“’Unto Bhima’s daughter, Damayanti, lamenting forlorn in that forest, the truth-telling ascetics replied, saying, “O blessed and beauteous one, we see by ascetic power that the future will bring happiness to thee, and that thou wilt soon behold Naishadha.  O daughter of Bhima, thou wilt behold Nala, the lord of the Nishadhas, the slayer of foes, and the foremost of the virtuous freed from distress.  And O blessed lady, thou wilt behold the king—­thy lord—­freed from all sins and decked with all kinds of gems, and ruling the selfsame city, and chastising his enemies, and striking terror into the hearts of foes, and gladdening the hearts of friends, and crowned with every blessing.”

“’Having spoken unto that princess—­the beloved queen of Nala—­the ascetics with their sacred fires and asylum vanished from sight.  And beholding that mighty wonder, the daughter-in-law of king Virasena, Damayanti of faultless limbs, was struck with amazement.  And she asked herself, “Was it a dream that I saw?  What an occurrence hath taken place!  Where are all those ascetics?  And where is that asylum?  Where, further, is that delightful river of sacred waters—­the resort of diverse kinds of fowls?  And where, again, are those charming trees decked with fruits and flowers?” And after thinking so for some time, Bhima’s daughter, Damayanti of sweet smiles melancholy and afflicted with grief on account of her lord, lost the colour of her face (again).  And going to another part of the wood, she saw an Asoka tree.  And approaching that first of trees in the forest, so charming with blossoms and its load of foliage, and resounding with the notes of birds, Damayanti, with tears in her eyes and accents choked in grief, began to lament, saying, “Oh, this graceful tree in the heart of the forest, decked in flowers, looketh beautiful, like a charming king of hills.  O beauteous Asoka, do thou speedily free me from grief.  Hast thou seen king Nala, the slayer of foes and the beloved husband of Damayanti,—­freed from fear and grief and obstacles?  Hast thou seen my beloved husband, the ruler of the Nishadhas, clad in half a piece of cloth, with delicate skin, that hero afflicted with woe and who hath come into this wilderness?  O Asoka tree, do thou free me from grief!  O Asoka, vindicate thy name, for Asoka meaneth destroyer of grief.”  And going round that tree thrice, with an afflicted heart, that best of women, Bhima’s daughter, entered a more terrible part of the forest.  And wandering in quest of her lord, Bhima’s daughter beheld many trees and streams and delightful mountains, and many beasts and birds, and caves, and precipices, and many rivers of wonderful appearance.  And as she proceeded she came upon a broad way where she saw with wonder a body of merchants, with their horses and elephants, landing on the banks of a river, full of clear and cool water, and lovely and charming to behold, and broad, and covered with bushes of canes,