Post No. 14,989
Date uploaded in London – 15 September 2025
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The Mahabharata narrates the story of Nala Damyantti in Vanaparva Chapters 53-79. It is one of the longest stories in the epic. Brhadashva came to see the Pandavas in exile. Then Yudhishthira described his distressing condition. In answer to a question Brhadashva gave this story. Nala was the king of Nishada country and Damayanti was the princess of the kingdom of Vidharba. Both fell in love when they heard the virtues of both through a swan.
It is interesting in many aspects:
1
Bird Messenger: In the Rig Veda we have the oldest Dhuta Kavya in the story of Dog Messenger (Sarameyas)
Later in this epic we have Swan Messenger. 2000 year old Sangam Tamil Literature has many Birds, Insects as Messengers.
2
It described the Trade Routes of Sarthvahans. Business people travelled with big caravans. The dangers they met with are in graphic detail.
3
Horse Riding
Nala was famous for Cooking, Horse Riding and Gambling. The speed of the Horse drawn chariots show the best Road transport in the world. The speed of the horse chariots is also described.
4
Swayamvara
Hindu Kshatriya women had the wonderful freedom of choosing their husband. We see this in Bhisma attack on Kasi kingdom, then Sita Devi, then Draupadi, Damayanti Swayamvaras. Later we never hear about it until Kalidasa described Aja- Indumati Swayamvara.
Swayamvara shows that they followed one man – one woman principle.
The half -baked idiots who said that Hindus came from outside India could not show any example in any part of the world of Swayamvara. So, their Aryan Invasion theory is exploded by this and hundred more examples (use of water, wedding mantras etc).
5
If one is unclean, Kali will trouble him
6
ETs – Alien Civilization
The description of Aliens. They won’t wink; their feet won’t touch earth; their garlands wont wither etc.
7
This Nala Damayanti story inspired Kalidasa to write about Swaymavara, Cloud Messenger etc. This inspired Tamils to translate Nala Damayanti in Tamil verses.
8
Damyanti Quotations- Who is a Good Wife?
“In the face of even the most trying circumstances of life, women of good breeding protect themselves by the power of their own self, conquering thereby truth and the heavens, too: of this there is no doubt”.
Vanaparva – chapter 70-8
“When the Providence appears to be against and self effort bears no fruit, men living in truth do not grieve, nor lose heart”.
During Swayamvara – choosing your own husband—four gods from alien civilisation also joined the contest. They appeared exactly as Nala
Damayanti told the gods,
“On hearing about Nala from the white swan, I have from my heart chosen him as my husband. With the power of that truth, may the gods reveal to me Nala.
“In thought, in speech and in act (this is a phrase we see throughout Tamil and Sanskrit literature- Mano- Vaak- Kaayam), if I have never strayed from good conduct, by the power of that truth may the gods reveal to me Nala”.
****
Like Yudhisthira nala also lost his kingdom in a gambling game and they went to the forest. They suffered a lot, and Nala ran away in the middle of the night with half of Damayanti’s sari.
After wandering for three days, she went to another forest. The seers / rishis in the forest welcomed her. Astonished by her extraordinary beauty and grace, they asked her,
“Tell us who you are. Are you a goddess of this forest or the deity of the hills here or are you a deity of the river?”
Damayanti said,
“I am neither a goddess of this forest nor am I the deity of the hills, nor am I the deity of the river. I am a human being.”
Tamil Comparison
Sangam Tamil literature also talks about deities of hills, rivers, sea, lakes, even the musical instruments. This shows they had the same belief from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. A lover even mistakes his lady love to be a deity of the forest in Tamil verses. And all these deities were only women!!!
After narrating her story to the seers and enjoying their hospitality, she joined a caravan with their help which was attacked by forest elephants. Many traders died and a few of them thought Damayanti was an evil spirit causing this attack. Fearing that they would kill her she joined some Brahmins crossing the forest. She went to the capital of Chedi country and met the Raj mata/ Queen Mother; She helped her to go to Vidharba where she announced a Second Swayamwara, just to attract Nala. As expected, Nala came and joined her and the story ended happily.
Before that ,
Having heard about second Swayamvara , Nala doubted her integrity. He questioned Damayanti about it.
Damayanti said
“Do not fling at me that accusation. I am not a wayward woman, the three gods of the universe Vayu/wind, Surya/sun and Chandra/ moon are the witness of my truth. I do not propose to take another husband and there is no second Swayamvara for Damayanti. The whole thing was set up as a ploy to bring you here”.
Her plan to bring him from Ayodhya to Vidharba and her test to see whether it was Nala or not etc are described in detail in Vanaparva of Mahabharata. How they covered such aa long distance in a short time also described in detail. Though it is a long story, there are many things which describe the condition of ancient Bharat.
All Hindu women must read the stories of Satyavan -Savitri, Nala-Damayanti and Draupadi to know the Woman Power and Woman’s Freedom. Neither in Greece, nor in Rome, nor in Egypt and Sumerian we have such true stories.
–Subham—
Tags= Who is a good wife, Part 8, Nala Damayanyi, Swayamvara, Horse Chariot, Ayodhya to Vidarbha
Tamil and Vedas 