Many a hill and many a cavern--many a bright and wondrous stream, Saw king Bhima's wandering daughter--as she sought her husband lost. Long she roamed her weary journey--Damayanti with sweet smile, Lo, a caravan of merchants--elephants, and steeds, and cars, And beyond, a pleasant river--with its waters cool and clear. 'Twas a quiet stream, and waveless--girt about with spreading canes; There the cuckoo, there the osprey--there the red-geese clamouring stood; Swarmed the turtles, fish and serpents--there rose many a stately isle. When she saw that numerous concourse--Nala's once all-glorious wife, Entered she, the slender-waisted--in the midst of all the host; Maniac-like in form and feature--and in half a garment clad, Thin and pallid, travel-tainted--matted all her locks with dust. As they all beheld her standing--some in terror fled away; Some stood still in speechless wonder--others raised their voice and cried; Mocked her some with cruel tauntings--others spake reproachful words; Others looked on her with pity--and enquired her state, her name. "Who art thou? whose daughter. Lady--in the forest seek'st thou aught? At thy sight we stand confounded--art thou of our mortal race? Of this wood art thou the goddess?--of this mountain? of that plain? Who art thou, O noble Lady--thee, our refuge, we adore. Art thou sylvan nymph or genius--or celestial nymph divine? Every-way regard our welfare--and protect us, undespised: So our caravan in safety--may pursue its onward way, So ordain it, O illustrious!--that good fortune wait on all." Thus addressed by that assemblage--Damayanti, kingly-born, Answered thus with gentle language--grieving for her husband lost. Of that caravan the leader--and the whole assembled host, Youths and boys, and grey-haired elders--and the guides, thus answered she: "Know me, like yourselves, a mortal--daughter of a king of men, Of another king the consort--seeking for my royal lord; Know, Vidarbha's king, my father--and Nishadha's king, my lord, Nala, is his name, the glorious--him, th' unconquered do I seek; Know ye aught of that good monarch--tell me, quick, of my beloved, Of the tiger hero, Nala--slayer of a host of foes." Of the caravan the captain--thus the lovely-limbed addressed, Suchi was his name, the merchant--"Hear, illustrious queen, my speech; Of this caravan the captain--I, O Lady with sweet smile, Him that bears the name of Nala--nowhere have these eyes beheld. Elephants, and pards, and tigers--lynxes, buffaloes, and bears, See I in this trackless forest--uninhabited by men; Save thyself, of human feature--nought, or human form, I've seen. So may he, the king of Yakshas--Manibhadra, guard us well."[91] To the merchants then she answered--to the leader of the host, "Tell me whither do ye travel!--whither bound your caravan?"