The tale of Nala and Damayanti

Nala, the king of Nishadh, had a half-brother named Pushkar, who, despite his royal lineage, played an insignificant role in the kingdom. Pushkar harbored deep resentment towards Nala, fueled by jealousy over the blessings their father had bestowed upon Nala. A swan, acting as a messenger, brought Nala and Damayanti together at her Swayamvara, the ancient ceremony where a princess chose her husband. The swan extolled Nala’s virtues so eloquently that Damayanti gave her heart to him and resolved to choose no other. However, four gods—Indra, Varuna, Agni, and Yama—also desired to win Damayanti’s hand and devised a plan to outwit their rival, Nala.

When Damayanti declared her intention to marry Nala, the gods transformed themselves into identical replicas of him, mirroring his every mannerism and speech. They challenged Damayanti to distinguish the real Nala among them. In a moment of prayerful meditation, Damayanti sought divine guidance, praying, “If my love and loyalty to Nala are true, grant me the vision to recognize him.” When she looked again, she noticed subtle human traits in one figure—blinking, sweating, and other signs of mortality. With this insight, she correctly chose Nala. The gods, impressed by her devotion, blessed the couple.

Yet, one lesser god, Kali, felt slighted by Damayanti’s preference for a mortal over the divine. Seeking revenge, Kali conspired with Pushkar, exploiting Nala’s weakness for gambling. With Kali’s influence, Pushkar manipulated Nala into a destructive addiction, ultimately leading to Nala’s downfall. Nala lost everything, including his kingdom, and was forced into exile.

.

Damayanti, now the mother of two children, was advised by the court ministers to return to her parents’ kingdom of Vidarbha, as Nala’s obsession with gambling threatened to ruin them all. Despite the peril, Damayanti’s love for Nala remained unwavering. When she encountered him on the road, already in exile, she entrusted their children to a charioteer and chose to stay by her husband’s side, whether in joy or sorrow.

The exiled king and his devoted queen wandered into the forest, enduring great hardships—hunger, danger from wild animals, and the harsh elements. One day, as Nala attempted to catch some geese, he removed his single cloth to use as a net. But a clever goose snatched the cloth and flew away, leaving him utterly humiliated. Damayanti, out of love and compassion, shared her one remaining garment with Nala. Yet, feeling deep shame, Nala tore her sari in two while she slept, took one piece for himself, and fled, believing she would find her way to safety while he could not bear the disgrace.

In the forest, Nala encountered a mysterious voice calling out for help. Entering a circle of flames, he discovered a snake trapped within, pleading for rescue. The snake revealed that it had been cursed by Narada and that Nala was destined to free it. Nala saved the snake, but instead of gratitude, the snake bit him, inflicting only half its venom. This bite disfigured Nala, turning him into a dark-skinned, stunted figure with coarse features, stripping away his royal dignity. Despondent, Nala gave up any hope of reclaiming his life and wandered in search of work.

Meanwhile, Damayanti, now half-naked and vulnerable, was lost in the forest, abandoned by her husband. Disheveled and despairing, she eventually found a caravan that led her to a town, and from there, she made her way back to Vidarbha. Despite her suffering, she vowed to remain in her tattered cloth, refusing to dress or adorn herself until she was reunited with Nala.

Damayanti’s father sent out messengers to search for Nala, and Damayanti taught them a song she had composed, containing questions only Nala could answer: “What kind of man abandons his wife, whom he swore to protect, in the forest alone?”

Eventually, Damayanti recognized Nala, despite his disfigured appearance, just as she had once discerned him among the gods. Her unwavering love and determination restored Nala’s confidence, helping him overcome his shame and doubts about her fidelity.

In the end, Nala and Damayanti were reunited with their children, and Nala’s true form was restored. He regained his kingdom, and they all lived happily ever after, their love and loyalty standing as a testament to the power of devotion.