Damayanti Encounters the Caravan and Its Leader
After traveling a long time, Damayanti sees a large caravan climbing along the banks of a river. She approaches it, causing fear and confusion among the men. She explains who she is and asks if they have seen Nala. The caravan leader Shuchi replies that he has not seen Nala and tells her the caravan belongs to King Subahu of Chedi — but her search continues without resolution.
After the ascetics vanished, Damayanti traveled for a long time. Then she saw a large caravan — many elephants, horses and chariots — climbing along the banks of a beautiful river. The water was clear and pure, cool and wide, covered with cane and resounding with the noise of cranes, ospreys and chakravakas. It was full of tortoises, crocodiles and large fish.
She approached the caravan and entered among the people.
She was sorrowful and looked like one demented. She was covered in only half a garment. She was thin, pale and dirty. Her hair was covered with dust. When the men saw her, some were frightened and began to run away. Others cried out. Some laughed at her. Others showed their anger.
But there were some who took pity on her and began to ask questions. "O fortunate one! Who are you and whom do you belong to? What are you looking for in this forest? Are you the goddess of the forest, the mountain or the region? Are you a yakshi, a rakshasi, or a beautiful woman? Comfort us. Protect us."
Damayanti replied to the leader of the caravan, to the merchants young and old, to the children and the guides: "Know me to be a woman. I am the daughter of a king of men. I am the daughter-in-law of a king and the wife of a king. I am yearning to catch sight of my husband. The king of Vidarbha is my father. My husband is Nala, king of Nishadha. If you know about the king, quickly tell me about my beloved Nala."
The leader of the caravan was named Shuchi. He replied, "O fortunate one! I am a merchant and the leader of this caravan. I have not seen a man by the name of Nala. I have only seen this fearful forest frequented by elephants, leopards, buffaloes, tigers, bears and deer. No men inhabit it. May Manibhadra, the king of the yakshas, favour us today."
She asked where the caravan was going. Shuchi replied, "This caravan belongs to Subahu, the truthful king of Chedi. It is going swiftly to that country for the sake of profit."
She had no news of Nala. She had only learned that the caravan was heading to Chedi. Her search continued without resolution. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 358