Sudeva

A brahmana named Sudeva arrives in the city of Chedi and sees a woman in the king's palace — thin, dirty, barely recognizable. But something in her bearing, her eyes, the shape of her face, tells him she is Damayanti, the princess of Vidarbha, fallen from her former life.

Sudeva approaches Damayanti and tells her who he is — her brother's friend, sent by King Bhima. He tells her that her family is alive and well. Damayanti recognizes him and weeps, asking about everyone she loves. But their conversation is seen, and the king's mother comes to demand the truth.

A messenger searching the earth for the lost queen Damayanti finally finds her — living in obscurity, her face covered in dirt. But he recognizes her by the one thing grime cannot hide: the lotus-shaped mark between her eyebrows, placed there by the creator himself.

After a long separation, Damayanti arrives in Vidarbha to find her children, parents, and friends all well. Her father rewards the messenger who found her, and Damayanti rests at last in her father's house — but she has more to say to her mother.

Damayanti has heard Bahuka's words and knows Nala is alive — but she needs to force him to reveal himself. She summons Sudeva and gives him a message for King Rituparna: Damayanti will hold a second svayamvara tomorrow morning, because Nala's fate is unknown.

Damayanti has heard Parnada's report and knows what she must do — but she cannot let her father Bhima know. She goes to her mother in secret and reveals her plan: send the brahmana Sudeva to Ayodhya to bring Nala back, while keeping the king in the dark.

King Rituparna tells his charioteer Bahuka that he wishes to reach Vidarbha in a single day for Damayanti's svayamvara. Bahuka's mind is torn apart by grief and suspicion — is Damayanti truly choosing another husband, or is this a ruse for his sake? Tormented, he resolves to go and discover the truth.