Nala and Damayanti
In Nishadha, Nala was great at commanding armies. He also was cultured. Next door, there was the mighty Bhima who was childless. One day a Brahman came to his court and was welcomed well and soon he was given a daughter, Damayanti and three noble sons. Nala fell in love with her. He wooed her with swans and they fell deeply in love. They had issues visiting each other ebcause Bhima's castle was guarded by celestial beings.
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The gods made it hard for them to get married--they wanted her to marry a god. Kali really wanted to marry her. He vowed to take revenge for being rejected and a mortal being chose over him. He promised to to be the bereft of his kingdom and of his bride.
For 12 years, Nala and Damayanti had a great life. They had a daughter Indrasena and a son Indrasen. Then one day Nala forgot to wash his feet before praying so Kali possessed him. Then he summoned his brother to play dice with him and the wicked spirit Dwapara entered the dice. He played betting away his life for months. Damaynti sent her kids to her fathers. He bet away everything that they had nothing. Kali then made him abandon his wife in the woods.
A serpent tried to kill her but she was saved by a huntsman. He wanted to take advantage of her but she cursed him and he fell dead. She then found a holy place. They told her that she would see Nala again in splendor and his sin would be forgiven, then the holy men disappeared. She continued looking for Nala until she made it to Sunanda, another queen. She found refugee there.
Nala and Damayanti Donald Alexander Mackenzie
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