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दमयंती (damayaMtI)

 
Apte 1890
English
दमयंती N. of the daughter of Bhīma, king of the Vidarbhas. [She was so called because by her matchless beauty she subdued the ride of all lovely women
cf. N. 2. 18:
भुवनत्रयसुभ्रुवामसौ दमयंती कमनीयतामदं । उदियाय यतस्तनुश्रिया दमयंतीति ततोऽभिधां दधौ ॥. A golden swan first described to her the beauty and virtues of king Nala, and through him she communicated her love to Nala. Afterwards at a Svayaṃvara she chose Nala for her husband from out of a host of competitors among whom were the four gods Indra, Agni, Yama, and Varuṇa themselves, and the lovely pair spent some years very happily. But their happiness was not destined to last long. Kali, envious of the good fortune of Nala, entered his body, and induced him to play at dice with his brother Puṣkara. In the heat of the play the infatuated monarch staked and lost everything except himself and his wife. Nala and Damayantī were therefore driven out of the kingdom, ‘clad in a single garment’. While wandering through the wilderness, Damayantī had to pass through several trying adventures, but her devotion to her husband remained entirely unshaken. One day while she was asleep, Nala in the frenzy of despair abandoned her, and she was obliged to go to her father's house. After some time she was united with her husband, and they passed the rest of their lives in the undisturbed enjoyment of happiness. See Nala and Ṛtuparṇa also].