Thus remembering Damayanti--did Nishadha's king unknown, Long within that dwelling sojourn--in the palace of the king. 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[109]--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.[110] 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.-- SUDEVA _spake_. "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;[111] Like the moonlight in its fulness--the desire of all the world. From Vidarbha's pleasant waters--her by cruel fate plucked up, [112]Like a lotus flower uprooted--with the mire and dirt around: Like the pallid night, when Rahu[113]--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[114]--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,