ye this without delay.
Whether he be of the wealthy--whether of the poor he be;
Be he covetous of riches--learn ye all he would desire."
Thus addressed, went forth the Brahmins--to the realms on every side,
Seeking out the royal Nala--in his dark concealed distress.
They through royal cities, hamlets--pastoral dwellings, hermits' cells,
Nala every-where went seeking--yet those Brahmins found him not.
All in every part went speaking--in the language they were taught;
In the words of Damayanti--spake they in the ears of men.

BOOK XVIII.

Long the time that passed, a Brahmin--wise Parnada was his name,
Home returning to the city--thus to Bhima's daughter spake:
"Damayanti! royal Nala--as I sought Nishadha's king,
Came I to Ayodhya's city--the Bhangasuri's abode.
Stood before me, eager listening--to the words thou bad'st us speak,
He, the prosperous Rituparna--all excelling! such his name.
Thus as spake I, answered nothing--Rituparna, king of men;
Nor of all that full assemblage--more than once addressed by me.
By the king dismissed, when sate I--in a solitary place,
One of Rituparna's household--Vahuca, his name, drew near,
Charioteer of that great raja--with short arms and all deformed,
Skilled to drive the rapid chariot--skilled the viands to prepare.
He, when much he'd groaned in anguish--and had wept again, again,
First his courteous salutation--made, then spake in words like these:
Even in the extreme of misery--noble women still preserve,
Over their ownselves the mastery--by their virtues winning heaven;
Of their faithless lords abandoned--anger feel not even then.
In the breastplate of their virtue--noble women live unharmed.
By the wretched, by the senseless--by the lost to every joy,
She by such a lord forsaken--yet to anger will not yield.
Against him his sustenance seeking--of his robe by birds despoiled,
Him consumed with utmost misery--still no wrath the dark-hued feels;
Treated well, or ill entreated--when her husband she beholds,
Spoiled of bliss, bereft of kingdom--famine-wasted, worn with woe.
Having heard the stranger's language--hither hasted I to come.
Thou hast heard, be thine the judgment--to the king relate thou all."
To Parnada having listened--with her eyes o'erflowed with tears,
Secretly went Damayanti--and her mother thus addressed:
"Let n