the huntsman set Damayanti free.  And having sprinkled her body with water and fed and comforted her.  O Bharata, he addressed her saying, ’O thou with eyes like those of a young gazelle, who art thou?  And why also hast thou come into the woods?  And, O beauteous one, how hast thou fallen into this extreme misery’ And thus accosted, O monarch, by that man, Damayanti, O Bharata, related unto him all that had happened.  And beholding that beautiful woman clad in half a garment, with deep bosom and round hips, and limbs delicate and faultless, and face resembling the full moon, and eyes graced with curved eye-lashes, and speech sweet as honey, the hunter became inflamed with desire.  And afflicted by the god of love, the huntsman began to soothe her in winning voice and soft words.  And as soon as the chaste and beauteous Damayanti, beholding him understood his intentions, she was filled with fierce wrath and seemed to blaze up in anger.  But the wicked-minded wretch, burning with desire became wroth, attempted to employ force upon her, who was unconquerable as a flame of blazing fire.  And Damayanti already distressed upon being deprived of husband and kingdom, in that hour of grief beyond utterance, cursed him in anger, saying, ’I have never even thought of any other person than Naishadha, therefore let this mean-minded wrath subsisting on chase, fall down lifeless.’  And as soon as she said this, the hunter fell down lifeless upon the ground, like a tree consumed by fire.” 131

SECTION LXIV

“Vrihadaswa continued, ’Having destroyed that hunter Damayanti of eyes like lotus leaves, went onwards through that fearful and solitary forest ringing with the chirp of crickets.  And it abounded with lions, and leopards, and Rurus and tigers, and buffaloes, and bears and deer.  And it swarmed with birds of various species, and was infested by thieves and mlechchha tribes.  And it contained Salas, and bamboos and Dhavas, and Aswatthas, and Tindukas and Ingudas, and Kinsukas, and Arjunas, and Nimvas, and Tinisas and Salmalas, and Jamvus, and mango trees, and Lodhras, and the catechu, and the cane, and Padmakas, and Amalahas, and Plakshas, and Kadamvas, and Udumvaras and Vadaris, and Vilwas, and banians, and Piyalas, and palms, and date-trees, and Haritakas and Vibhitakas.  And the princess of Vidarbha saw many mountains containing ores of various kinds, and groves resounding with the notes of winged choirs, and many glens of wondrous sight, and many rivers and lakes and tanks and various kinds of birds and beasts.  And she saw numberless snakes and goblins and Rakshasas of grim visage, and pools and tanks and hillocks, and brooks and fountains of wonderful appearance.  And the princess of Vidarbha saw there herds of buffaloes.  And boars, and bears as well as serpents of the wilderness.  And safe in virtue and glory and good fortune and patience, Damayanti wandered through those woods alone,