Righteousness is the divine panacea for victory
- Author: Vid. Shri Ramavittalacharya
- Translator: Smt. Chomini Prakash
Nala left, abandoning Damayanti who was asleep in the forest. Damayanti who was in deep slumber owing to fatigue, woke up. She panicked when she found Nala amiss by her side. She looked at the eerie forest around. She lamented, “Oh master! Oh lord! Why did you forsake me? Can a virtuous and truthful person like you, desert your wife who is worthy of you and who loves you deeply? Are you hiding in the thickets of the forest? Give up this mirth and come and console this timorous consort of yours. My perturbation is for you my love than for myself! You are alone in this isolated jungle. As dusk befalls and you get hungry and weary from wandering, when you sit down at the foot of a tree to rest, how would you tolerate the absence of my consolation?”
Distressed and exasperated with the separation from Nala and his miserable state, Damayanti sauntered helter-skelter along the pathways of the forest like a lunatic, looking for Nala; screaming, crying, panicking, fearful, mournful and with her heart exuding love for Nala. The queen imprecated that those responsible for the adversities confronting Nala, be subjected to greater misfortune. This trudging Damayanti fell prey to a starving python that was lurking for sustenance! Even as the python was devouring her, she exclaimed, “Oh lord! This snake is swallowing me. Why aren’t you coming to my rescue? My beloved! Tomorrow, when you are liberated from these difficulties, win back your kingdom and become prosperous, you would moan at my absence by your side! Or when you roam these eerie forests, hungry and tired, how broken you would be having separated from me. Who would be beside you and resolve all your travails and sorrows!” While shrieking thus, her cries caught the attention of a hunter. The hunter darted towards Damayanti, ripped off the python with his sword and saved her. He sprinkled water and enabled her to cleanse herself. He then satiated her by offering some food. He enquired as to who she was and what brought her here. She narrated to him all that had transpired. The hunter became lustful. Her enamorous beauty, which couldn’t be hidden with her tattered clothing, incited him. Speaking tender words of consolation, the hunter approached Damayanti. Sensing his ill desire, Damayanti fumed with anger. Filled with longing, the hunter tried to coerce Damayanti. Enraged, the virtuous consort of Nala let out a curse on the hunter – “If it is true that I have never thought of any man other than Nala, may my virtue perish this lewd hunter, this very moment.” The hunter was engulfed with flames and burned to ashes!
Damayanti began wandering deeper into the forest. She fearlessly walked by several streams, lakes, dense groves, creeks, valleys, climbed up and down the hills, describing the features of Nala and asking the trees, creepers, mountains and animals if they had seen him. She was confronted by a tiger and wailed, “Oh tiger! I am looking for Nala. Have you seen him? If yes, tell me so and bring me consolation. If you have no information about Nala, devour me and deliver me from this grief.” The tiger turned around and left.
Dejected, Damayanti renewed her search. She spotted a tranquil hermitage. She saw several aged sages there. With affectionate concern, the sages said to her, “Come in, we welcome you. Sit here. What do you seek from us? Goddess of pure beauty! Are you the deity of this forest? Are you the consort of the lord of this forest? Are you the deity of the holy river flowing through this forest? Who are you? Tell us about yourself.”
Introducing herself, Damayanti said, “I am no goddess. I am a mere mortal. I am the daughter of King Bhima of the Vidarbha province. The consort of King Nala of the Nishadha kingdom who has undertaken several sacrificial rituals, been dutiful towards the ascetics, valorous in the battlefront, philanthropic and affluent in virtues. I came looking for him and had the good fortune of sighting this sacred hermitage and holy sages. Having separated from my consort, my existence is now futile. If I fail to unite with him in a few days, I shall relinquish this body.”
The truthful sages replied, “Virtuous lady! Have consolation. Great auspiciousness will befall you in the near future. You will sight Nala, the King of Nishadha. Free from all sins, he will return to rule the very same kingdom that possesses all opulence. You will unite with your consort and tread the path of happiness.” Having assured Damayanti thus and wishing her good fortune, the sages disappeared in a flash. The agnihotra receptacles, huts made of leaves, beautiful groves that Damayanti witnessed, had all vanished! A bewildered Damayanti thought, “Was I dreaming? Was it real? What is happening?” Though unable to comprehend with certainty, having heard good news from the sages, it brought some solace to her heart. Again, she set out on her journey in search of Nala.
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!
The hunger of the python was but natural. How selfish was the lustful hunger of the hunter! How vicious! Having saved Damayanti from the python, the vile hunter himself tried to deflower her. What is the eminence of Damayanti, who was able to burn down the evil-doer with the sheer power of her devotedness to her consort?! It ought to be noted that though there was nobody around to save Damayanti, her perseverance of loyalty towards her husband is what came to her rescue.
The aggression faced by Damayanti in the jungle, is today befalling the women folk dwelling in settlements and they are being consumed!
