57. DAMAYANTI SWAYAMVARA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > NALOPAAKHYAANA PARVA > CHAPTER 57 - DAMAYANTI SWAYAMVARA

Summary: Damayanti Swayamvara begins; Lokapaalaas adopt the appearance of Nala and confuses Damayanti; Damayanti prays to Lokapaalaas; Lokapaalaas accept her request; Damayanti chooses Nala and get married.

“Brihadashwa continued, ‘Then at the sacred hour of the holy lunar day of the auspicious season, king Bhima summoned the kings to the Swayamvara. Hearing of it, all the lords of earth striken with love speedily came there, desirous of (possessing) Damayanti. The monarchs entered the amphitheatre decorated with golden pillars, a lofty portal arch, like mighty lions entering the mountain wilds. Those lords of earth decked with fragrant garlands and polished ear-rings hung with jewels seated themselves on their several seats.

“That sacred assembly of Kings, graced by those tigers among men, resembled the Bhogavati (capital of Naagaloka) swarming with the Naagaas, or a mountain cave with tigers. Their arms were robust resembling iron maces, well-shaped, graceful, and looking like five-headed snakes. Graced with beautiful locks, fine noses, eyes and brows, the face of the kings shined like stars in the sky.

“(When the time came), Damayanti of beautiful face, stealing the eyes and hearts of the princes by her dazzling light, entered the hall. The glances of those Mahatma kings were rivetted to those parts of her person where they had chanced to fall first, without moving at all. When, O Bharata (Yudhishthira), the names of the monarchs were proclaimed, the daughter of Bhima saw five persons all alike in appearance. Seeing them seated there, without difference of any kind in form, doubt filled her mind, and she could not discover which of them was king Nala. At whomever (among them) she looked, she regarded him to be the king of the Nishadhas (Nala). Filled with anxiety, the beutiful one thought within herself, ‘Oh, how shall I distinguish Devas, and how discover the royal Nala?’

“Thinking thus, the daughter of Vidarbha became filled with grief. O Bharata (Yudhishthira), recollecting the marks belonging to Devas, of which she had heard, she thought, ‘Those attributes of Devas, of which I have heard from the elders, do not pertain to any of these deities present here upon the earth.’ Revolving the matter long in her mind, and thinking upon it repeatedly, she decided upon seeking the protection of Devas themselves. Bowing down to them with mind and speech, with folded hands, she addressed them trembling, ‘Since I heard the speech of the swans, I chose the king of the Nishadhas as my lord. For the sake of truth, O, let Devas reveal him to me. As in thought or word I have never deviated from him, O, let Devas, for the sake of that truth, reveal him to me. As Devas themselves have destined the ruler of the Nishadhas to be my lord, O, let them, for the sake of that truth, reveal him to me. As it is for paying homage to Nala that I have adopted this vow (Vrata in Sanskrit), for the sake of that truth, O, let Devas reveal him to me, O, let the noble Lokapaalaas assume their own proper forms, so that I may know the righteous king.’

“Hearing these piteous words of Damayanti, and discovering her fixed resolve, and sincere love for the king of Nishadhas, the purity of her heart and her inclination and regard and affection for Nala, Devas did as they had been requested, and assumed their respective attributes as best they could. Immediately she saw Devas unmoistened with perspiration, with winkless eyes, unfading garlands, unstained with dust, and staying without touching the ground. Naishadha stood revealed to his shadow, his fading garlands, himself stained with dust and sweat, resting on the ground with winking eyes.

“O Bharata (Yudhishthira), discovering Devas and the Dharmic Nala the daughter of Bhima (Damayanti) chose Naishadha according to her truth. The large-eyed lady then shyfully caught the edge of his garment and placed round his neck a garland of exceeding grace. When that fair-complexioned lady had thus chosen Nala for her husband, the kings suddenly broke out into exclamations of ‘Oh!’ and ‘Alas!’ O Bharata (Yudhishthira), Devas and Maharishis in wonder cried ‘Excellent!’ ‘Excellent!’, applauding the king the while.

“O Kauravya (Yudhishthira), the royal son of Veerasena, with heart filled with gladness, comforted the beautiful Damayanti, saying, ‘Since you, O blessed one, have chosen a mortal in the presence of Devas, know me for a husband obedient to your command. O you of sweet smiles, truly do I tell you this that as long as life continues in this body of mine, I will remain yours and yours alone.’ Damayanti also, with folded hands paid homage to Nala in words of like meaning.

“The happy pair (Nala-Damayanti) seeing Agni and the other Devas mentally sought their protection. After the daughter of Bhima had chosen Naishadha (Nala) as her husband, the Lokapaalaas of exceeding brightness with pleased hearts, gave eight boons to Nala. Shakra (Lord Indra), the lord of Shachi, bestowed on Nala the boon that he should be able to see his godship in yagnas and that he should attain to blessed regions thereafter, and Hutaashanaa (Agni) gave him the boon of his own presence whenever Naishadha wished, and also regions bright as himself. Yama granted him subtle taste in food as well as pre-eminence in Dharma. The lord of waters (Varuna) granted Nala his own presence whenever he desired, and also garlands of divine fragrance. Thus, each of them bestowed upon him a couple of boons. Having bestowed these Devas went to heaven. The kings also, having witnessed with wonder Damayanti’s selection of Nala, returned delighted from where they had come.

“On the departure of those mighty monarchs, the Mahatma Bhima, well pleased, celebrated the wedding of Nala and Damayanti. Having stayed there for a time according to his desire, Naishadha (Nala), the best of men, returned to his own city with the permission of Bhima. Having attained that pearl of a woman (Damayanti), the virtuous king, O monarch, began to pass his days in joy, like the slayer of Bala and Vritra (Lord Indra) in the company of Shachi. Resembling the Sun in glory, the king (Nala), full of gladness, began to rule his subjects righteously, and gave them great satisfaction. Like to Yayaati, the son of Nahusha, that intelligent monarch celebrated Ashwamedha (yagna) and many other yagnas with abundant gifts to doers of the yagnas. Like to a very Deva, Nala sported with Damayanti in romantic forest and groves. The high-minded king fathered upon Damayanti a son named Indrasena, and a daughter named Indrasena. Celebrating yagna, and sporting (with Damayanti) thus, the king ruled the earth abounding in wealth.’”