ABSTRACT
Listen, all who are here, to the tales of a happy springtime, with Kauśalyā’s son enthroned in his gem-studded palace. Under a canopy Rāma and Sītā were seated on a cool mat, with dice in their hands. The palace women wafted breezes at them with fans inlaid with mica 1 as they enjoyed Rāma’s banter and savoured betel leaves and betel nuts, twinkling in merriment like stars surrounding the moon. Laying out dice of gold, Rāma played with Sītā, just as Nārāyaṇa plays at dice with Lakṣmī, Indra with Śacī, Madana with Rati, and Hara with Pārvatī. Just so they played for fun, caring nought for who won or who lost. 2
