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 bride[115] to 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. BOOK XVII.