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VASUDEVA'S MARRIAGE WITH KANAKAVATI
113
'They are the basest of men who take refuge with their father-in-law. How can Nala go to the house of Davadanti's father? Therefore, making my heart adamant, deserting my wife, assuming firmness, I shall go elsewhere at random like a poor man. From the power of her virtue no calamity will happen to Bhaimi. For the virtue of good women is an eternal charm for the protection of their bodies.'
With these thoughts the king drew his knife and cut off half his upper garment and wrote on Bhaimi's garment words in his blood: The road marked by a banyan tree goes in the direction of the Vidarbhas. The road to the left of it goes to the Kośalas. By one or the other go to the house of your father or father-in-law, lady pure in heart. But I can not endure to stay anywhere, discerning lady.'
After writing these words, weeping soundlessly, Nala began to go forward with a secret step like a thief. Nala went ahead, with his head turned, looking at his wife asleep, until he could not see her. He thought: If a tiger or a lion, thin from hunger, should eat her, young, unprotected, lying in the forest, what to do? Keeping her in sight, I shall guard her during the night. At dawn she can go on the road she prefers of the two roads I described.'
Retracing his steps like a man who has dropped something, after seeing his wife resting on the ground, Nala again considered: Davadanti, with one garment alone, sleeps on the road. Alas for Nala's harem that never sees the sun in such a state! Alas! as the evil result of my actions this wellborn woman has reached such an unfortunate state. What shall I, hopeless, do? Even with me present as a companion, she lies on the ground like a crazed person, like an unprotected person, she who had the best couch. Still Nala lives. Deserted by me, alone, when awakened, the fair-eyed woman will die as if in rivalry with me, though I am (in fact) alive. I can not endure going elsewhere after deceiving her, devoted (to me). Let there be either life or death with her. Or rather, I, like a hell-inhabitant, shall be a vessel of many woes
15 N
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