The Song of Damayanti

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्

 देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयम् उदीरयेत्

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

Nala and Damayanti

As the sun dawned through the Ashoka trees in the royal gardens of Vidarbha where Damayanti once saw a swan messenger, the Queen left her sleeping daughter and made her way to the inner chambers of the King. 

“What news?” said he. “Is our daughter refreshed after her arduous ordeal?”

“She is sleeping,” said the Queen. “But she mourns the loss of Nala. As she wept, she broke her silence and told me we must search for him.”

King Bhima frowned, “Ah, but Nala died in the forest long ago. I have sent brahmanas to search high and low for him. We have heard nothing these many months. How could it be possible for such a great king to abandon his wife. No, Nala must be dead.”

“We must try again,” said the Queen.  And so once again Bhima called the brahmanas to his court. “Please speak to my daughter,” the king said. “She is inconsolate.”

At this time young Damayanti approached the assembled brahmanas and spoke as follows:

“My dear holy fathers. I believe Nala is alive. I believe he has disguised himself to avoid a sentence of death passed by his cruel brother, King Pushkar. Do not ask for Nala openly.”

And one of the brahmanas said, “How shall we proceed, my lady? We are honest brahmanas, always direct. By what means shall we ask for news of Nala?”

To which the princess of Vidarbha replied as follows: “You must speak in carefully. In every realm go forth to places where men gather. In every gathering repeat these words again and again: 

९ क्व नु त्वं कितव छित्त्वा वस्त्रार्धं प्रस्थितो मम      उत्सृज्य विपिने सुप्ताम् अनुरक्तां प्रियां प्रिय  १० सा वै यथा समादिष्टा तत्रास्ते त्वत्प्रतीक्षिणी     दह्यमाना भृशं बाला वस्त्रार्धेनाभिसंवृता ११ तस्या रुदन्त्या सततं तेन शोकेन पार्थिव     प्रसादं कुरु वै वीर प्रतिवाक्यं ददस्व च (Mahābhārata Book 3. 68.9-12 )

kva nu tvaṃ kitava chittvā vastrārdhaṃ prasthito mama | 
utsṛjya vipine suptām anuraktāṃ priyāṃ priya || 
sā vai yathā samādiṣṭā tatrāste tvatpratīkṣiṇī | 
dahyamānā bhṛśaṃ bālā vastrārdhenābhisaṃvṛtā || 
tasyā rudantyāḥ satataṃ tena śokena pārthiva | 
prasādaṃ kuru vai vīra prativākyaṃ dadasva ca ||

“Where have you gone, you gambler, my king?
You abandoned me when I was sleeping.

You tore my dress and vanished, my love.
You left me asleep in the forest, my love,
Alone, abandoned and lost.

Where have you gone, now that you’ve left me?

She sits and waits as you ordered;
Tortured by sorrow and loss;
Constantly weeping with sorrow, my king.
Have mercy and come back to me.”

"Recite this poem in the assembly of men, wherever they gather." She said, "And add this:

“A wife should be protected; not abandoned and left all alone.
O noble hero, wherever you are, listen to my prayer. Just as fire should be tended carefully, so a wife should be cared for by her husband. Have you forgotten your duties, you who are so skilled in duty? It is said that kindness is the best of all virtues. Have you forgotten how to be kind?” You may add this, so that if Nala is alive, if he is in disguise and hears my message, his heart shall be pricked by compassion. Hearing this song, he will come out of hiding.”

“If anyone hears this song and comes forward, you must send me news. But be discreet. None should know that this message comes from the Princess of Vidarbha. But take care to learn everything about whoever understands the message. And return and tell me the news. Find out everything you can about the one who answers this call. For the man who answers my message will surely be Nala Himself.”

Nala leaves Damayanti

And so addressed, the brahamanas once again went forth to help the forlorn Princess of Vidarbha. They went far and wide to all the realms surrounding the kingdom. They went to Ayodhya and Vishadha and the valleys of the Vindhya mountains. They passed through cities, towns, villages, hamlets, places inhabited by cowherds and the retreats of hermits in the woods. And wherever they went they sought the lost King Nala. And everywhere they went they recited the song of Damayanti just as she had taught it to her.

After a long time had passed away, a brahmana named Parnada  returned to the city of Vidarbha.  The old wise man sought audience with the Princess. And when she came out, he bowed before her and said,  “O best of women, I have some news which may interest you.”

And the daughter of Bhima said,   “Please speak. I’m eager to hear you.”

Parnada said, “ While traveling through the  realm in search of your lost husband,  I came to the city of Ayodhya.  There I met the son of Bhangasura, whose name is Rituparna. He is the ruler of Ayodhya.  I followed your instructions and repeated your  words. No one there took any interest in anything I said, although I repeated your words several times. Neither the King, nor his courtiers, nor any of the men there answered anything. I’m sure they felt I was composing some poetry.

“Then, after I had been given leave to go by the King, I was approached by a strange man in  His Royal service.  This man  is a kind of charioteer or horse trainer by trade.  His name is Vahuka.  It’s hard for me to believe that this Vahuka is   the man you seek.  He is, you see, a dwarf.  A dwarf of hideous  countenance  whose twisted visage and hooked nose is marred by a  coal black beard.  And yet, he is a man of many accomplishments.  Not only does he keep  the king’s  horses,  but he  has trained them to run at great speed.  He is a master of the culinary arts  and often prepares the King’s feasts.” 

In any case,  this dwarf Vahuka  approached me as soon as I had finished.    And as I was leaving,  he held my arm in his rough grip.  He took me aside.  And as he wiped tears from his cheeks, he spoke to me in a choked voice. 

"He said, ‘Your song has moved my heart.   You have composed well. It grieves me to hear how a noble woman was abandoned in the forest with only half a  garment.  And yet still she awaits  the return  of the gambler  King.   This is good.’

‘A chaste women, although fallen into distress, will yet protect her virtue,’ said the dwarf. ‘ Even though they may be abandoned by the King they do not become angry on that account. A chaste and faithful women  leads her lives protected by her honor.   She will  wear her virtue  like a silver suit  of armor that protects her from all harm. A woman who shows such self-control may gain mastery over the universe and even reach heaven itself. 

“‘And yet the lady in your song should not be angry with this gambler king.  Robbed of all fortune and even stripped of his garment  by  thieving vultures,  he must have left her to her fortune that she might live. 

“‘Because, if this lady had followed her gambler King into the dark forest she would surely have perished along with him. Knowing that her husband has suffered so, should not be angry even while forsaken.  I’m sure your gambler King poem was too overwhelmed  by sorrow to return to his lady. If he could, that gambler King  would surely return to her side.  But his destiny is to hide  in misery and exile,  grief stricken,  famine wasted,  and worn with woe.’

“‘A noteworthy composition. I am deeply  moved. I wonder at the patience of the lady.” And saying this that shrunken dwarf let go his grip and vanished into the mist.’

“After I heard this mysterious discourse from the dwarf, I came her as quickly as I could,” said the wise old brahmana. “Perhaps this news may help your royal highness.”

Damayanti thanked the brahmana Parnada, gave him charity and sent him on his way. Tears came to her eyes to think that Nala was alive. But she had to be sure. She sent for her mother, and, swearing her to secrecy said, “My dear mother. I have had some news. But we must be discreet. For now, I can’t say anything. My father must not know anything of my plans. But I have an idea. If you at all wish to help me, please follow my instructions.”

“What is it child?” said the Queen.

“First we must send for that most discreet of brahmanas, Sudeva, who discovered me in the kingdom of Chedi. Only he may be trusted with my purpose. I want him sent to Ayodhya.”

“As you wish, my dear,” said the Queen and sent for Sudeva.

And when Sudeva had arrived, Damayanti said, “O best of the twice-born, only you can fulfill my purpose for it was you who found me in Chedi when I was lost to the world.”

Sudeva bowed deeply. He comforted her with sweet words and auspicious mantras and listened to her plan.

“Sudeva, I want you to go to Ayodhya and give this message to the king who rules there, Rituparna. Tell him these words exactly: ‘Bhima, King of Vidarbha, has issued a royal decree. As Princess Damayanti’s husband has disappeared, he is hereby proclaimed dead. The princess, having passed a long time of mourning and grief will offer her hand in marriage to the champion who comes and claims here. Let the word go forth to all challengers that Bhima’s daughter is holding a new swayamvara. All great kings and princes are gathering in Vidarbha for the occasion. The ceremony is to take place tomorrow. O King of Ayodhya, if it is possible for you, go at once to Vidarbha. After sunrise tomorrow she will choose a second husband, having given up Nala for dead.”

Sudeva was perplexed to hear these words, but said nothing for he knew Damayanti must have a deeper purpose. 

Brihad Aswa said, “and so it was, my dear King Yudhisthira, that the wise old brahmana Sudeva set out on the road to Ayodhya.”

Ayodhya