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.”
Though Nala abandoned her midway, she didn’t nurture vengeance or anger towards him. On the contrary, her love and longing for Nala swelled and she wandered enquiring about him with the forest trees and beings. Isn’t the love that Damayanti bore for her consort exemplary? Despite the agony of separation from her beloved, solitary confinement and travails that befell her at the forest, she didn’t lash out at Nala!
Having lost in the game of dice, Nala, along with Damayanti, reached the forest. He said to Damayanti who was suffering due to him, “My confidant! This path leads to the kingdom of Vidarbha.” Damayanti replied, “Lord! Why are you directing my attention towards the pathway that leads to my paternal home? I cannot leave you in this agonizing state and go there at a time when you have lost your kingdom, wealth and opulent robes too and are exhausted due to the affliction of hunger and thirst. I shall stay by your side and reduce the trepidation of the ordeal you are facing, being weary from wandering, reminiscing the happy times of the past and bereft of food and sleep. In all times of tribulations, there is no better companion than one’s consort. For all distresses, the wife is the most profound panacea!”
Pushkara invited Nala to gamble. Nala acceded to the request. All his well-wishers implored him to refrain from gambling. Nala did not pay heed. He drowned in the game. The ministers, along with the citizens, arrived at the palace to obviate Nala from gambling.
King Bhima pronounced the swayamvara of Damayanti. Several gallant kings hastened to attend it. Along with Nala, Indra-Agni-Yama-Varuna assumed the physical appearance of Nala and remained seated in the swayamvara pavilion.
Once there lived a noble king, Rantideva who was renowned for his humanity and generosity. Rantideva, the humble and pious king was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu.
The compassion that the Lord has on us is boundless, blemish less and timeless. Sri Raghavendra Teertha has praised our Lord in Pratha Sankalpa Gadya as “Karuna samudra Hari”. Many incidents in Srimad Bhagavata bear testimony to this wherein the Lord has given refuge to the ones who surrender firmly unto Him with unshakeable faith and has protected them from unforeseen mishappenings by means which are totally unimaginable and impossible by us. We can quote numerous examples as in the cases of Draupadi, Sudhama, Prahallada, Dhruva, Gajendra etc.
Nala was an embodiment of all virtues and sacrifice. There was a King by the name Bhima at Vidarbha. He was childless. Once, the sage ‘Damana’ accepted the respectful hospitality of the King and stated that the royal couple would be blessed with a precious daughter and three sons. Eventually, they begot a daughter and three sons named Damayanti, Dama, Daanta and Damana respectively.