Named the lord of earth, king Bhima--of each caste the guardian he; Of the holy Aswamedha--of the regal sacrifice,[77] He the offerer, best of monarchs--known by his commanding eye, Pious, and of life unblemished--true in word, of generous speech, Affable, courageous, prosperous--skilled in every duty, pure. Of Vidarbha the protector--conqueror of a host of foes; Know me of that king the daughter--lowly thus approaching thee. In Nishadha, mighty Mountain! dwelt the father of my lord. High the name he won, the illustrious--Virasena was he called. Of this king the son, the hero--prosperous and truly brave, He who rules his father's kingdom--by hereditary right, Slayer of his foes, dark Nala--Punyasloka is he called; Holy, Veda read, and eloquent--soma quaffing, fire adoring,[78][79] Sacrificer, liberal giver--warrior, in all points a king,-- Of this monarch, best of mountains--know, the wife before thee stands. Fallen from bliss, bereft of husband--unprotected, sorrow-doomed, Seeking every where her husband--him the best of noblest men. Best of mountains, heaven-upsoaring--with thy hundred stately peaks, Hast thou seen the kingly Nala--in this dark and awful wood: Like the elephant in courage--wise, impetuous, with long arms, Valiant, and of truth unquestioned--my heroic, glorious lord; Hast thou seen Nishadha's sovereign--mighty Nala hast thou seen? Why repliest thou not, oh Mountain--sorrowing, lonely, and distressed, With thy voice why not console me--as thine own afflicted child? Hero, mighty, strong in duty--true of promise, lord of earth, If thou art within the forest--show thee in thy proper form. When so eloquently deep-toned--like the sound of some dark cloud, Shall I hear thy voice, oh Nala!--sweet as the amrita draught,[80] Saying, 'daughter of Vidarbha!'--with distinct, with blessed sound, Musical as holy Veda--rich, and soothing all my pain; Thus console me, trembling, fainting--thou, oh virtue-loving king!" To the holiest of mountains--spake the daughter of the king. Damayanti then set forward--toward the region of the north. Three days long, three nights she wandered--then that noble woman saw, The unrivalled wood of hermits--like to a celestial grove. To the ancient famous hermits[81]--equal was that sacred crew; Self-denying, strict in diet[82]--temperate, and undefiled; Water-drinking, air inhaling--and the leaves their simple food; Mortified, for ever blessed--seeking the right way to heaven; Bark for vests and skins for raiment--wore those hermits, sense-subdued. She beheld the pleasant circle--of those hermits' lonely cells; Round them flocks of beasts were grazing--wantoned there the monkey tribes. When she saw those holy dwellings--all her courage was revived. Lovely browed, and lovely tressed--lovely bosom'd, lovely lipp'd,[83]