BOOK VIII.

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.