And
attended by a single follower and fatigued with hunger and thirst, he came
upon a large desert on the frontiers of the forest. And having crossed
this herbless plain, the king came upon another forest full of the
retreats of ascetics, beautiful to look at, delightful to the heart and of
cool agreeable breezes. And it was full of trees covered with blossoms,
the soil overgrown with the softest and greenest grass, extending for many
miles around, and echoing with the sweet notes of winged warblers. And it
resounded with the notes of the male Kokila and of the shrill cicala. And
it was full of magnificent trees with outstretched branches forming a
shady canopy overhead. And the bees hovered over flowery creepers all
around. And there were beautiful bowers in every place. And there was no
tree without fruits, none that had prickles on it, none that had no bees
swarming around it. And the whole forest resounded with the melody of
winged choristers. And it was decked with the flowers of every season. And
there were refreshing shades of blossoming trees.
"Such was the delicious and excellent forest that the great bowman entered.
And trees with branches beautified with clusters began to wave gently at
the soft breeze and rain their flowers over the monarch's head. And the
trees, clad in their flowery attires of all colours, with sweet-throated
warblers perched on them, stood there in rows with heads touching the very
heavens. And around their branches hanging down with the weight of flowers
the bees tempted by the honey hummed in sweet chorus.
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