The Mahabharata is regarded as the 'Panchama Veda' or the fifth Veda, signifying that it encapsulates the wisdom of the Vedas through its stories in a summarized manner. In this post, we continue the timeless fable of Nala-Damayanti, along with this, we provide insights on Demons, Pativrata Dharma and Gruhasthashrama Dharma, in the light of Dharma Shastras and Vedas.
Summary of the Previous Post:
In the previous post, Nala and Damayanti were in love with each other without ever meeting simply by hearing the admiration of others. The flock of swans facilitated their virtual union.
Meanwhile, King Bhīma (not the Pandava, but Damayanti's father) decided it was time for Damayanti to wed and invited kings and princes from various realms to attend her 'Swayamvara'. In the heavens, Indra learned of the event through Narada, the great sage. Agni, Varuna, and Yama also showed interest. Together, they descended to Earth and met Nala on the way, instructing him to convey Indra's marriage proposal to Damayanti. Reluctantly, Nala complied and delivered the message to Damayanti. Damayanti declined to agree, stating that she would marry only Nala. She devised a plan to choose Nala in the Swayamvara. During the Swayamvara, Damayanti encountered five identical figures of Nala. With divine grace, Damayanti recognized Nala, and they were united. Their union was blessed, their love now sanctified by the heavens themselves.
As the gods departed, a shadow lingered at the celebration's edge. Kali, the demonic spirit of envy and discord, watched with dark fury. “How could a mere mortal win such a virtuous, radiant woman?” he snarled, jealously burning like fire. Driven by rage, Kali vowed to shatter their happiness. He descended upon Nala’s kingdom, seeking to sow discord. Yet Nala’s devotion to Dharma (Vishnu) and his strong character thwarted Kali. For twelve years, Kali waited in the shadows for a misstep to strike.
Apart from this, we also discussed Insights on Astral Realms and Spiritual Concepts like Niyata-Dampatitva, Purusha-Prakriti, Manifestation Process in Demi-Gods (Atman). To learn more, please visit the post in the related posts section.
The Story Continues...
For twelve years, Kali lingered in the shadows, waiting like a coiled serpent with endless patience. And then, one fateful day, his moment arrived. King Nala, hurried and distracted, neglected to wash his feet thoroughly. In that fleeting moment of vulnerability, Kali slipped into his heart. Unseen and insidious, fate unleashed a chain of events that would test the very foundations of love and stretch the endurance of the human spirit to its breaking point.
It started subtly. Nala’s brother, Puṣhkara, nonchalantly proposed a game of dice, an apparently innocent suggestion planted in his mind by Kali’s dark influence. In spite of the urgent warnings from his ministers and the tearful pleas of his queen, Damayanti, Nala found himself powerless to resist the allure of the dice. Ensnared by Kali’s spell, the dice repeatedly turned against him. Gold, jewels, his powerful chariots, and even the formidable army—all were lost in the unrelenting cycle of defeat.
Damayanti, symbolizing grace and foresight, observed powerlessly as her deepest fears came true. Once Nala’s last wealth had vanished, she discreetly summoned Vārśeya, her husband’s devoted charioteer. Her voice, despite its steadiness, revealed the turmoil inside her. “Take my children, Indrasena and Indrasena, to my father’s palace in Vidarbha,” Damayanti instructed. “Ensure their safety. No matter what fate has in store for us, they must be protected.”
Her words turned out to be prophetic. In the subsequent days, Nala was deprived of his kingdom, with Puṣhkara cunningly seizing his throne. The once-great king and his loyal queen left their homeland together, with nothing remaining but the love that united them. The citizens, unable to help, cried openly as their cherished ruler departed through the city gates. However, in his ruthless victory, Puṣhkara prohibited anyone from providing assistance to the exiled pair—not food, not water, nor even shelter.
The expansive and unforgiving wilderness became their abode. Hunger tormented their stomachs, and for three days, they subsisted solely on water. Then, as if the heavens showed them mercy, Nala noticed a flock of birds with golden wings. "Maybe our luck has changed," he thought, a glimmer of hope in his heart. With his last piece of clothing, he crafted a makeshift net to catch them.
However, the birds were not ordinary beings. As they soared into the sky, they taunted him with a derisive laugh. “We are the dice you wagered with, Nala,” they mocked. “We have come to take your final belongings.” With that, they disappeared, leaving him completely exposed, having taken his garment.
Defeated and humiliated, Nala returned to Damayanti, his heart heavy with shame. When he spoke, his voice was barely a whisper. “How can I protect you, my love, when I cannot even protect myself?” he asked, his head bowed. “Go back to your father’s palace. There, you will find safety and peace.”
But Damayanti’s eyes flashed with defiance. Her voice, though soft, carried the strength of unshakable resolve. “Do you think I married you for wealth or comfort?” she demanded. “A wife’s place is beside her husband—in joy and in sorrow, in triumph and in despair. You are my world, Nala. No hardship, no fate, can change that. I will not leave your side, no matter what destiny decrees.”
Her words eased Nala's troubled spirit, yet the burden of his guilt persisted. Every night, as Damayanti rested, weary from their struggles, he stayed awake, tormented by her pain. Witnessing her endure such hardship because of him was unbearable.
On a moonlit night, Nala faced the most painful choice of his life.
“She will be safe if I leave her,” he thought. “If she cannot find me, she will have no choice but to return to Vidarbha. There, she will have the care and protection I cannot provide.” Tears streamed down his face as he gazed at her sleeping form. The forest around him was silent, save for the rustling of leaves that seemed to echo his sorrow.
With trembling hands, he tore a piece of her garment to cover himself. Bowing his head, he whispered a prayer to the gods of the forest and the skies. “Watch over her,” he begged. “Guide her safely to her family.” With one final look at his beloved, Nala turned and walked away into the darkness. Each step felt like a dagger piercing his heart, but his resolve did not falter. He would bear the pain of separation if it meant Damayanti’s safety.
When Damayanti awoke, the emptiness beside her hit her like a thunderclap. Panic coursed through her veins as she called out, her voice trembling with anguish.
“My Lord! Where are you?”
She stumbled through the forest, her bare feet bruised and bleeding, her heart weighed down with despair. Her cries rang out into the wilderness, but there was no response. The Queen, once adorned with jewels and silks, now wandered the dense jungle, her beauty and grace cloaked in sorrow. “Lord,” she whispered to the wind, her voice breaking but her determination unshaken. “I will find you. No matter how far you have gone, no matter how long it takes—I will not rest until we are together again.”
Will Damayanti’s unwavering love lead her back to her beloved? Stay tuned for the next chapter of this timeless saga of sacrifice, resilience, and love that defies even the hardest trials.
Insights on Demons, Pativrata Dharma and Gruhasthashrama Dharma:
You might be wondering if Nala Maharaja was possessed by Kali simply for not washing his feet. No, that's not the case. Kali is the supreme among all demons and evil spirits. These demons and spirits inhabit human bodies and cause trouble by corrupting our minds. These internal demons are responsible for the presence of Ari-Shatvargaa: the six enemies of humanity that lead humans to indulge in wicked pleasures. They are Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed), Madha (arrogance), Moha (infatuation), and Mathsara (envy).
The mention of 'ignoring feet wash' is primarily to encourage people to wash their legs for hygiene reasons. Also, people get possessed by demonic spirits when their mind and body are unclean. Prioritizing meditation for mental clarity and bathing (Snana) for physical cleanliness should be integral to our daily routines. It's not Kali enters our body from the outside; but he stays within us. Our supreme goal of life should be to not entertain evil (Kali) and serve Lord Vishnu.
As previously stated,
the Mahabharata is a skit by Lord Vishnu, with all the deities and demons as its actors. In the Mahabharata, as well as in the cosmos, there are no accidents. Everything may appear chaotic, beneath the chaos, there is a secret order according to which events unfold. This was designed by Lord Vishnu (Paramatma). You may become overwhelmed with problems, worry excessively, or feel anxious about the future; however, if you understand this order and surrender completely to Lord Krishna, He will protect you at all costs. You do not need to think about anything except Krishna. Everything is already taken care of by Him.
Nala is not a human, he's a demi-god, following the orders of Lord Vishnu. Devatas or demi-gods are protected from evil, most of the times. Nala or Damayanti don't have physical bodies like us to suffer from hardships, they have astral bodies, which is made of cosmic energy. Kali or any demon can't enter that body.
True love can't happen between humans; it's eternal and unperturbed with demi-gods (Purusha-Prakriti).
Nala-Damayanti are permanent couples (Niyata Dampati) [P.S refer to the previous post to learn about this.] A wife is called 'Ardhangi'; means she's the other part of husband (Praktiti).
Damayanti genuinely loved Nala, and Nala reciprocated her feelings. Damayanti adhered to 'Pativrata Dharma', which means always supporting and standing by her husband in every aspect. It's about standing by one's husband at all times. This dharma involves sharing in the husband's joys and sorrows, wealth and poverty, or any circumstance. It is considered one of the most powerful and challenging vows to uphold. The Dharma Shastras prescribe this vow for every married woman. Damayanti followed thisDharma (duty) throughout her life. The purpose of getting married is to serve the Lord as per Swadharma and Varna-Ashrama Dharma.
Pseudo-feminists argue this is applicable only to women; they further argue that it's patriarchal and oppressive towards women.
Dharma Shastras (given in Vedas) view men and women as equals (Purusha-Prakriti), in contrast to Abrahamic religions. According to the same Dharma Shastras, under 'Gruhastha Dharma,' the husband is assigned specific duties and responsibilities. He is required to provide his wife with adequate food, clothing, and shelter, in addition to other luxuries and comforts. Furthermore, the husband is obligated to satisfy certain desires of his wife, provided they do not contradict Dharma.
Nala strictly followed 'Gruhastha Dharma.' Nala constantly pressured Damayanti to return to her father's place, as Dharma Shastras mandates a husband to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing to her, apart from the security. He loved his wife, he never wanted his wife to suffer along with him, that's why out of frustration, he left her.
In the coming posts, we'll learn about various other aspects of Mahabharata, which conjures up the spiritual quotient or Dharam Buddhi within our readers. We will also continue the timeless saga of Nala-Damayanti's eternal love and Dharma Sadhana. Please stay tuned!
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