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 noble 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 assembling, 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 assent obtained, With the children in the chariot--to Vidarbha straight he drove.