Brihadshava said: -
1-2. Damayanti beheld the righteous king to be maddened at the gambling and deprived of his reason. Thereupon, O Monarch, the daughter of Bhima was overwhelmed with terror and grief and meditated upon the seriousness of the matter regarding the king, her husband.
3-4. Beholding Nala deprived of all his possessions and being afraid of the calamity that had befallen her husband and desirous of doing good to him, Damayanti addressed to her nurse and maid-servant who was most noted, well-meaning beloved and intent upon doing good to all and well-speaking-these words -
5. ‘O Brihadsena! inviting all the ministers in the name of king Nala, go and inform them what things are lost and what wealth still remains.’
6. Thereupon all the ministers, having been informed of the summons of the king, uttered- “O this was most unfortunate for them all” and advanced to Nala.
7. When again the daughter of Bhima informed Nala, that all his subjects came there in a body for the second time, the king said nothing to her in reply.
8. Damayanti, beholding that her lord uttered not a word to her in reply, felt shame and entered her own apartments.
9. And also hearing that the virtuous Nala was always defeated at dice and deprived of all his possessions, she spoke again unto her nurse: -
10. Brihadsena! O blessed one do you go and summon, in the name of Nala, Varshneya, the charioteer, as a very serious matter is near at hand.
11. Hearing the words of Damayanti, Brihadsena brought Varshneya summoned by faithful servants.
12. Thereupon the daughter of Bhima, who was unblameable and was never out of place or season, consoled Varshneya by sweet speeches and said to him words suitable to the occasion -
13. It is known to you how always you were treated by the monarch. Now it is necessary for you therefore, to remember this and help him in his distress.
14. The more the king is defeated by Pushkara in the game, the greater becomes his earnestness for it.
15. As the dice fall in accordance with the commands of Pushkara, so it is seen they are adverse to the interests of Nala in the play.
16. Deeply engaged in the game, as he is deaf regarding the advices of his friends and relatives, so he does not accept my counsel.
17. Surely me-seems, the high-souled Naishadha is not to be blamed for his not listening to my words, absorbed as he is in the game.
18. O charioteer! I seek your protection. Act according to my commands. My mind is not very sanguine. King Nala may come to danger.
19. Yoking the favourite steeds of Nala, fleet as the glance of mind and placing my twins (a son and a daughter) on the car, you should repair to Kundina in all haste.
20. Leaving the children and the car and these horses with my relatives, do you go there or go away wherever it pleases you to go,”
21. Varshneya the charioteer of Nala, told in detail these words of Damayanti to the chief counsellors of Nala.
22. O lord of earth! deciding (the matter) with their aid and with their permission placing the children on the chariot the charioteer hastened towards Vidarbha.
23-24. There leaving the horses, the excellent of cars and the boy Indrasena and the girl Indrasenaa and saluting king Bhima and afflicted and grieving for Nala, the charioteer started from that place and repaired to the town of Ayodhya.
25. He approached king Ritupama with a sorrowful heart and entered into the service of the monarch as a charioteer.
Thus ends sixtieth chapter, the gambling of Nala in the Nalopakhyana of the Vana Parva.