Nala and Damayanti Reconciled

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्

 देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयम् उदीरयेत्

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi
Nala and Damayanti:
Conclusion
Reconciliation

Returning to her lady’s quarters with a tray , Keshini narrated the story of  all these miraculous acts performed by the hideous dwarf. 

“He conjured water and fire. And when he touched the flowers they were refreshed. Surely he is a god in disguise.” She said.

Damayanti listened, curious. But when she tasted the food she wept. “Only Nala could have cooked like this,” she thought.

As a further test, Damayanti sent her two children to the kitchen to thank the dwarf for the wonderful breakfast. 

But seeing his children, Nala, who was disguised as a hideous dwarf, wept tears of joy and embraced them. Keshini was surprised. 

"Do you have children of your own, sir?" She said.

"Yes," said the dwarf . "They look very much like these two here. And seeing them, I remembered my own children who I have not seen in such a long time.”

NALA AND DAMAYANTI REUNITED

When Keshini the serving girl returned to her mistress Damayanti, she  told her how the dwarf had embraced the twins.  Damayanti was overwhelmed with grief and melancholy. She could understand by all these different tests that this dwarf was none other than Nala. Her husband and king had finally returned.  King Nala, who had suffered so many wrongs had come back to her. 

But what was his story? Under what strange curse had he been transformed into a hunch-backed dwarf? How could he have abandoned her so easily in the forest? 

Damayanti decided that she must speak personally to this strange hunchbacked dwarf. She went to her mother and explained the situation saying, “O Mother. I have tried this man in many different ways. He must be Nala. Only his appearances changed. But now I must see him personally. Please give him permission to come and visit me with or without the consent of my father."

The queen in turned relayed her message. Consent was granted, and that night Nala came privately to the chambers of the Princess. And when he entered her chamber he saw her wearing a torn piece of red cloth with her hair matted and disheveled and covered with dirt and dust.

And Damayanti looking at that dwarf said with tears in her eyes, "Oh my dear dwarf have you ever seen anyone who knows about Dharma who has deserted his wife sleeping in the forest? How did I offend my husband, the great King Nala?"

And Nala, seeing his wife in that condition was grief-stricken. Hiseyes filled wit tears and he said, “O my lady, I have come here for you. You see me in this condition because I was possessed by the demon Kali. It was he that provoked me to gamble. A serpent king transformed me that I might hide from my pursuers. When I was in hiding I heard a rumor that you would marry again and came immediately.  But is it true? Would you have another husband besides me?”

“O Nala,” she said. “I knew it was you. Remember when the gods themselves wanted me as their wife, I refused them. I chose you before the gods and they have cursed me. But I choose only you, even now in this shriveled form, ugly and hunchbacked. I can only choose you as my eternal husband. As the gods are my witness, I swear I have never forsaken thee. I have been chaste and faithful, waiting for the day that we could reunite. I swear it by the god of wind.”

As she said this the wind-god Vayu appeared before them and said, “O Nala, what she says is true. Accept her word, she has guarded her honor. You may suspect no wrong against her.”

And with this fragrant flowers fell from heaven and majestic celestial drums sounded. 

And Nala was freed from the doubts that burned within his mind. He reached into a pouch that he kept on his person at all times and found the magic garment given him by the snake-king. 

Putting on that garment he resumed his original form at once. The strange dwarf disappeared as he was transformed. Tall and happy, beaming like the sun, he took Damayanti into his powerful arms and held her to his heart.  

They embraced for a long time and mixed tears of joy with kisses.

And after some time Damayanti told Nala of all that had befallen her since their parting in the forest and Nala told Damayanti of all his adventures.  Together they went before King Bhima and the Queen, who were astonished to hear the tale of Nala’s adventures. That night they passed in bliss, and as they would spend many other nights together in the palace, laughing away their sorrows in the blush of love.

The following morning Nala dressed royally and appeared before the king. He saluted his father-in-law and related the stores of what had happened to him. King Bhima for his part was overjoyed. He offered Nala treasure and gold in homage. Nala begged forgiveness of Rituparna for all his troubles. 

 And Rituparna said, “My dear King Nala, if I was at all able to help you in your adventures it was an honor for me. And if I have offended you in any way by being over-familiar in the course of our dealings, please forgive me.”

Nala smiled and said, “You have taught me a valuable lesson. I now know enough about dice to win my kingdom back. Go in peace.”

And so it was that Nala was reunited with Damayanti.