BOOK XVI.

Nala thus bereft of kingdom — with his wife to slavery sunk,

Forth king Bhima sent the Brahmins — Nala through the world to seek.

Thus the royal Bhima charged them — with abundant wealth supplied:—

“Go ye now and seek king Nala — Damayanti seek, my child:

And, achieved this weighty business — found Nishadha's royal lord,

Whosoe'er shall hither bring them — shall a thousand kine receive;

And a royal grant for maintenance— of a village like a town.

If nor hither Damayanti — nor king Nala may be brought,

Know we where they are, rich guerdon — still we give, ten hundred kine.”

Thus addressed, the joyful Brahmins — went to every clime of earth,

Through the cities, through the kingdoms — seeking Nala and his queen:

Nala, or king Bhima's daughter — in no place might they behold.

Then a Brahmin, named Sudeva — came to pleasant Chedi-pur;

There within the kingly palace — he Vidarbha's daughter saw,

Standing with the fair Sunanda — on a royal holiday.

With her beauty once so peerless — worthy now of little praise,

Like the sun-light feebly shining — through the dimness of a cloud.

Gazing on the large-eyed princess — dull in look, and wasted still,

Lo, he thought, king Bhima's daughter — pondering thus within his mind.—

“Even as once I wont to see her — such is yonder woman's form,

I my work have done, beholding — like the goddess world-adored,

Like the full moon, darkly beauteous — with her fair and swelling breasts,

Her, the queen, that with her brightness — makes each clime devoid of gloom,

With her lotus eyes expanding — like Manmatha's queen divine;

Like the moonlight in its fulness — the desire of all the world.

From Vidarbha's pleasant waters — her by cruel fate plucked up,

Like a lotus flower uprooted — with the mire and dirt around:

Like the pallid night, when Rahu— swallows up the darkened moon:

For her husband wan with sorrow — like a gentle stream dried up;

Like a pool, where droops the lotus — whence the affrighted birds have fled,

By the elephant's proboscis — in its quiet depths disturbed.

Tender, soft-limbed, in a palace — fit, of precious stones, to dwell.

Like the lotus stem, uprooted — parched and withered by the sun.

Fair in form, in soul as generous — worthy of all bliss, unbless'd,

Like the young moon's slender crescent — in the heavens by dark clouds veiled.

Widowed now of all love's pleasures — of her noble kin despoiled,

Wretched, bearing life, her husband — in her hope again to see.

To the unadorned, a husband— is the chiefest ornament;

Of her husband if forsaken — she in splendour is not bright.

Difficult must be the trial — does king Nala, reft of her,

Still retain his wretched body — nor with sorrow pine away?

Her with her dark flowing tresses — with her long and lotus eyes,

Worthy of all joy, thus joyless — as I see, my soul is wrung.

To the furthest shore of sorrow — when will pass this beauteous queen?

To her husband reunited — as the moon's brideto the moon?

Her recovering shall king Nala — to his happiness return,

King, albeit despoiled of kingdom — he his realm shall reassume;

In their age and virtues equal — equal in their noble race,

He alone of her is worthy — worthy she alone of him.

Me beseems it of that peerless — of that brave and prudent king,

To console the loyal consort — pining for her husband's sight.

Her will I address with comfort — with her moonlike glowing face.

Her with woe once unacquainted — woful now and lost in thought.”

Thus when he had gazed and noted — all her marks, her features well,

To the daughter of king Bhima — thus the sage Sudeva spake:

“I am named Sudeva, lady — I, thy brother's chosen friend,

By king Bhima's royal mandate — hither come in search of thee.

Well thy sire, thy royal mother — well thy noble brethren fare,

And well fare those little infants — well and happy are they both.

For thy sake thy countless kindred — sit as though of sense bereft:

Seeking thee a hundred Brahmins — now are wandering o'er the earth.”

She no sooner knew Sudeva — Damayanti, of her kin,

Many a question asked in order — and of every friend beloved.

And the daughter of Vidarbha — freely wept, so sudden thus

On Sudeva, best of Brahmins — gazing, on her brother's friend.

Her beheld the young Sunanda — weeping, wasted with distress,

As she thus her secret converse — with the wise Sudeva held.

Thus she spake unto her mother — “Lo, how fast our handmaid weeps,

Since her meeting with the Brahmin — who she is, thou now may'st know.”

Forth the king of Chedi's mother — from the inner chamber went,

And she passed where with the Brahmin — that mysterious woman stood.

Them the mother queen Sudeva — bade before her presence stand;

And she asked, “Whose wife, whose daughter — may this noble stranger be?

From her kindred how dissevered — from her husband, the soft-eyed?

Is she known to thee, O Brahmin — canst thou tell from whence she came?

This I fain would hear, and clearly — all her strange and wonderous tale.

Tell me all that hath befallen — to this heaven-formed, plainly tell.”

Best of Brahmins, thus Sudeva — by the mother queen addressed,

All the truth of Damayanti — sitting at his ease, declared.