DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0436
352 INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
It chanced that the sorrowing woman came nigh to
the royal palace. The mother of the king looked forth
from a window, and beheld her and said: "Hasten, and
bid this poor wanderer to enter. Although stricken and
half-clothed she hath, methinks, the beauty of Indra's
long-eyed queen. Let her have refuge from those staring
men."
Damayanti was then led berore the queen mother, who
spoke gently, saying: "Although bowed down with grief,
thou art beautiful of form. Thou fearest not anyone.
Who art thou so well protected by thine own chastity?"
Bhima's daughter wept, lamenting her fate, and related
all that had befallen her, but did not reveal who she was.
Then the queen mother said: "Dwell thou herewith me,
and our servants shall go in quest of thy husband."
Damayanti said: " O mother of heroes, if I abide here
with thee I must eat not of food remnants, nor do menial
service, nor can I hold converse with any man save the
holy Brahmans who promise to search for my husband."
The royal lady made answer: "As thou desireth, so
let it be." Then she spake to Sunanda, her daughter,
saying: "This lady will be to thee a handmaiden and a
friend. She is of thine own age and thy worthy peer.
Be happy together."
At these words the Princess Sunanda was made glad,
and she led the strange woman unto her own abode,
where sat all her virgin handmaidens.
There Damayanti dwelt for a time, waiting for hei
lost husband.
It chanced that the sorrowing woman came nigh to
the royal palace. The mother of the king looked forth
from a window, and beheld her and said: "Hasten, and
bid this poor wanderer to enter. Although stricken and
half-clothed she hath, methinks, the beauty of Indra's
long-eyed queen. Let her have refuge from those staring
men."
Damayanti was then led berore the queen mother, who
spoke gently, saying: "Although bowed down with grief,
thou art beautiful of form. Thou fearest not anyone.
Who art thou so well protected by thine own chastity?"
Bhima's daughter wept, lamenting her fate, and related
all that had befallen her, but did not reveal who she was.
Then the queen mother said: "Dwell thou herewith me,
and our servants shall go in quest of thy husband."
Damayanti said: " O mother of heroes, if I abide here
with thee I must eat not of food remnants, nor do menial
service, nor can I hold converse with any man save the
holy Brahmans who promise to search for my husband."
The royal lady made answer: "As thou desireth, so
let it be." Then she spake to Sunanda, her daughter,
saying: "This lady will be to thee a handmaiden and a
friend. She is of thine own age and thy worthy peer.
Be happy together."
At these words the Princess Sunanda was made glad,
and she led the strange woman unto her own abode,
where sat all her virgin handmaidens.
There Damayanti dwelt for a time, waiting for hei
lost husband.