of Damayanti, the lofty-minded king
could not long decline it. And he accordingly fixed the time for the
play. And possessed by Kali, Nala began to lose, in the game, his stakes
in gold, and silver, and cars with the teams thereof, and robes. And
maddened at dice, no one amongst his friends could succeed in dissuading
that represser of foes from the play that went on. And thereupon, O
Bharata, the citizens in a body, with the chief councillors, came
thither to behold the distressed monarch and make him desist. And the
charioteer coming to Damayanti spake to her of this, saying, "O lady,
the citizens and officers of the state wait at the gate. Do thou inform
the king of the Nishadhas that the citizens have come here, unable to
bear the calamity that hath befallen their king conversant with virtue
and wealth." Thereupon Bhima's daughter, overwhelmed with grief and
almost deprived of reason by it, spake unto Nala in choked accents, "O
king, the citizens with the councillors of state, urged by loyalty, stay
at the gate desirous of beholding thee. It behoveth thee to grant them
an interview." But the king, possessed by Kali, uttered not a word in
reply unto his queen of graceful glances, uttering thus her
lamentations. And at this, those councillors of state as also the
citizens, afflicted with grief and shame, returned to their homes,
saying, "_He liveth not_." And, O Yudhishthira, it was thus that Nala
and Pushkara gambled together for many months, the virtuous Nala being
always worsted.'"

SECTION LX

"Vrihadaswa said, 'Bhima's daughter, the cool-headed Damayanti, seeing
the righteous king maddened and deprived of his senses at dice, was
filled, O king, with alarm and grief. And she thought the affair to be a
serious one with the king. And apprehensive of the calamity that
threatened Nala, yet seeking his welfare and at last understanding that
her lord had lost everything, she said unto her nurse and maid-servant
Vrihatsena of high fame, intent upon her good, dexterous in all duties,
faithful and sweet-speeched, these words, "O Vrihatsena, go thou and
summon the councillors in the name of Nala, and tell them also what of
wealth and other things hath been lost and what remaineth." The
councillors then, hearing of Nala's summons, said, "This is fortunate
for us" and approached the king. And when the subjects in a body had
(thus) come a second time, the daughter of Bhima informed Nala of it.
But the king regarded her not