not relish play with dice, let
the play with weapons begin. O king, let me or thyself have peace by a
single combat. That this ancestral kingdom should, under all
circumstances and by any means, be recovered, there is the authority of
sages for holding. And, O Pushkara, choose thou one of these two
things--gambling with dice or bending the bow in battle!" Thus addressed
by Nishadha, Pushkara, sure of his own success, laughingly answered that
monarch, saying, "O Naishadha, it is by good fortune that thou hast
earned wealth again to stake. It is by good fortune also that
Damayanti's ill-luck hath at last come to an end. And O king, it is by
good fortune that thou art still alive with thy wife, O thou of mighty
arms! It is evident that Damayanti, adorned with this wealth of thine
that I will win, will wait upon me like an Apsara in heaven upon Indra.
O Naishadha, I daily recollect thee and am even waiting for thee, since
I derive no pleasure from gambling with those that are not connected
with me by blood. Winning over to-day the beauteous Damayanti of
faultless features, I shall regard myself fortunate, indeed, since she
it is that hath ever dwelt in my heart." Hearing these words of that
incoherent braggart, Nala in anger desired to cut off his head with a
scimitar. With a smile, however, though his eyes were red in anger, king
Nala said, "Let us play. Why do you speak so now? Having vanquished me,
you can say anything you like." Then the play commenced between Pushkara
and Nala. And blessed be Nala who at a single throw won his wealth and
treasures back along with the life of his brother that also had been
staked. And the king, having won, smilingly said unto Pushkara, "This
whole kingdom without a thorn in its side is now undisturbedly mine.
And, O worst of kings, thou canst not now even look at the princess of
Vidarbha. With all thy family, thou art now, O fool, reduced to the
position of her slave. But my former defeat at thy hands was not due to
any act of thine. Thou knowest it not, O fool, that it was Kali who did
it all. I shall not, therefore, impute to thee the faults of others.
Live happily as thou choosest, I grant thee thy life. I also grant thee
thy portion (in the paternal kingdom) along with all necessaries. And, O
hero, without doubt, my affection towards thee is now the same as
before. My fraternal love also for thee will never know any diminution.
O Pushkara, thou art my brother, live thou for a hundred