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| Another Damayanti Swayamvara Source:Revolvy |
Nala is described in detail as a king of greatness. A
mighty(I assume strong) son, gifted with every virtue(high moral), handsome,
good with taming horses(important in later story). He is given title of the
head of all the kings of mortals, like the monarch(boss) of the gods. He is
well-read in the Vedas which is required of the kings in India. He is the best
representation of the human race.
Damayanti was the pearl of maidens. She was beautiful,
brilliant, bright, and graceful. How these are interpreted in the poem I am not
certain. She is not rivaled in her beauty among gods, yakshas, or mortal men.
Both being of such good virtues and beauty, were pictured as
a couple and praised around the other even though they had not met. Antsy Nala
tried to catch a glimpse and instead caught a hamsa who made a deal to talk
with Damayanti. The hamsa tells her their children would be perfect and their
union would be blessed. They were meant to be together. She asked the bird to speak
the same of her to Nala, thus beginning their courtship.
Book II
Damayanti became love sick and so her father ordered her
swayamvara.
A meeting was happening in the sky with Indra, Varuna, Yama,
and Agni but only two were in attendance. When they found out it was because
everyone was going to try to win the hand of Damyanti; they decided to try to
win her hand also. As the gods descended the sky they came across Nala. They
thought he was equal in looks to the god of love. They called him by name and
asked him to do their bidding.
Book III
Nala promised to help before asking what. He tries to decline their
request since he was also trying to win her love. The gods were not happy and transported him to her room.
Those in the room recognize his beauty and Damayanti asks for his name,
purpose, and how he got there. He does tell her his name, but that he
is the messenger of the gods which is how he could get in to the room, divine
intervention. He tells her that they desire to marry her.
Book IV
Damayanti tells him she has already fallen in love with him
and there is no changing her mind even though he lists off several
examples/reasons to pick a god. He also explains he cannot plead for his case
because of his mission, so she finds a way to work around this without getting
him in trouble. She also instructs him to tell the gods that she has already
picked him as her suitor.
He gives this information to the gods and tells them that
she welcomes them to the swayamvara proclaiming the judgement is left in their
hands.
Book V
More descriptive section of her entering the room and
finding the gods and Nala all looking the same. The dialogue she uses includes
words with the Hamsa(swan), how she already pledged to love Nala, she asks the
gods to show themselves.
In this the gods hear her sadness but also true resolve to
find the real Nala, decide to reveal their traits thus making her able to
figure out whom to choose. Nala pledges his love to her since she chose him in
front of gods among other reasons.
The gods are truly happy and give Nala a total of eight
gifts and returned to the heavens. It also describes how he continues to be a good
person and that they had a son and daughter.
Bibliography
