long tresses, with lovely hips and deep bosom, and face graced with fine teeth and with fine black and large eyes, in her brightness and glory entered that asylum.  And saluting those ascetics grown old in practising austerities, she stood in an attitude of humility.  And the ascetics living in that forest, said, Welcome! And those men of ascetic wealth, paying her due homage, said, “Sit ye down, and tell us what we may do for thee.”  That best of women replied unto them, saying, “Ye sinless and eminently blessed ascetics, is it well with your austerities, and sacrificial fire, and religious observances, and the duties of your own order?  And is it well with the beasts and birds of this asylum?” And they answered, “O beauteous and illustrious lady, prosperity attendeth us in every respect.  But, O thou of faultless limbs, tell us who thou art, and what thou seekest.  Beholding thy beauteous form and thy bright splendour, we have been amazed.  Cheer up and mourn not.  Tell us, O blameless and blessed one, art thou the presiding deity of this forest, or of this mountain, or of this river?” Damayanti replied unto those ascetics, saying, “O Brahmanas, I am not the goddess of this forest, or of this mountain, or of this stream.  O Rishis of ascetic wealth, know that I am a human being.  I will relate my history in detail.  Do ye listen to me.  There is a king—­the mighty ruler of the Vidarbhas—­Bhima by name.  O foremost of regenerate ones, know me to be his daughter.  The wise ruler of the Nishadhas, Nala by name, of great celebrity, heroic, and ever victorious in battle, and learned, is my husband.  Engaged in the worship of the gods, devoted to the twice-born ones, the guardian of the line of the Nishadhas, of mighty energy, possessed of great strength, truthful, conversant with all duties, wise, unwavering in promise, the crusher of foes, devout, serving the gods, graceful, the conqueror of hostile towns, that foremost of kings, Nala by name, equal in splendour unto the lord of celestials, the slayer of foes, possessed of large eyes, and a hue resembling the full moon, is my husband.  The celebrator of great sacrifices, versed in the Vedas and their branches, the destroyer of enemies in battle, and like unto the sun and the moon in splendour, is he.  That king devoted to faith and religion was summoned to dice by certain deceitful persons of mean mind and uncultured soul and of crooked ways, and skilful in gambling, and was deprived of wealth and kingdom.  Know that I am the wife of that bull among kings, known to all by the name of Damayanti, anxious to find out my (missing) lord.  In sadness of heart am I wandering among woods, and mountains, and lakes, and rivers, and tanks and forests, in search of that husband of mine—­Nala, skilled in battle, high-souled, and well-versed in the use of weapons.  O hath king Nala, the lord of the Nishadhas, come to this delightful asylum of your holy selves?  It is for him, O Brahmanas, that I have come to this dreary forest full of terrors and haunted by tigers and other beasts.  If I do not see king Nala within a few days and nights, I shall seek my good by renouncing this body.  Of what use is my life without that bull among men?  How shall I live afflicted with grief on account of my husband?”