The Search for Damayanti Begins.

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

The Search for Damayanti Begins

Meanwhile,  in the Kingdom of Vidarbha,  King Bhima was worried.   His daughter’s children had arrived by chariot a fortnight since. The king was well-pleased to see them.

“Grandfather!” they said, running from the chariot and throwing their arms around him.

“Let me look at you, children,” he said, a warm smile masking his concern.

They had grown. Had it really been 12 years since the swayamvara and the wedding? Indrasen already had his father’s curly hair, piercing eyes and proud gait, and Indrasena while only a girl had her mother’s grace and quiet beauty. 

The children blushed and laughed.  As Varshneya the charioteer tied up the horses,  Indrasen and Indrasena frolicked away to play in the gardens where once a swan messenger had brought news of a handsome prince to the virgin Damayanti.

King Bhima, Artist's conception

Brim approached the chariot-driver as he watered the horses. “O Varshneya, best of horsemen, accept my blessings. Gold and silver will be yours for having brought my grand-children safely from the land of Vishadha. But what’s the news, my friend. Where is my daughter? Is she arriving here soon with King Nala to visit?”  said Bhima.

Ancient Gold  Coins of Vidarbha, India, 800 B.C

Varshneya looked at his hands. “I have brought the children here on my lady Damayanti’s orders. She foresaw the tragedy and sent me here.”

“What tragedy, sir?” said the King.

“All is lost. The king’s brother used some mystic charm to cheat the king. I felt some evil influence enter the gaming hall. King Nala staked everything and lost.  

The dice game of Nala and Pushkar: Rival brothers

They gamed at dice for days until Nala lost everything. He was banished into the forest, stripped of all his wealth and left to die of starvation, abandoned by the citizens by order of his cruel brother. The king is under some spell. He wanders lost in the dark forest. At last, our lady Damayanti followed him into the woods.”

King Bhima of Vidarbha heard  the news of the exile  with dismay.  What on earth  had happened his son-in-law, King Nala?  What could have possessed him to lose his kingdom in a dice game? How could Nala’s brother Pushkar  have been capable  of such treachery?

Varshneya told of Pushkar’s treachery. How he had ordered his citizens to shun Nala. Anyone who helped him did so on pain of death. None could offer him food or shelter. Cruel and envious, Pushkar had prevailed upon the miserable Nala to wager his own wife in the game. But Nala had refused. Having lost the game, he went to the woods as an honorable man according to the terms of the wager. But Pushkar had surely cheated him at dice. Perhaps Nala had been poisoned or enchanted in some way.

Woods near Vidarbha, present day

In the course of the day, King Bhima situated  his grandchildren in fine apartments within the palace.  His royal servants did everything to take care of them and make them comfortable. Soon they would miss there mother. But where was Damayanti?

As night fell, King Bhima   sent for the brahmanas who frequented his court.  He personally washed their feet, offered them all respect, and fed them well. And when they were satisfied they asked, “my dear King, why have you sent for us?”

The king said, “Alas.  No one knows the fate of Nala,  my erstwhile son-in-law. He was exiled into the forest by his cruel brother who cheated him at dice. Having gambled everything away, he was scorned,  driven from his kingdom,  banished and left to die alone in the forest.  My daughter, the fair Damayanti,  Princess of Vidarbha,  has followed him into exile.  Woe is me. What shall I do?  I need some good counsel in this matter.”

 Now the foremost of those good souls  stepped forward and said, “Let us go forth and search for your daughter and for Nala, King of Vishadha.  If they are alive, we shall find  them.

And King Bhima said, “So be it. Go forth throughout the land. Announce far and wide that King Bhima is desirous to see his daughter Damayanti. Whosoever brings news to me of my daughter shall be well-rewarded for his pains. 

“Discover the whereabouts of King Nala. Who brings Nala or Damayanti home shall receive from me cows and land. Anyone who brings news of my children shall receive gold and silver. You pious and compassionate brahmanas can help me, for by your mercy I shall recover the jewel of my kingdom, my fair daughter, Damayanti.”

And so it was that the brahmanas left, early in the morning in search of King Bhima’s daughter.  They went in all directions, from town to town, but no one had heard any news. Nala and his wife could not be found in any of the towns or provinces near the kingdom of Vidarbha. As time passed, King Bhima himself was disconsolate. Where was Damayanti?

The Vidarbha Express train, Present Day