MATH or MAGIC!

King Nala decked in ornaments and with Damayanti by his side, presented himself in due time before king Bhima, saluting his father-in-law with becoming humility; and after him the fair Damayanti paid her respects to her father. The exalted Bhima, with great joy, received him as a son, and honouring him duly along with his devoted wife, comforted them in proper words. Seeing king Nala again the citizens were in great joy. There arose in the city a loud uproar of delight. The citizens decorated the city with flags and standards and garlands of flowers.

King Rituparna was glad to hear that Vahuka had already united with Damayanti. Calling upon king Nala, he asked his forgiveness. The intelligent Nala also asked for Rituparna's forgiveness, citing various reasons. King Rituparna, said, with a countenance expressive of wonder: "By good fortune it is that regaining the company of thy own wife, thou hast obtained happiness. O Naishadha, while dwelling in disguise at my house, I hope I did not wrong thee in any way, O lord of the earth! If knowingly I have done thee any wrong, it behoveth thee to forgive me."

Nala replied: "Thou hast not, O monarch, done me ever so little an injury. And if thou hast, it hath not awakened my ire, for surely thou shouldst be forgiven by me. Thou wert formerly my friend, and, O ruler of men, thou art also related to me. Henceforth I shall find greater delight in thee. O king, with all my desires gratified, I lived happily in thy abode, in fact more happily there than in my own house. This thy equine science is in my keeping. If thou wishest, O king, I will make it over to thee."

Naishadha gave unto Rituparna that science and the latter took it with the ordained rites. The royal son of Bhangasura, having obtained the mysteries of equine science and having had given unto the ruler of the Nishadhas the mysteries of dice, went to his own city, employing another person for his charioteer.

After staying in the city of Kundina for a month, king Nala took leave of king Bhima and set out with a small entourage for the country of the Nishadhas. With a single car, white in hue, sixteen elephants, fifty horses, and six hundred infantry.

Upon reaching his country, that illustrious king, swelling with rage, approached his brother Pushkara and said unto him: "We will play again, for I have earned vast wealth. Let Damayanti and all else that I have be my stake. Let, O Pushkara, thy kingdom be thy stake. Let the play begin again. This is my certain determination. Blessed be thou, let us stake all we have along with our lives. Having won over and acquired another's wealth or kingdom, it is incumbent according to ordinance, to stake it when the owner demands. Or, if thou dost not relish play with dice, let the play with weapons begin. O king, let me or thyself have peace by a single combat. O Pushkara, choose thou one of these two things, gambling with dice or bending the bow in battle!"

Pushkara, sure of his own success, laughingly answered that monarch: "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 today the beauteous Damayanti of faultless features, I shall regard myself fortunate."

Hearing the 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. 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. The king, having won, smilingly said unto Pushkara: "This whole kingdom without a thorn in its side is now undisputably mine. 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 schemed 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 (of the paternal kingdom) along with all necessities. 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 years!"

Nala of unbaffled prowess, having comforted his brother thus gave him permission to go to his own town, having embraced him repeatedly. Pushkara saluted that righteous king, and addressed him with joined palms: "Let thy fame be immortal and live thou happily for ten thousand years, thou who grantest me, O king, both life and refuge." Entertained by the king, Pushkara dwelt there for a month and then went to his own town accompanied by large force and many obedient servants and his own kindred, his heart filled with joy.

The blessed ruler of the Nishadhas, having established Pushkara and made him wealthy and freed him from troubles, entered his richly decorated palace. All the citizens rejoiced. The people headed by the officers of state said with joined hands: "O king, we are truly glad today throughout the city and the country. Today we have obtained our ruler, like the gods their chief of a hundred sacrifice!"

After the festivities had commenced in the city that was full of joy, the king with a large force brought back Damayanti. Upon the arrival of the princess of Vidarbha accompanied by her son and daughter, king Nala began to pass his days in joy like the chief of the celestials in the gardens of Nandana. The king of undying fame, having regained his kingdom and becoming illustrious among the monarchs of Jamvudvipa, began once more to rule it. He duly performed numerous sacrifices with abundant gifts to brahmanas.