Brihadashva said : After a very long time, a Brahmana, Parnada by name, came back to the city of the king of the Vidharbhas and spoke to the daughter of king Bhima these words:

“O Damayanti, searching Nala, the king of the Nishadhas, at last I went to the city of the Ayodhya and presented myself to Vangasuri.

O fair-complexioned one, O best of women, I recited the very words of yours before that illustrious Rituparna. Hearing these words, which I had repeatedly uttered to them, neither king Rituparna, nor any one of his courtiers, said anything in reply.

When I was dismissed by the king, some person in the service of Rituparna, Bahuka by name, told me in private.

That Bahuka is the charioteer of that foremost of monarchs. He is also possessed of extraordinary appearance and short arms; and is skilled in driving with speed and also in cooking sweet food.

Sighing heavily and frequently and weeping incessantly, he asked about my welfare; and then addressed me with these words:

'Although fallen into great calamity, the chaste women guard themselves by their own efforts; and thus undoubtedly obtain heaven (heavenly blessings).

Again, chaste women, even if they be forsaken by their husbands, do never become angry (with them); rather they hold their lives shielded by virtuous behaviours.

She should not be angry, forsaken as she was by a person, who himself was foolish, overtaken by distress and also destitute of all happiness.

It behoves the lady of unchanging youth not to be angry with a person, who was deprived to his cloth by a bird while trying for sustenance (in the forest); and also who was burning with woe.

Also, it behoves the lady, treated fairly or unfairly, not to be angry with her husband, seeing him in that miserable condition, in which he was deprived of both wealth and kingdom and oppressed with hunger and overwhelmed with distress.

Hearing these words of his, I instantly came here. Do you, therefore, inform the king all about these words, which you have heard.”

O monarch, hearing these words of Parnada, Damayanti, with her eyes filled with tears, repaired to her mother and said to her these words,

"O mother, let not king Bhima, by any means, know my object. I like to employ that foremost of the Brahmanas, Sudeva, in your presence. Should you desire my welfare, do you act in such a manner that king Bhima will not come to know this purpose of mine.

Let Sudeva go at once, with the performance of the same auspicious ceremonies, by the doing of which I was brought to my relatives instantly by him. O mother, let him go hence to the city of Ayodhya in order to bring Nala here."

Thereupon the beauteous lady, the daughter of the king of the Vidharbhas, worshipped, with the bestowal of immense riches, the foremost of the regenerate ones, who has now taken perfect rest. And she said to him, “O Brahmana, I will, again, give you much wealth at the arrival of Nala here.

O foremost of the regenerate ones, indeed you have done much for me, which none else will do; and for this reason only that I will soon regain my husband.”

Thus addressed by her, that high-souled Brahmana solaced Damayanti by the expression of auspicious benedictions, and then he returned home, thinking himself successful in his endeavours.

Thereupon, O Yudhishthira, Damayanti summoned Sudeva; and overwhelmed with grief and calamity, she addressed him in the presence of her mother thus,

“O Sudeva, like a bird which falls straight, do you at once depart to the city of Ayodhya and tell king Ritupara, Who dwells in it, these words:

'Damayanti, the daughter of king Bhima, will again hold the Svayamvara, to which all the kings and princes are rushing from all directions.

Calculating the time, this will beheld tomorrow. So, if possible, O chastiser of foes, go at once.

At the next sun-rise she will accept a second husband; as it is not known whether heroic Nala is still living or otherwise.'

O monarch, thus addressed by her, the Brahmana, Sudeva by name, started at once. He spoke to king Rituparna what he was ordered by her to do.