DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0428
344 INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
love. Think not that I desire to part from thee. . . .
Would that I could abandon myself!"
Damayanti wept and said: " If thou wouldst not
leave me, why, O king, dost thou make heavier my
sorrow by pointing out the way to Vidarbha ? Thou art
too noble to abandon me, yet thou dost show me the
road southward. If it is meet that I should return unto
my father, come thou with me and he will bid thee wel-
come, and we could dwell together happily in his palace."
Nala made answer sadly: "Ah! never can I return
in my shame to that city where I have appeared aforetime
in pride and in splendour."
Then, comforting Damayanti, Nala wandered on with
her through the deep forest, and they made one garment
serve them both. Greatly they suffered from hunger and
from thirst, and when at length they came to a lonely
hut, they sat down on the hard ground, nor had they
even a mat to rest upon. Damayanti was overcome with
weariness, and soon she sank asleep; she lay all naked
on that bare floor. But there was no rest for Nala; he
thought with pain of his lost kingdom and the friends
who had deserted him, and of the weary journey he must
make in the midst of the great forest. " Ah ! were it
better to die now and end all," he mused, " or to desert
her whom I love? She is devoted unto me more deeply
than I deserve. Perchance if she were abandoned she
would return to Vidarbha. She is unable to endure my
sufferings and the constant sorrow which must be mine.'
Long he pondered thus, until Kali swayed him to
desert his faithful wife. So he severed her garment and
used half of it. He turned away from the fair princess
as she lay fast asleep.
Repenting in his heart, Nala returned speedily and
gazed upon fair Damayanti with pity and with love. He
love. Think not that I desire to part from thee. . . .
Would that I could abandon myself!"
Damayanti wept and said: " If thou wouldst not
leave me, why, O king, dost thou make heavier my
sorrow by pointing out the way to Vidarbha ? Thou art
too noble to abandon me, yet thou dost show me the
road southward. If it is meet that I should return unto
my father, come thou with me and he will bid thee wel-
come, and we could dwell together happily in his palace."
Nala made answer sadly: "Ah! never can I return
in my shame to that city where I have appeared aforetime
in pride and in splendour."
Then, comforting Damayanti, Nala wandered on with
her through the deep forest, and they made one garment
serve them both. Greatly they suffered from hunger and
from thirst, and when at length they came to a lonely
hut, they sat down on the hard ground, nor had they
even a mat to rest upon. Damayanti was overcome with
weariness, and soon she sank asleep; she lay all naked
on that bare floor. But there was no rest for Nala; he
thought with pain of his lost kingdom and the friends
who had deserted him, and of the weary journey he must
make in the midst of the great forest. " Ah ! were it
better to die now and end all," he mused, " or to desert
her whom I love? She is devoted unto me more deeply
than I deserve. Perchance if she were abandoned she
would return to Vidarbha. She is unable to endure my
sufferings and the constant sorrow which must be mine.'
Long he pondered thus, until Kali swayed him to
desert his faithful wife. So he severed her garment and
used half of it. He turned away from the fair princess
as she lay fast asleep.
Repenting in his heart, Nala returned speedily and
gazed upon fair Damayanti with pity and with love. He