Hear me, princess, hear and profit--by thy husband's best advice. Hence are many roads diverging--to the region of the south,[63] Passing by Avanti's city[64]--and the height of Rishavàn; Vindhya here, the mighty mountain[65]--and Payoshni's seaward stream;[66] And the lone retreats of hermits--on the fruits of earth that live; This will lead thee to Vidarbha--this to Cosala away,[67] Far beyond the region stretches--southward to the southward clime." In these words to Damayanti--did the royal Nala speak, More than once to Bhima's daughter--anxious pointing out the way. She, with voice half choked with sorrow--with her weight of woe oppressed, These sad words did Damayanti--to Nishadha's monarch speak:-- "My afflicted heart is breaking--and my sinking members fail, When, O king, thy desperate counsel--once I think of, once again. Robbed of kingdom, robbed of riches--naked, thirst and hunger worn; How shall I depart and leave thee--in the wood by man untrod. When thou sad and famine-stricken--thinkest of thy former bliss, In the wild wood, oh, my husband,--I thy weariness will soothe. Like a wife, in every sorrow--this the wise physicians own, Healing herb is none or balsam--Nala, 'tis the truth I speak." NALA _spake_. Slender-waisted Damayanti--true, indeed, is all thou'st said; Like a wife no friendly medicine--to afflicted man is given. Fear not that I thee abandon--Wherefore, timid, dread'st thou this? Oh, myself might I abandon--and not thee, thou unreproached. DAMAYANTI _spake_. If indeed, oh mighty monarch--thou wilt ne'er abandon me, Wherefore then towards Vidarbha--dost thou point me out the way. Well, I know thee, noble Nala--to desert me far too true, Only with a soul distracted--would'st thou leave me, lord of earth. Yet, again, the way thou pointest--yet, again, thou best of men, Thus my sorrow still enhancing--oh, thou like the immortal gods; If this be thy better counsel--'to her kindred let her go,' Be it so, and both together--to Vidarbha set we forth. Thee Vidarbha's king will honour--honour'd in his turn by thee; Held in high respect and happy--in our mansion thou shall dwell. BOOK X. NALA _spake_.