- Author: Vid. Shri Ramavittalacharya
- Translation & Illustration : Smt. Chomini Prakash
She upheld righteousness even in the face of adversity
While wandering in the wilderness in search of her beloved Nala, Damayanti sighted a group of merchants. While meandering there, she bore dusty hair, tattered clothing, a depressed face due to the agony of separation, a frail body and yet adorned a divine radiance which came forth because of her devotedness to her husband. Upon seeing such a Damayanti, some of the passersby darted out of fear. Some stood marveling with amazement. Some shrieked. Some were envious. Some ridiculed. Some were compassionate; they even enquired, “Who are you? Who are you looking for? Mother! Tell us the fact. Are you the goddess of the forest, the mountains or the directions? Bestow us with auspiciousness. Protect us mother! We are going on business. We humbly pray you bless us to cross this dark and eerie forest pathway safely and quickly. Damayanti replied, “I am no goddess. I am on the lookout for the virtuous and best amongst men, Nala – my consort. If you have seen King Nala anywhere, please tell me.” The chief of the group of merchants said, “Mother! We have not sighted any human in this forest apart from you. I know of all the elephants, lions, tigers and deer in this forest. However, I have not seen Nala. May Manibhadra, the Yaksha King protect us in this forest.”
Damayanti asked, “Where is this group of merchants headed towards?” The chief of the merchants replied, “We are travelling to the land of Subahu, the King of the Chedis to sell our merchandise for gains.”
Damayanti proceeded with the group of merchants. After a long travail, they spotted a beautiful lake in the dreadful wilderness. It was filled with cool water infused with the aroma of lotus blooms. The weary merchants decided to spend the night there, get some rest and resume their journey post dawn the following day. All of them drifted into deep slumber. The eerie silence of midnight enveloped the place. Suddenly, herds of elephants came from the hills to drink water. They encircled the merchants who were asleep. They trumpeted. All the people woke up from their sleep terrorized. They were stupefied. Some of them were crumpled by the tusks, trunks and feet of the elephants. Some perished. Some stood back up. Some tripped. Some ran. Owing to the darkness, some fell into the ditches and streams and died. Some collided with the trees and rolled down. The trumpeting of the elephants and the horrific screams of the people reached the skies.
The thunderous fury of the screams made Damayanti wince. She was dumbfounded upon witnessing the situation. She panicked, trembled and dwindled; those who miraculously survived the onslaught of the elephants attributed the failure to worship Manibhadra as the cause for the attack. Some spoke grudgingly, “That shrewish woman we sighted en route – this must all be her deed. Who knows whether she is a demon, ghost or an ogress? Let us beat her to death with stones, sticks, dust and fists for being the reason for all these casualties.”
Upon hearing this accusation, Damayanti cringed, perspired and darted into the thickets of the forest. She lamented, “Oh! Destiny! What ill-fate is this! My husband lost his kingdom. I no longer have him by my side. I have been separated from my children. I have been betrayed by my own people. I have been wandering around in this forest orphaned. Now this slander comes my way. For which deeds are these a fruit? I have betrayed none through action, speech or mind in this lifetime. Is this the fruit of transgression in a previous life? The merchants whom I encountered provided anchorage in these arduous trails of the forest. They have now succumbed to the attack by the elephants. What fate! I have not erred even during childhood. Could it be the fruit of having declined to choose the demigods as my consort at the assemblage of suitors?” While contemplating thus, Damayanti came across a group of learned Brahmins. She walked a long distance with them and the following evening, she set foot into the land of Subahu, the King of the Chedis.
As she walked along the main street with unkempt hair, a garment that barely covered her and in a disheveled state, children and young men surrounded her thinking her to be a mad woman. King Subahu’s mother, who had been curiously witnessing all of this from the terrace of her chamber, instructed her attendant thus, “Go bring that woman. Drive the people away. There is a divine radiance in her face.”
The attendant led Damayanti into the palace. The curious King Mother made Damayanti sit beside her and affectionately asked, “Who are you? Though seemingly aggrieved, you bear ceaseless beauty. Though devoid of adornments, you are attractive. I see you are one who fears no man. These features of yours do not seem like those of an ordinary mortal!”
Damayanti replied, “I am a mortal. I am no goddess. I am a serving maid of the Sairandhri lineage. I am a wanderer. I am looking for my consort. He parted with me while I was asleep in the forest and I am yet to locate him.” The King Mother said, “Damayanti! Reside in my residence. My servants will look for your husband. Else, there is also the possibility of him coming here looking for you.”
Damayanti responded, “King Mother! If I am to reside here, I have a set of preconditions. I will not consume the left overs of any other man. I will not press the foot of another man. I shall never talk to a man. If any man desires me, you ought to punish him even if it at times may warrant execution. I shall meet the learned Brahmins to be aided in the quest for my husband. If you are agreeable, I shall stay back, else I shall leave at once!”
The King Mother happily agreed and said, “This is a vow that every married woman must undertake. I shall make all arrangements. Stay here.” She then called for her daughter Sunanda and said, “My daughter! From now onward, this serving maid shall be your companion. Stay happy with her. She is a virtuous woman. Have no fear.” Sunanda joyfully agreed. Damayanti stayed there waiting for Nala.
Though Damayanti had to wander in the forest alone looking for her husband and had faced great ordeals, she was not quick to accept the shelter of the King Mother. She agreed to stay on only upon acceptance of her preconditions in order to protect her devotedness to her husband. What piety!
Girls who enjoy leisurely bike rides with different boys even before wedlock, girls who share food with other boys and eat off the same plate at upahara darshinis, married woman who roam around with other men without hesitation, float in the illusion that they represent the new generation. It would come as no surprise if the greatly devoted Damayanti is viewed as an untouchable primitivist by such people!
Pingback: TALES OF NALA AND DAMAYANTI – 7 – Sarvamoolapatrika