ough the long and trackless wood,
Ever seeking for my husband--Nala, skilful in the fight.
Mighty in the use of weapons--wander desolate and sad.
Tell me, to this pleasant sojourn--sacred to these holy men,
Hath he come, the royal Nala?--hath Nishadha's monarch come?
For whose sake through ways all trackless--terrible, have I set forth,
In this drear, appalling forest--where the lynx and tiger range,
If I see not noble Nala--ere few days, few nights are o'er,
I to happiness will join me--from this mortal frame set free.
Reft of him, my princely husband--what have I to do with life--
How endure existence longer--for my husband thus distressed."
To the lady thus complaining--lonely in the savage wood,
Answered thus those holy hermits--spake the gifted seers the truth:--
"There will be a time hereafter--beautiful, the time will come,
Through devotion now we see him[88]--and thou too wilt see him soon;
That good monarch of Nishadha--Nala, slayer of his foes;
That dispenser of strict justice--Bhima's daughter! free from grief,
From all sin released, thou'lt see him--glittering in his royal gems,
Governing that noble city--o'er his enemies supreme.
To his foemen causing terror--to his friends allaying grief,
Thou, oh noble, shalt thy husband--see, that king of noble race."
To the much-loved wife of Nala--to the princess speaking thus,
Vanished then those holy hermits--with their sacred fires, their cells.
As she gazed upon the wonder--wrapt in mute amaze she stood;
Damayanti, fair-limbed princess--wife of Virasena's son;
"Have I only seen a vision--what hath been this wondrous chance?
Where are all those holy hermits--where the circle of their cells?
Where that pure and pleasant river--haunted by the dipping birds?
Where those trees with grateful umbrage--with their pendant fruits and
flowers?"
Long within her heart she pondered--Damayanti with sweet smile,
For her lord, to grief abandoned--miserable, pale of hue;
To another region passed she--there with voice by weeping choked,
Mourns she, till with eyes o'erflowing--an Asoca tree she saw.
Best of trees, the Asoca blooming[89]--in the forest she approached,
Gemmed all o'er with glowing fruitage--vocal with the songs of birds.
"Ah, behold amid the forest--flourishes this happy tree,
With its leafy garlands radiant--as the jo