Damayanti then beholding — Punyasloka, king of men, Undistracted, him distracted — with the maddening love of play. In her dread and in her sorrow — thus did Bhima's daughter speak; Pondering on the weighty business — that concerned the king of men.
Trembling at his guilty frenzy — yet to please him still intent. Nala,‘ reft of all his treasures — when the noble woman saw, Thus addressed she Vrihatsena,— her old faithful slave and nurse, Friendly in all business dextrous — most devoted, wise in speech:
“Vrihatsena, go, the council — as at Nala's call convene, Say what he hath lost of treasure — and what treasure yet remains.” Then did all that reverend council — Nala's summons as they heard, “Our own fate is now in peril” — speaking thus, approach the king.
And a second time his subjects — all assembling, crowded near, And the queen announced their presence;— of her words he took no heed. All her words thus disregarded — when king Bhima's daughter found, To the palace, Damayanti — to conceal her shame returned.
When the dice she heard for ever — adverse to the king of men, And of all bereft, her Nala — to the nurse again she spake: “Go again, my Vrihatsena,— in the name of Nala, go, To the charioteer, Varshneya,— great the deed must now be done.”
Vrihatsena on the instant — Damayanti's words she heard, Caused the charioteer be summoned — by her messengers of trust. Bhima's daughter to Varshneya — winning with her gentle voice, Spake, the time, the place well choosing — for the deed, nor spake in vain:
“Well thou know'st the full reliance — that in thee the king hath placed, In his fatal hour of peril — wilt not thou stand forth to aid? As by Pushkara is worsted — ever more and more the king, More and more the fatal frenzy — maddens in his heart for play.
As to Pushkara obedient — ever fall the lucky dice, Thus those dice to royal Nala — still with adverse fortune fall. Nor the voice of friend or kindred — as beseems him, will he hear; Even to me he will not listen — in the madness of his heart.
Of the lofty-minded Nala — well I know‘ tis not the sin, That my words this senseless monarch — in his frenzy will not hear. Charioteer, to thee my refuge — come I, do thou my behest; I am not o'er calm in spirit — haply he may perish thus.
Yoke the much-loved steeds of Nala — fleet of foot, as thought, are they, In the chariot place our children — to Cundina's city go. Leave the children with my kindred — and the chariot and the steeds; Then or dwell there at thy pleasure — or depart where'er thou wilt.”
When the speech of Damayanti — heard king Nala's charioteer, He, the chief of Nala's council — thus in full divan addressed, Weighed within their solemn conclave — and their full assent obtained, With the children in the chariot — to Vidarbha straight he drove.
There he rendered up the horses — with the chariot there he left. That young maiden Indrasena — Indrasen, that noble boy. To king Bhima paid his homage — sad, for Nala's fall distressed, Thence departing, to Ayodhya— took the charioteer his way.
In his grief to Rituparna — that illustrious king, he came, As his charioteer, the service — entered of the lord of earth.
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