Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/82

76 grieve for you deeply. And hundreds of Brahmans are travelling over all India to find out your hiding place." Damayanti in reply asked him eagerly for news of her parents and her children. And when she heard of them, her sorrow mastered her and she burst into tears.

Queen Sunanda seeing her weep rose hastily and told the king's mother. Then the queen mother ordered Sudeva to her presence. "Tell me, O Brahman," she said, "who this lady is and how you came to know her." "O mother of heroes," answered the Brahman, "she is Damayanti daughter of Bhima, king of Vidarbha, and wife of Nala, king of the Nishadas. But her husband lost his kingdom to his brother at dice, and taking Damayanti with him fled from his country. I am one of several hundred Brahmans sent by King Bhima to search for Damayanti, and lo! I have found her in your palace. She has a tiny mole between her eyebrows, and if you send for her you will see it and know that she is Damayanti." The queen mother sent for Damayanti, and finding the mole between her eyebrows^embraced her. "Dear girl," she said, "you are my sister's daughter. Your mother and I were the daughters of Sudaman, king of the Dasharnas. Your mother was wedded to King Bhima and I to King Virabahu. But when you were born I was present and I remember well the tiny mole between your eyebrows. For you have had it from the day of your birth. Therefore let this palace be your home for ever."

But a fierce desire in Damayanti's heart was kindled to see her children once again. Bowing low before the queen mother she said, "I could never indeed have a happier home than this. But my heart aches to see my children. Therefore give me a chariot, so that I may go back again to my father's city." "So be it," said the