Nala Reconciles with King Rituparna
King Rituparna learns that his charioteer Bahuka was actually King Nala in disguise, and that Nala has been reunited with Damayanti. He is delighted — but Nala, brought before him, immediately begs forgiveness, setting off a mutual exchange of pardon between two kings who both feel they owe the other something.
King Rituparna heard the news: Bahuka was Nala. And Nala had been reunited with Damayanti.
He was delighted.
Nala had him brought before him. Then Nala, who was intelligent, begged forgiveness from the king — for several reasons.
Rituparna was surprised. He was being honoured, not accused. He spoke to Nishadha: "I congratulate you that you have been happily reunited with your wife. O lord of Nishadha! If I committed any crime when you lived in disguise in my house — if I committed an offence, knowingly or unknowingly — please pardon me."
Nala replied: "O king! You have not committed the slightest crime. Even if you had, I would not have been angered and would have forgiven you. You have always been my friend and my relative. I have lived happily in your house and you have always provided me with every object of desire — more in your house than in my own. O king! Please exhibit your friendship in future too. Your knowledge about horses vests with me. If you so wish, I will happily impart it to you now."
Having said this, Nishadha gave that knowledge to Rituparna. Rituparna performed the prescribed deeds and accepted it.
Then King Bhangasvari — for that was Rituparna's other name — appointed another charioteer and left for his own city.
After Rituparna had left, King Nala did not reside in the city of Kundina for a long time. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 373