Face to face on my path; I'll speak with him Fearlessly: 'Dreadful chief of all this waste, Thou art the sovereign of the beasts, and I Am daughter of Vidarbha's King; my name, The Princess Damayanti; know thou me, Wife of Nishadha's Lord--of Nala--styled "Subduer of his Foes"? Him seek I here-- Abandoned, sorrow-stricken, miserable. Comfort me, mighty beast, if so thou canst, Saying thou hast seen Nala; but if this Thou canst not do, then, ah, thou savage lord, Terrible friend, devour me, setting me Free from all woes!' The tiger answereth not; He turns, and quits me in my tears, to stalk Down where the river glitters through the reeds, Seeking its seaward way. Then will I pray Unto yon sacred mount of clustered crags, Broad-shouldered, shining, lifting high to heaven Its diverse-colored peaks, where the mind climbs Its hid heart rich with silver veins, and gold, And stored with many a precious gem unseen. Clear towers it o'er the forest, broad and bright Like a green banner; and the sides of it House many a living thing--lions and boars, Tigers and elephants, and bears and deer. Softly around me from its feathered flocks The songs ring, perched upon the kinsuk trees, The asokas, vakuls, and punnâga boughs, Or hidden in the karnikara leaves, And tendrils of the dhava or the fig; Full of great glens it soars, where waters leap And bright birds lave. This king of hills I sue For tidings of my lord. O Mountain Lord, Far-seen and celebrated hill! that cleav'st The blue of the sky, refuge of living things, Most noble eminence, I worship thee; Thee I salute, who am a monarch's child, The daughter and the consort of a prince, The high-born Damayanti, unto whom Bhima, Vidarbha's chief--that puissant lord-- Was sire, renowned o'er earth. Protector he Of the four castes, performer of the rites Called Rajasuya and the Aśwamedha-- A bounteous giver, first of rulers, known For his large shining eyes; holy and just, Fast to his word, unenvious, sweet of speech, Gentle and valiant, dutiful and pure; The guardian of Vidarbha, of his foes The slayer. Know me, O Majestic Mount! For that King's daughter, bending low to thee. In Nishadha lived the father of my lord, The Maharaja Virasena named, Wealthy and great; whose son, of regal blood, High-fortuned, powerful, and noble-souled, Ruleth by right the realm paternal: he Is Nala, terror of all enemies; Dark Nala, praised-in-song; Nala the just, The pure; deep-seen in scriptures, sweet of speech, Drinker of Soma-juice, and worshipper Of Agni; sacrificing, giving gifts; First in the wars, a perfect, princely lord. His wife am I, Great Mountain! and come here Fortuneless, husbandless, and spiritless, Everywhere seeking him, my best of men.