Sree with her large eyes.’  Thus commanded, the nurse went out and dispersing the crowd brought Damayanti to that graceful terrace.  And struck with wonder, O king, she asked Damayanti, saying, ’Afflicted though thou art with such distress, thou ownest a beautiful form.  Thou shinest like lightning in the midst of the clouds.  Tell me who thou art, and whose.  O thou possessed of celestial splendour, surely, thy beauty is not human, bereft though thou art of ornaments.  And although thou art helpless, yet thou art unmoved under the outrage of these men.’  Hearing these words of the nurse, the daughter of Bhima said, Know that I am a female belonging to the human species and devoted to my husband.  I am a serving woman of good lineage.  I live wherever I like, subsisting on fruit and roots, and whom a companion, and stay where evening overtaketh me.  My husband is the owner of countless virtues and was ever devoted to me.  And I also, on my part, was deeply attached to him, following him like his shadow.  It chanced that once he became desperately engaged at dice.  Defeated at dice, he came along into the forest.  I accompanied my husband into the woods, comforting the hero clad in a single piece of cloth and maniac-like and overwhelmed with calamity.  Once on a time for some cause, that hero, afflicted with hunger and thirst and grief, was forced to abandon that sole piece of covering in the forest.  Destitute of garment and maniac-like and deprived of his senses as he was, I followed him, myself in a single garment.  Following him, I did not sleep for nights together.  Thus passed many days, until at last while I was sleeping, he cut off half of my cloth, and forsook me who had done him no wrong.  I am seeking my husband but unable to find him who is of hue like the filaments of the lotus, without being able to cast my eyes on that delight of my heart, that dear lord who owneth my heart and resembleth the celestials in mien, day and night do I burn in grief.”

“Unto Bhima’s daughter thus lamenting with tearful eyes, and afflicted and speaking in accents choked in grief, the queen-mother herself said, ’O blessed damsel, do thou stay with me.  I am well pleased with thee.  O fair lady, my men shall search for thy husband.  Or, perhaps he may come here of his own accord in course of his wanderings.  And, O beautiful lady, residing here thou wilt regain thy (lost) lord.’  Hearing these words of the queen mother, Damayanti replied, ’O mother of heroes, I may stay with thee on certain conditions.  I shall not eat the leavings on any dish, nor shall I wash anybody’s feet, nor shall I have to speak with other men.  And if anybody shall seek me (as a wife or mistress) he should be liable to punishment at thy hands.  And, further, should he solicit me over and over again, that wicked one should be punished with death.  This is the vow I have made.  I intend to have an interview with those Brahmanas that will set out to search for my husband.  If thou canst do all this, I shall certainly live with thee.  If it is otherwise, I cannot find it in my heart to reside with thee.’  The queen-mother answered her with a glad heart, saying, ’I will do all this.  Thou hast done well in adopting such a vow!’”