नलोपाख्यान पर्व — नल और दमयन्ती का मिलन

Brihadashva said: Having learnt all about the mental agony of that righteous and wise one, Keshini came back and spoke everything to Damayanti.

Thereupon Damayanti sent again Keshini to her mother; as she, sorely aggrieved, was most desirous to see Nala.

Damayanti said: “Suspecting Bahuka to be Nala, I have examined him several times; but I have some doubt about his appearance, which I like to know myself.

O mother, with or without the knowledge of my father, make this arrangement for me; either allow him to enter my mansion or give me permission to go to him.”

Thus spoken by Vaidharbhi, that lady told king Bhima the intention of his daughter, which the king learned.

O foremost of men, Damayanti obtained the permission of both her father and mother; and thus she caused Nala to enter her own apartments. Unexpectedly beholding Damayanti, prince Nala became oppressed with grief and calamity; as also she was overwhelmed with tears.

Then that excellent of women, Damayanti, beholding Nala is that plight, was greatly afflicted with sorrow.

Thereupon, O great king, Damayanti, who was dressed in a red garment, wearing matted hairs and tainted with clay and dust, spoke these words do Bahuka:

"O Bahuka, did you ever see any men, who, known as virtuous, had gone away leaving his wife asleep in the woods?

Who excepts that righteous Nala, could go away, abandoning his beloved hand unoffending wife in the woods, when she was overtaken by fatigue?

What offence did I give to that ruler of the earth since my youth, for which he had gone away forsaking me in the woods; while I was overpowered by sleep?

Formerly I had selected him as my lord, rejecting the very celestials. Therefore how it was that he should abandon his wife, who am ever devoted and dear to him as also the mother of his children?

He had taken my hand; and, before the fire and in the presence of all the gods, he had pledged that he would truly be mine. But where now was that pledge gone?"

O chastiser of foes, while Damayanti was speaking all these, tears of sorrow flowed copiously from her eyes.

When Nala saw her thus oppressed with sorrow, he also shed tears from his eyes, which were black like those of the gazelle, with red extremities; and addressed her, saying:

"O timid one, the loss of my kingdom was not wrought by me. It was done by Kali, on whose account I had abandoned you in the woods.

O best of virtuous ladies, long ago you cursed Kali, while you were living in the forest, greatly afflicted with sorrow and burning in grief for me day and night. Since then Kali, burning with that curse, was living in my body. As a matter of fact, Kali, burning with your curse, was always dwelling within me, as fire dwells within fire.

Now he had been vanquished by my observances and devotion. Therefore, auspicious one, there will be an end of our sorrows.

O you of round hips, leaving me, the wretched one had gone away. It is for this that I could come here. Indeed, in my coming here I have no other object than to get you back.

O timid one, is it possible that a lady, forsaking her dear and devoted lord, will ever select a second husband like yourself?

At the command of the monarch, the messengers are roving all over the world, proclaiming that the daughter of king Bhima would surely choose a second husband.

And like an unchaste woman, she would choose one, worthy of her, whomever she likes. Hearing this, the royal son of Vangasura had arrived here with all speed."

Hearing these weeping of Nala, Damayanti became greatly terrified; and she, trembling with fear and with folded hands, spoke these words.

Damayanti said : O ruler of the Nishadhas, O blessed one, it behoves you not to suspect any fault in me; for I have selected you as my husband, discarding all the celestials.

With a view to bring you here, the Brahmanas had gone away in all directions, (to the ten points of the horizon) singing my words, composed in ballads.

At length, a learned Brahmana, known by the name of Parnada, found you out, O monarch, in the palace of Rituparna in the kingdom of Koshala.

It was after hearing his words and your proper answer thereto, that I devised this project in order to receive the king of the Nishadhas back.

O ruler of the earth, O'foremost of the kings, there is none else in this world, who is able to journey, with the help of steeds, a hundred yojanas in a single day.

O lord of the earth, touching these your feet, I can truly swear that even in thought I have not committed any sort of crime.

Let the all-seeing air, that always moves about the whole world, take away my life, if I have committed any sin.

Let the sun of bright rays, that always travels over the sky, take away, my life, if I have committed any sin.

Let the moon, that lives in the heart of all creatures as a witness, take away my life, if I have committed any sin.

Let the three gods, that preside over the whole of the three worlds, relate the whole history truly; or let them abandon me today.

Brihadashva said : Thus spoken the wind-god addressed from above, saying, “O Nala, I tell you the truth that she had not committed any sin.

O monarch, protected by Damayanti, the honour of your family, even as the wealth, has much increased. We bear testimony to this, as we have been her protectors for the last three years.

This unrivalled project was planned by her for your sake: for, except you, there is no other person in this world who can clear in a single day an hundred yojanas.

O ruler of the earth, the daughter of king Bhima has been obtained by you; as also you have been obtained by Bhaimi. You should hold no doubt about her conduct. Be you united with your consort."

While the wind-god was thus speaking, there was a downfall of floral showers; as also the divine kettle-drum played and auspicious breezes began to blow.

O son of the Bharata race, seeing this greatest wonder, king Nala, the chastiser of foes, threw away all doubts regarding the character of Damayanti.

Thereupon the ruler of the earth put on a fresh garment; and, then remembering that king of serpents, assumed his original form.

Beholding her husband in his original form, the faultless daughter of king Bhima embraced the righteous one and wept bitterly.

King Nala, again, embraced the daughter of Bhima, who was attached to him as before; as well as he embraced his two children; and thus felt great satisfaction.

Thereupon the lady, of beautiful face and of large eyes, hiding her face in his bosom, became overwhelmed with grief and began to sigh heavily.

That foremost of men, overwhelmed as he was with grief, stood in silence for some time, while embracing that lady of blameless smiles, who herself was covered with dust.

O monarch, thereupon the mother of Vaidharbhi, with a glad heart, informed king Bhima all that had passed between Nala and Damayanti.

The great king said in reply: “Tomorrow I shall see Nala with Damayanti by his side, after he shall have sanctified himself (by bath and prayers). Let him dwell in peace this day."

O king, thercupon the happy pair passed the night at ease, relating to each other the past events of their wanderings in the forest.

Both the princess of Vidharbha and Nala began to dwell most happily in the palace of king Bhima, desirous to make each other happy.

Then in the fourth year, (after his exile) king Nala, regained his wife and had all his desires satisfied; and thus once more he enjoyed the highest pleasure.

Damayanti on the other hand, exceedingly satisfied to recover her husband, was even as the fields of half-born seedlings are highly benefited to receive a shower.

When the daughter of the king and thus egained her husband, all her weariness had disappeared, as well as all her anxieties. She herself became elated with joy and blazed forth in her native beauty like the night, that is favoured by the uninterrupted rising of the moon.