Part 3 (1/2)

Deign thou, monarch, to admit them,”--thus again, again she said.

To the queen with beauteous eyelids--uttering thus her sad lament, Still possessed by wicked Kali--answered not the king a word.

Then those counsellors of wisdom--and those loyal citizens, ”'Tis not he,” exclaimed in sorrow,--and in shame and grief went home.

Thus of Pushkara and Nala--still went on that fatal play; Many a weary month it lasted--and still lost the king of men.

BOOK VIII.

Damayanti then beholding--Punyasloka, king of men,[60]

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 n.o.ble 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 a.s.sembling, 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.[61]

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 a.s.sent 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 n.o.ble boy.

To king Bhima paid his homage--sad, for Nala's fall distressed, Thence departing, to Ayodhya[62]--took the charioteer his way.

In his grief to Rituparna--that ill.u.s.trious king, he came, As his charioteer, the service--entered of the lord of earth.

BOOK IX.

Scarce Varshneya had departed--still the king of men played on, Till to Pushkara his kingdom--all that he possessed, was lost.

Nala then, despoiled of kingdom--smiling Pushkara bespake: ”Throw we yet another hazard--Nala, where is now thy stake?

There remains but Damayanti--all thou hast beside, is mine.

Throw we now for Damayanti--come, once more the hazard try.”

Thus as Pushkara addressed him--Punyasloka's inmost heart By his grief was rent asunder--not a single word he spake.

And on Pushkara, king Nala--in his silent anguish gazed.

All his ornaments of splendour--from his person stripped he off, With a single vest, scarce covered,--'mid the sorrow of his friends.

Slowly wandered forth the monarch--fallen from such an height of bliss.

Damayanti with one garment--slowly followed him behind.

Three long nights Nishadha's monarch--there without the gates had dwelt.