Vyasa

Aranyaka Parva›The Tale of Nala and Damayanti

The Swan Becomes Messenger Between Nala and Damayanti

Why "Major"?

Causal ReachTop 59%
Character WeightTop 97%
State ChangeTop 93%
Narrative RecallTop 50%

~2 min read

Nala and Damayanti have never met, but they have heard each other praised so constantly that desire has taken root in both their hearts. Nala, unable to contain his longing, captures a golden-winged swan in a grove — and the bird bargains for its freedom by offering to become his messenger to the woman he has never seen.

Nala, the king of the Nishadhas, was unsurpassed on earth. He was so handsome that he was like Kandarpa — the god of desire — personified. And Damayanti, the daughter of Bhima of Vidarbha, was so beautiful that her fame had spread across kingdoms. People spoke of them constantly. In wonder, they repeatedly praised Nala in Damayanti's presence, and Damayanti before the king of Nishadha. Having heard incessantly about each other's qualities, they desired each other — though they had never seen each other. That desire became very strong. Nala found himself incapable of holding it in his heart. He retired alone to a grove near the inner quarters of his palace. There he saw swans whose wings were golden. As they roamed in the grove, he grasped one of the birds. Then that roamer of the sky spoke to Nala in human language. "O king! Do not kill me. I will do that which will bring you pleasure. O king of the nishadhas! I will speak about you in Damayanti's presence, so that she never thinks of any other man but you." Nala freed the swan. The swans ascended and flew to Vidarbha. They arrived at the city of Vidarbha and descended from the sky before Damayanti. She saw them — extraordinarily beautiful roamers of the sky — and, surrounded by her friends, she happily wished to grasp them. The swans spread in different directions in that beautiful grove. Each lady ran after a particular swan. The swan that Damayanti pursued took her to a secluded area. Then it addressed her in human language. "O Damayanti! There is a king of the nishadhas by the name of Nala. He is like the Ashvins — the twin gods of beauty — in beauty, and there is no man equal to him. O beautiful one! O slender-waisted one! If you become his wife, your birth and your beauty will become successful. We have seen gods, gandharvas (celestial musicians), men, serpents and rakshasas (demons). But we have never seen one like him. One like him has not been seen before. You are a jewel among women. Nala is supreme among men. The union of the special with the special has all the qualities." Thus did the swan speak to Damayanti. And she replied to the swan: "Speak this way to Nala." The one who was born from an egg accordingly promised the lady from Vidarbha. He returned to Nishadha and told Nala everything.

Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 347