Thus addressed, his grateful homage--and his benedictions paid,
Having thus achieved his mission--home the wise Parnada went.
Then accosting good Sudeva--Damayanti thus began,
And before her mother's presence--in her pain and grief she spake:
"Go, Sudeva, to the city--where Ayodhya's raja dwells,
Speak thou thus to Rituparna--Come, as of thine own accord.
Once again her Swayembara--does king Bhima's daughter hold;
Damayanti, thither hasten--all the kings and sons of kings;
Closely now the time is reckoned--when to-morrow's dawn appears;
If that thou would'st win the Princess--speed thou, tamer of thy foes.
When the sun is in his rising--she a second lord will choose:
Whether lives or is not living--royal Nala, no one knows."
Thus, as he received his mission--hastening to the king, he spake,
To the royal Rituparna--spake Sudeva, in these words.