Return to Vidarbha

Mahābharata

महाभरत

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्  देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयम् उदीरयेत्

Nala and Damayanti

Damayanti is Discovered

One by one the brahmanas arrived in the kingdom of Vidarbha for the feast given by King Bhima. The came from all corners of the kingdom. And when the ceremony was finished, the king spoke to the gathered brahmanas, “Who here has news of my daughter, the fair Damayanti? If anyone has any news of her whereabouts, consult with my ministers after prasadam.

Later that evening, the two brahmanas who had been at the feast of Rituparna after the race came forward. In a confidential meeting with the king, they told him of the fantastic dwarf with his amazing powers and of the fine saffron rice he had served.  “I’m not sure if this helps,” said one, “but I’m sure this dwarf Vahuka has something to do with Nala.”

The king thanked the brahmanas and gave them cloth and silver in charity. He had heard from his spies that the body of a hunter had been found dead, mysteriously killed in the jungle were he had been hunting, not far from where Nala and Damayanti were last seen.

Others had brought him rumours of a strange prince, Karkotaka, who had been cursed by Narada to live immobilized in the forest as a snake. He had been freed from the curse and had returned to rule his kingdom. Among the rumours was the idea that Nala had redeemed him from the curse of Narada. 





Could it be that his son-in-law, Nala was hiding in disguise? Perhaps his disguise had something to do with this famous dwarf, who now kept horses in the kingdom of Ayodhya. What an outlandish idea. But stranger things had passed in the kingdom of Vidarbha.

Ancient Gold Coins of Vidarbha, circa 800 BC

But where was Damayanti? There was no news of his daughter. The king rewarded the brahmanas richly and renewed his call for news. 

The moon changed and went through its seasons. Summer came and went. The brahmanas searched far and wide for Damayanti.

Then, one day, a brahmana named Sudeva arrived in the kingdom of Chedi. And there within the kingly palace he remained for some time as a guest. 

One evening as the brahmana was at prayer, worshiping the Lord Vishnu with the holy mantra as the sun disappeared over the Vindhya mountains, he saw one of the companions to the Queen Sunanda, glowing golden as the sunlight shining feebly through the dimness of a cloud.

Damayanti Forlorn, Raja Ravi Varma, Victorian India

As he finished his prayer he followed her with his gaze.  He thought it must be the erstwhile princess of Vidarbha, but the large-eyed princess was dull in her beauty. She seemed wasted by grief and worry.  And yet he felt it must be she.

“Could it be that Bhima’s daughter might be found here, gracing the court of King Chedi as the companion of his Queen Sunanda?” he thought. “King Bhima is almost dead from worry. I must know for sure.”

He couldn’t help himself and fixed his stare on Damayanti.  The fair Sunanda, the Queen, entered. They joined arms and walked through the royal gardens. In the evening light, Damayanti appeared like the moon, darkly beauteous with her fair and swelling breasts, her lotus eyes wide. 

She seemed like a lotus that had been plucked up from Vidarbha’s pleasant waters and set down in the royal gardens of Chedi, slightly wilted, covered with dust; She was like the dusty rays of moonlight which tremble with fear after Rahu has swallowed the darkened moon. Her beauty was like a dry stream waiting for rain, or a pool where the lotuses have wilted after the birds have fled. Or like a lotus which is parched after the pool dries. The sun burns the lotus after the water has dried; so seemed Damayanti without Nala: widowed from the joys of love, she was forlorn and melancholy. 

Her light had dimmed. Forsaken by her husband, her beauty no longer shined as before. 

“And where was Nala?” the brahmana thought. “While Damayanti is the fairest of all the land, sought after even by the gods themselves, her beauty has somehow faded. Joyless, stunned by loss, she wanders here in Chedi, mourning Nala. Was he killed in the dark forest? Or does he wander, possessed by ghosts or devils in that vast wilderness of lions and bears, forgotten, banished, and exiled?”

And thinking thus, the brahmana approached the Queen, Sunanda, and her royal companion, saying, “Dear Ladies, please excuse me. I am a humble brahmana.”

And Sunanda, ever respectful of brahmanas said, “Blessed be the humble, good sir.”

“My blessings upon you both,” he said. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sudeva, and I come from the land of Vidarbha.”

Hanuman, Rama, and Sita Devi. Sita Devi was from Vidarbha.

Damayanti blushed to hear the name of her father’s kingdom and bowed her head.

“King Bhima has sent me here in search of his lost daughter Damayanti, who followed her husband Nala into exile so long ago.”

Sundanda’s face brightened, but Damayanti suspected a trap. She lowered her eyes and and covering her head with her sari held Sunanda’s arm tightly in her grasp. She whispered, “Sunanda: Remember the death sentence. What if this brahmana has been sent by Pushkara?”

The brahmana, who had overheard this exchange said, “Trust me, for I am honest.” And retrieving a ring from the folds of his garment, he said, “Look. King Bhima gave me this ring and told me to show it to the one who looks like Damayanti. My dear lady. I knew you when you used to run in the royal gardens of Vidarbha. I once saw you playing with a golden swan. I’m sure you must be Damayanti. Look, and see if this is your father’s ring and if I am honest.”

Her blush turned pale. She stepped forward and took the ring from the old brahmana’s leathery hand.

“Your father is dying of worry,” said the brahmana, “but your little girl, Indrasena, is fine and Indrasen your son grows stronger and healthier every day. For your sake hundreds of brahmanas like myself are combing the earth, searching for a sign that you are alive.”

Damayanti took the ring in her hands. The memory of her father brought color back to her cheeks. She returned the ring to the old brahmana. She uncovered her head. 

“Forgive me for not recognizing you at once, dear Sudeva. Of course. It’s been a long time,” she said, folding her hands and offering respects.  She smiled. Standing closer, Sudeva could now see her natural beauty returning. Just as the mountain stream is regenerated by the monsoon rains, Damayanti became more radiant, thinking of her children and her father at home in Vidarbha.

Sunanda invited them to sit. And there in the royal gardens they conversed. Damayanti asked a thousand questions of Sudeva, who was a great friend of her brother. She asked about her children and King Bhima and the ladies of the court as the wise Sudeva listened and gave her counsel.

And as they talked, Sunanda discreetly dismissed herself and went to see the mother of the king of Chedi. Sunanda told the queen mother, “A brahmana has come from the court of Vidarbha. Come and see.”

Soon the Queen Mother left her inner chamber and went to where the mysterious companion of Sunanda spoke quietly with the wise old brahmana. 

And the Queen Mother asked Sudeva, “This girl has told me a strange and wondrous tale of kings and princes and exile. We found her wandering like a vagabond, a madwoman, tormented by wild children and dogs. And seeing that she had something noble in her, we have given her shelter here in our court. Do you know her? How much of what she says is true?

Nala and Damayanti in the forest

To which Sudeva said, “I have had the fortune to know the monarch of Vidarbha, Bhima, who is always generous to humble brahmanas. There, on occasion, I have given counsel to that great king. This lady here is Damayanti, the daughter of King Bhima, princess of Vidarbha. I recognize her by the beauty mark on he forehead. I have known her since she was a child, playing in the court of the king. Her husband is the King of Nishadha, Nala, son of Virasena. Nala was cheated of his kingdom by his envious brother, Pushkar, who gamed him at dice. When Nala was exiled, the faithful Damayanti followed him into the forest. We have been searching for her ever since. You have saved her from death by starvation. May Vishnu bless the piety of your soul.”

The Queen Mother could not restrain her tears and held Damayanti close to her. “Then you are my own sister’s daughter,” she said. “Your mother and I are both daughters of King Sudaman of Dasharna. We separated long ago, when she married King Bhima and I married King Virabahu. And now I remember you, my child. It was in my father’s home in Dasharna. My sister, newly wed to Bhima, came to visit. You were just a baby at your mother’s breast. How could I have recognized you, all grown up?”

To which Damayanti replied, “No one has been as kind to me as you. You took me in, thinking me a stranger, but looked after me as if I were you own daughter. There is only one place in the world more pleasant than your fine palace here in Chedi, and that’s my own home in Vidarbha. And now that it is safe for my return, please, O Queen Mother, give this poor banished woman leave to depart for my home. I would return home were my infant children long for my return. They haven’t seen their father Nala in so long, but perhaps if I am there, I can give them some comfort. O Sudeva, thank you. You have given me new hope. Let us go to Vidarbha.”

And the Queen Mother, tears of joy in her eyes, said, “So be it, my daughter.” And she called to the guards: “Let the palanquin be prepared. Go forth to Vidarbha!”

Brihad Aswa said, “And so it was that a splendid palanquin was prepared for Damayanti. Eight strong men carried the royal palanquin over the Vindhya mountains guarded by a mighty army. And as she was born aloft, she was well-provided with fine cloth, refreshing drink and delicious food. 

And by and by the princess returned to Vidarbha, where the earthborn Sita herself had once ruled. The citizens of Vidarbha rejoiced and chanted the Vedic mantras to see her return. And there she found her kinsmen in good health. Indrasena and Indrasen ran to her bosom and held her close as Damayanti’s tears blessed their foreheads. 

Then King Bhima embraced his daughter and smelled her head. He too cried tears of joy and smothered Damayanti in his long white beard. The king declared a festival holiday and rewarded the old brahman Sudeva with a thousand cows, land for their pastures, gold and silver, and a temple for the worship of Lord Vishnu. And everywhere the land rejoiced at the return of their daughter and princess, Damayanti.

When all had retired and the night was peaceful, Damayanti’s mother came to her. 

Damayanti abandoned in the forest

And when they had talked long into the night, after Damayanti had told her of all her trials in the forest, at last she said, “I am so happy to see my children again. But if I am to live, it will be a barren life without my Nala. If you love me mother, do what you can to see that they find Nala. Let it be your chief toil to find the hero Nala and bring him home. This is all I ask.”

At which the honest Queen could give no answer, for she was sure that Nala was forever lost. Her face clouded, she could not restrain her grief. “O, Damayanti,” she said, “Ask me anything, but Nala I fear is lost.” And at this both mother and daughter wept in sorrow, and so they passed the night.

Damayanti Forlorn, Raja Ravi Varma, Victorian India