54. DEVAS DESIRED DAMAYANTI

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > NALOPAAKHYAANA PARVA > CHAPTER 54 - DEVAS DESIRED DAMAYANTI

“Brihadashwa said, ‘O Bharata (Yudhishthira), hearing those words of the swan, Damayanti from that time onwards lost all peace of mind on account of Nala. Heaving frequent sighs, she was filled with anxiety, became sad, pale-faced and lean. With her heart possessed by the god of love, she soon lost colour, and with her upturned looks and modes of pre-occupied mind, looked like one who is mad. She lost all inclination for beds, seats and object of enjoyment. She ceased to lie down by day or night, always weeping with exclamation of ‘Oh!’ and ‘Alas!’ Seeing her uneasiness and she fallen into that condition, her hand-maids represented, O king (Yudhishthira), the matter of her illness to the ruler of Vidarbha by indirect hints. King Bhima, hearing of this from the handmaids of Damayanti, regarded the affair of his daughter to be serious. He asked himself, ‘Why is it that my daughter seems to be so ill now?’ The king, thinking by himself that his daughter had attained to puberty, concluded that Damayanti’s Swayamvara should take place. The monarch, O noble one (Yudhishthira), (invited) all the rulers of the earth, saying, ‘O heroes, know that Damayanti’s Swayamvara is at hand’. All the kings, hearing of Damayanti’s Swayamvara, came to Bhima, agreeable to his message, filling the earth with the sound of their chariots, the roar of their elephants, the neighing of their horses, and accompanied with their fine-looking battalions decorated in ornaments and graceful garlands. The mighty-armed Bhima paid due respect to those Mahatma monarchs. Duly honoured by him they took up their quarters there.’

“At the juncture, those foremost of Devarishis possessed of great splendour, of great wisdom and great vows (Vrata in Sanskrit) namely, Naarada and Parvata, having arrived in course of their wandering at Indraloka entered the mansion of Devaraja, receiving proper worship. Maghavat (Lord Indra) having worshipped them respectfully, inquired after their undisturbed peace and welfare as regards all respects. Naarada said, ‘O lord, O divine one, peace attends us in every respect. O Maghavat, peace attendeth also, O exalted one, the kings of the whole world.’

“Brihadashwa continued, ‘Hearing the words of Naarada, the slayer of Bala and Vritra (Lord Indra) said, ‘Those righteous rulers of the earth who fight renouncing all desire of life, and who meet death when their time is come by means of weapons, without flying from the (battle)field,--theirs is this region, everlasting to them and granting all desires, as it is to me. Where be those Kshatriya heroes? I do not see those kings approach (now). Where are my favourite guests?’

“Thus, addressed by Shakra (Lord Indra), Narada replied, 'Listen, O Maghavat, why you not see the kings (now)? The ruler of the Vidarbhas has a daughter – the celebrated Damayanti. In beauty, she transcends all the women of the earth. Her Swayamvara, O Shakra, will take place shortly. There are going all the kings and princes from all directions. All the lords of the earth desire to have that pearl of the earth – desire to have her eagerly, O slayer of Vala and Vritra.’

“While they were talking thus, those foremost of Devas, the Lokapaalaas with Agni among them, appeared before the lord of Devas. All of them heard the words of Naarada, filled with grave meaning. As soon as they heard them, they exclaimed in happiness, we also will go there. O mighty monarch (Yudhishthira), accompanied by their attendants and mounted on their (respective) vehicles, they set out for the country of Vidarbhaas, where (had gone) all the kings. O Kaunteya (Yudhishthira), the Mahatma king Nala also hearing of that assembly of kings, set out with a cheerful heart, full of Damayanti’s love. (It came to pass) that Devas saw Nala on the way walking on the earth. His form owing to its beauty was like that of the god of love (Manmatha) himself. Seeing him bright as the Sun, the Lokapaalaas were filled with astonishment at his wealth of beauty and abandoned their intention. O king (Yudhishthira), leaving their cars (Vimaana in Sanskrit) in the sky the dwellers of heaven descended from the sky and spoke to the ruler of the Nishadhas, saying, ‘O foremost of monarchs ruling the Nishadhas, O Nala, you are devoted to truth. You do help us. O best of men, you be our messenger.’”