ed Rituparna's forgiveness, showing diverse reasons. And that
foremost of speakers versed in the truth, king Rituparna, after being
thus honoured by Nala, said, with a countenance expressive of wonder,
these words unto the ruler of the Nishadhas. "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." Hearing this, 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
horse-lore is in my keeping. If thou wishest, O king, I will make it
over to thee." Saying this, Naishadha gave unto Rituparna that science
and the latter took it with the ordained rites. And, O monarch, the
royal son of Bhangasura, having obtained the mysteries of equestrian
science and having given unto the ruler of the Naishadhas the mysteries
of dice, went to his own city, employing another person for his
charioteer. And, O king, after Rituparna had gone, king Nala did not
stay long in the city of Kundina!'"

SECTION LXXVIII

"Vrihadaswa said, 'O son of Kunti, the ruler of the Nishadhas having
dwelt there for a month, set out from that city with Bhima's permission
and accompanied by only a few (followers) for the country of the
Nishadhas. With a single car white in hue, sixteen elephants, fifty
horses, and six hundred infantry, that illustrious king, causing the
earth itself to tremble, entered (the country of the Nishadhas) without
loss of a moment and swelling with rage. And the mighty son of Virasena,
approaching his brother Pushkara 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 a high duty, says the ordinance, to stake it
when the owner demands. Or, if thou dost