DAMAYANTI was the daughter of king Bhima of Naishadha. She used to hear form her father’s courtiers and guests about Nala, and his good qualities that were very rarely seen among other kings. Having repeatedly heard of his eminence she fell in love with him. Her desire of Nala grew into a passion that began to haunt her day and night alike. One day sickened with his indelible thoughts, she along with her friends went to the palatial garden to spend time in sports. They played there singing, dancing and amusing each other.
During their merriments, they could see something descending from the sky. They thought as if it were a ball of gold. When it came nearer they identified it as a golden swan. It was so beautiful and she wanted to make him a playmate.
When her friends approached to catch it, the bird tried to hurt them and they gave a slip. When Damayanti approached it, the bird became friendly with her.
The swam then made a self introduction that he was dwelling in the city of Nala. He watched her face for the change of emotion when he uttered this. He offered her a friendship stronger than that of her existing friends. And he wished her that she would achieve a husband who surpassed Kubera in wealth and all the warriors in gallantry.
Cultivating, through his decent speech, extreme confidence in him, he asked of her mind. She told him that from her childhood she had been admiring and mentally wedded to Nala. But for fear of the world she did not disclose this so far to anybody. Even to her friends. She appealed the swan to try to unite them at the earliest. The swan had a doubt.
He asked her: “ I shall tell this to king Nala and he will be happy. But in case your father gives your hand to someone else then what will happen! What we say today will then be meaningless. These words of promise will be in vain and Nala will be angry with me. What do you say?”
She vehemently and with logic, reiterated that it won’t happen. “Dear swan, why do you think baselessly like this? Will my mind be ever be hostile? My parents will not stand against my wishes. The river will join only with the sea. Please be rest assured and go.”
The bird flew back to Nala.
Seeing the swan back, Nala was very happy. The swan jubilantly narrated him each word of their conversation and told him about her unambiguous love for him.
Having convinced in her love for him, Nala set out to participate in her swayamvara.
On the way he heard a voice addressing him: “Are you not Nala?”
Although he could not behold them, he could understand that they were the gods or demigods who were hiding themselves under thiraskarini.
He replied:” Yes, I am Nala. O gods, what shall I do to please you?”
“Look Nala, we are gods from the heaven. I am Indra, the king of gods, this is Agni, the God of fire, this is Yama, the God of death and justice and this is Varuna, the God of the oceans. We want to marry Damayanti. You go to her chamber and plead her to wed any one of us.”
“Oh gods, please pardon this poor soul. I am also a suitor and am proceeding for the same purpose,” said Nala.
The gods said: “You made a promise to serve us in the beginning and are now going back. This is not good for you.”
“May you have mercy on me? I shall be delighted to serve you. But I have a problem. How shall I enter into her chamber unnoticed?”
“For that we shall impart the application of the art of thiraskarini to you,” the gods said.
Thus Nala entered into Damayanti’s chamber and when she was alone told her that the Devas had come to marry her and she may choose any one of them.
Damayanti replied: “From the gentleness in your speech and tone, I assume that you are Nala. However, it is impossible for me to wed any of them because from the childhood itself, I have been keeping you in my mind as my husband. And there is no going back. Please return and tell them not to be unhappy with me and to bless me.”
Nala went and told the Devas what Damayanti had conveyed.
The gods took the form of Nala and sat along with him. When Damayanti descended with the wedding garland, she could see five Nalas together on the same platform. She earnestly prayed to the gods thus: “If my love towards Nala is genuine, please show me Nala separately now.”
The gods took their own forms and Nala was alone identified. Damayanti wedded Nala.
The gods blessed them.
Yama: “Even when in danger your fortitude will not flinch.”
Varuna: “If you touch any dry leave or wood, it will spontaneously bear life and bloom.”
Agni: “Whatever you cook will be the most delicious”
Indra: “You will conquer all your enemies and will rule your kingdom long.”
And they disappeared.
Nala and Damayanti returned to Nishadha.
They celebrated their conjugal life with extreme happiness.
Courtesy: Nala and Damayanti for students
