Borne aloft, and well provided--with all raiment, drink, and food. Thus the princess to Vidarbha--after brief delay returned. Her her whole assembled kindred--welcomed home with pride and joy, All in health she found her kinsmen-and that lovely infant pair, With her mother, with her father--and her sister troop of friends. To the gods she paid her worship--to the Brahmins in her joy; So the queenly Damayanti--all in noblest guise performed. And her royal sire Sudeva--with the thousand kine made glad, Joyous to behold his daughter,--with a village and much wealth. There, when in her father's palace--she the quiet night had passed, In these words the noble lady--to her mother gan to speak: "If in life thou would'st preserve me--mother, hear the truth I speak; Home to bring the hero Nala--be it now thy chiefest toil." Thus addressed by Damayanti--very sorrowful the queen Clouded all her face with weeping--not a word in answer spake. But the princess, thus afflicted--when the female train beheld, "Woe! oh woe!" they shrieked together--all in pitying sadness wept. To the mighty raja Bhima--did the queen that speech relate. "'Damayanti, Lo thy daughter--for her husband sits and mourns.' Breaking through all bashful silence--thus, oh king, to me she spake: 'Be it now thy servants' business--to find out the king of men.'" Urged by her the king his Brahmins--to his will obedient all, Sent around to every region--"Be your care the king to find." Then those Brahmins at the mandate--of Vidarbha's royal lord, First drew near to Damayanti--"Lo, now set we forth," they said. Then to them spake Bhima's daughter--"In all realms be this your speech, Wheresoever men assemble--this repeat again, again: Whither went'st thou then, oh gamester!--half my garment severing off, Leaving me within the forest--all forsaken, thy beloved. Even as thou commandedst, sits she--sadly waiting thy return. Parched with sorrow sits that woman--in her scant half garment glad. Oh to her thus ever weeping--in the extreme of her distress, Grant thy pity, noble hero--answer to her earnest prayer. Be this also said, to move him--to compassionate my state, (By the wind within the forest--fanned, intensely burns the fire).[117] Ever by her consort cherished--and sustained the wife should be. Why hast thou forgot that maxim--thou in every duty skilled. Thou wert ever called the generous--thou the gentle and the wise. Art thou now estranged from pity--through my sad injurious fate. Prince of men, O grant thy pity--grant it, lord of men, to me; 'Mercy is the chief of duties,'--oft from thine own lips I've heard. Thus as ye are ever speaking--should there any one reply, Mark him well, lest he be Nala--who he is, and where he dwells. He who to this speech hath listened--and hath thus his answer made,