Nala stayed there for three nights with his wife.  But Pushkara, O king, proclaimed through the city that he that should show any attention to Nala, would be doomed to death.  And on account of these words of Pushkara and knowing his malice towards Nala, the citizens, O Yudhishthira, no longer showed him hospitable regards.  And unregarded though deserving of hospitable regards, Nala passed three nights in the outskirts of the city, living on water alone.  And afflicted with hunger, the king went away in search of fruit and roots, Damayanti following him behind.  And in agony of famine, after many days, Nala saw some birds with plumage of golden hue.  And thereupon the mighty lord of the Nishadhas thought within himself, ’These will be my banquet today and also my wealth.’  And then he covered them with the cloth he had on—­when bearing up that garment of his, the birds rose up to the sky.  And beholding Nala nude and melancholy, and standing with face turned towards the ground, those rangers of the sky addressed him, saying, ’O thou of small sense, we are even those dice.  We had come hither wishing to take away thy cloth, for it pleased us not that thou shouldst depart even with thy cloth on.’  And finding himself deprived of his attire, and knowing also that the dice were departing (with it), the virtuous Nala, O king, thus spake unto Damayanti, ’O faultless one, they through whose anger I have been despoiled of my kingdom, they through whose influence distressed and afflicted with hunger, I am unable to procure sustenance, they for whom the Nishadhas offered me not any hospitality, they, O timid one, are carrying off my cloth, assuming the form of birds.  Fallen into this dire disaster, I am afflicted with grief and deprived of my senses, I am thy lord, do thou, therefore, listen to the words I speak for thy good.  These many roads lead to the southern country, passing by (the city of) Avanti and the Rikshavat mountains.  This is that mighty mountain called Vindhya; yon, the river Payasvini running sea-wards, and yonder are the asylums of the ascetics, furnished with various fruit and roots.  This road leadeth to the country of the Vidarbhas—­and that, to the country of the Kosalas.  Beyond these roads to the south is the southern country.’  Addressing Bhima’s daughter, O Bharata, he distressed king Nala spake those words unto Damayanti over and over again.  Thereupon afflicted with grief, in a voice choked with tears, Damayanti spake unto Naishadha these piteous words, ’O king, thinking of thy purpose, my heart trembleth, and all my limbs become faint.  How can I go, leaving thee in the lone woods despoiled of thy kingdom and deprived of thy wealth, thyself without a garment on, and worn with hunger and toil?  When in the deep woods, fatigued and afflicted with hunger, thou thinkest of thy former bliss, I will, O great monarch, soothe thy weariness.  In every sorrow there is no physic equal unto the wife, say the physicians.  It is the truth, O Nala, that