unto her nurse, saying, ’O Vrihatsena, go thou again in Nala’s name to bring hither, O blessed one, the charioteer, Varshneya.  The matter at hand is very serious.’  And Vrihatsena, hearing those words of Damayanti caused Varshneya to be summoned by trusty servants.  And the blameless daughter of Bhima, acquainted with conduct suitable to time and place, addressing soft words said according to the occasion, ’Thou knowest how the king hath always behaved towards thee.  He is now in difficulty, and it behoveth thee to assist him.  The more the king loseth to Pushkara, the greater becometh his ardour for the play.  And as the dice fall obedient to Pushkara, it is seen that they are adverse to Nala in the matter of the play.  And absorbed in the play, he heedeth not the words of his friends and relatives, nor even those of mine.  I do not think, however, that in this the high-souled Naishadha is to blame, in as much as the king regarded not my words, being absorbed in play.  O Charioteer, I seek thy protection.  Do my behest.  My mind misgiveth me.  The king may come to grief.  Yoking Nala’s favourite horses endued with the fleetness of the mind, do thou take these twins (my son and daughter) on the car and hie thou to Kundina.  Leaving the children there with my kindred as also the car and the horses, either stay thou there, or go to any other place as it listeth thee.’  Varshneya, the charioteer of Nala, then reported in detail these words of Damayanti unto the chief officers of the king.  And having settled (the matter) in consultation with them, and obtaining their assent, O mighty monarch, the charioteer started for Vidarbha, taking the children on that car.  And leaving there the boy Indrasena and the girl Indrasena, as also that best of cars and those steeds, the charioteer, with a sad heart grieving for Nala, bade farewell unto Bhima.  And wandering for some time, he arrived at the city of Ayodhya.  And there he appeared with a sorrowful heart before king Rituparna, and entered the service of that monarch as charioteer.”

SECTION LXI

“Vrihadaswa said, ’After Varshneya had gone away, Pushkara won from the righteous Nala that latter’s kingdom and what else of wealth he had.  And unto Nala, O king, who had lost his kingdom, Pushkara laughingly said, ’Let the play go on.  But what stake hast thou now?  Damayanti only remaineth; all else of thine hath been won by me.  Well, if thou likest, that Damayanti be our stake now.’  Hearing these words of Pushkara the virtuous king felt as if his heart would burst in rage, but he spake not a word.  And gazing at Pushkara in anguish, king Nala of great fame took all the ornaments off every part of his body.  And attired in a single piece of cloth, his body uncovered, renouncing all his wealth, and enhancing the grief of friends, the king set out.  And Damayanti, clad in one piece of cloth, followed him behind as he was leaving the city.  And coming to the outskirts of the city,