'O king! foremost in loyalty, all the citizens accompanied by the ministers, are waiting at the gate with the desire of seeing you.' She repeatedly told him to grant them an interview. But as the king was possessed by Kali, he answered nothing to them or his queen of handsome looks, who gave utterance to her sorrows thus: And the counselors and all the citizens, overwhelmed with grief and shame and having uttered (unto themselves) that he would never stand, went back to their homes; and thence forward. O Yudhishthira, the gambling of Pushkara and Nala continued for several months, while the righteous king was always defeated.