The tale of Nala & Damayanti – IV

The fire of separation

• Author: Vid. Shri Ramavittalacharya
• Translator: Smt. Chomini Prakash

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!”

The sweet speech of Damayanti, engulfed the heart of Nala and softened him further. Nala said, “Indeed my beloved! You are the love of my life. Parting with you … no, never.” Damayanti responded, “Why then did you nudge me to visit my paternal home? I know that you cannot bear separation from me. Your desire that I be happy must have urged you to ponder thus. If that is true, let us both go to my father’s residence. My father will accord you with all honor. You can be happy too.”

Nala acknowledged, “My love! Your words are true. Your father will honor me. However, it is not feasible for me to come now. I was wealthy when I came to your house and married you. At the time, I brought jubilation. Today, when I am miserable, I cannot come there and let sadness befall anyone. Pacify yourself my dearest one!” Having spoken thus, clad in a single piece of cloth, Nala wandered around with his wife and reached a dilapidated stone pavilion.

Devoid of proper clothing and covered with dust, fatigued from wandering, Nala along with Damayanti, slept on the rough stone at the pavilion. A worn out Damayanti fell into deep slumber. Nala lamented at the unendurable state of Damayanti. Though jaded too, Nala could not fall asleep. Contemplating upon the defeat he faced in the game of dice with Pushkara, the usurping of his kingdom, the alienation he faced from his own subjects, disrobement, tormenting hunger, he looked at Damayanti and thought, though innocent, she is being subjected to suffering as a result of my misdeeds. She can never find solace being with me. If I abandon her, she will somehow make her way to her parents and have the harborage of consolation. But, she has reposed faith in me and stood by me. What if this beautiful wife of mine falls prey to someone?! No! It will not be so. She is a greatly devoted and virtuous wife. No man can trouble her. She is as invincible as the blazing fire. Having deliberated thus, Nala decided to part with Damayanti.

Being impossible to roam naked, he considered ripping off a piece from the saree clad by his wife to cover himself. He wondered, if by doing so, he would awaken his sleeping wife. He anxiously paced outside the stone pavilion. While doing so, he spotted a knife that had fallen out from the holster. He picked it up and slowly cut off a piece of cloth from the saree draped by Damayanti, wrapped it around himself and left. It was hard for him to walk away. He turned around and looked at Damayanti who was sleeping. He thought – “Back in the palace, neither the wind outside nor the sun could cast their sight upon Damayanti. Today, this beloved of mine, sleeps on the ground like an orphan. Oh destiny! Upon awakening, when she finds me missing by her side, how panic-stricken she would be at the emptiness? How and where would she go in this haunting jungle that is home to cruel animals? Damayanti, my love! Your virtuousness will protect you. I have that belief”

Praying that Aditya-Vasu-Rudra-Ashwinidevatas and Marudganadevatas protect Damayanti, Nala departed. Being possessed by Kali, he left her and walked afar. However, due to his inherent compassion, he returned again and again. He looked at his wife with tenderness. On the one hand, his immense love for Damayanti drew him close to her and on the other, the noose of Kali pulled him away. Oscillating like a swing to and fro, to and fro, his swinging heart was overpowered by Kali and Nala’s body took off from there. The unmindful, docile Damayanti lay drowned in slumber!

A loving couple strives for the happiness of one another. Unable to leave each other, they share their sorrows and cling together. The estranged couples of today think of their own happiness. They are in selfish competition with each other to be happy.

When afflicted by the miseries of life, the husband and wife who nurture love mutually become the closest confidants.

The wives who rush to their parents home as soon as the pocket and hands of the husband are empty, the husbands who are lethargic to earn and station themselves in their in-laws home can never understand the sacrifices made by Nala-Damayanti.

For a woman, character and being dedicated to the husband bring enormous strength. The man who touches the body of such a virtuous woman would be turned to ashes. The great warrior with twenty arms who abducted Seeta never dared to touch her!

Due to the invasion of Kali, even the most cordial couples are getting separated! In kaliyuga, “anyonya” marriages are on the rise. She is “anya”! He is “anya”! (anya meaning different from one another). This is the peculiarity of Kali!

Chomini Prakash