One day the beautiful Dāmodara said to Sangkarshana: "O Sir, by sporting everywhere in the forest we have well nigh spoilt it. We cannot play here any more with the cow-herd boys (8). It has been divested of grass and twigs and the milk-men have up-rooted the trees. This beautiful forest has been destroyed by us (9). All the forests and woods, that were thick (with trees), are now all looking blank like the sky. All these eternally beautiful trees, that were in the cow-sheds well-protected by walls and wooden bolts, have been destroyed by the fire of cow-sheds (10-11). The trees and grass, that were near us, have been all thrown away on the ground at a great distance (12). Water, trees, groves and other resorts have now become scarce in this forest. Even by searching we cannot get at a place for rest. It has become very dreary and trees are not to be seen (13). The trees have been destroyed by the people of this extensive village. The birds have fled away from the useless trees (14). This forest, divested of birds, has become disgusting like rice without curry and other vegetable dishes. Even the delightful winds do not blow here (15). Woods and vegetables, grown in the forest, are now being sold. The grass is all destroyed and this village has taken the appearance of a city (16). The ornament of the mountain is the village of herdsmen, the forest is its ornament and the cows are the ornaments of the forest. And they are our most excellent refuge (17). Let the wealthy inhabitants of Vraja repair to another forest filled with new trees and grass; when the extensive villages, of milkmen, are shut out by doors and when the fields are covered with houses they do not look beautiful like the Chakrachari²⁰⁶ birds (19). When excrement and urine fall on grass its juice becomes poisonous. The cows do not like to graze on it and it is unwholesome for milk (20). We wish to range, with our kine, in the charming new woods which are almost like dry ground. Let this station of milk-men be also transferred there (21). I have heard that there is a charming forest on the bank of Yamunā abounding in profuse grass, endued with all the virtues and freed of thorns and insects. It is named Vrindāvana. It is filled with fruits, water and Kadamba trees (22-23). Cool winds always blow there in the forest as if it is an asylum of all the seasons. All the woods there are so very charming that the milk-men will be able to range there happily (24). Near it is the huge mountain Govardhana with a high summit like the mount Mandāra near the celestial garden Nandana (25). In the centre of that mountain there is a huge fig-tree, by name Bhāndira, consisting of high branches and extending over a _yojana_. It shone there like a dark-blue cloud in the sky (26). Like unto the river Nalini flowing in the garden of Nandana, Kālindi, the foremost of streams, passes through its middle as if forming a line for separating hairs on each side of the head (27).