g--Nala tore the branch away.
Then, his soul possess'd with wonder--to the raja thus he said;
"Having counted, an thou sawest--even so many fruits there are,
Marvellous thy power, O monarch--by mine eyes beheld and proved,
Of that wonder-working science--fain the secret would I hear."
Then the raja spake in answer--eager to pursue his way,
"I of dice possess the science--and in numbers thus am skilled."
Vahuca replied; "That science--if to me thou wilt impart,
In return, O king, receive thou--my surpassing skill in steeds."
Then the raja Rituparna--by his pressing need induced,
Eager for that skill in horses--"Be it so," thus 'gan to say;
"Well, O Vahuca, thou speakest--thou my skill in dice receive,
And of steeds thy wondrous knowledge--be to me a meet return."
Rituparna, all his science--saying this, to Nala gave.
Soon as he in dice grew skilful--Kali from his body passed:
He Karkotaka's foul poison--vomiting from out his mouth,
Went from forth his body Kali[125]--tortured by that fiery curse.
Nala, wasted by that conflict--came not instant to himself,
But, released from that dread venom--Kali his own form resumed:
And Nishadha's monarch, Nala--fain would curse him in his ire.
Him addressed the fearful Kali--trembling, and with folded hands;
"Lord of men, restrain thine anger--I will give thee matchless fame;
Indrasena's wrathful mother--laid on me her fatal curse,[126]
When by thee she was deserted--since that time, O king of men,
I have dwelt in thee in anguish--in the ecstacy of pain.
By the King of Serpents' poison--I have burned by night, by day;
To thy mercy now for refuge--flee I, hear my speech, O king:
Wheresoe'er men, unforgetful--through the world shall laud thy name,
Shall the awful dread of Kali[126]--never in their soul abide.
If thou wilt not curse me, trembling--and to thee for refuge fled."
Thus addressed, the royal Nala--all his rising wrath suppressed,
And the fearful Kali entered--in the cloven Vibhitak tree:[127]
To no eyes but those of Nala--visible, had Kali spoken.
Then the monarch of Nishadha--from his inward fever freed,
When away had vanished Kali--when the fruits he had numbered all,
Triumphing in joy unwonted--blazing in his splendour forth,
Proudly mounting on the chariot--onward urged the rapid steeds.
But that tree by Kali entered--since tha