The spouse of
Damayanti and the King of Nishadas in Hindu mythology.
The Mahabharata, the second of the two major Hindu epics,
has a narrative about Nala and Damayanti.
It is told to the five Pandava brothers, the epic's heroes,
during their twelve-year exile in the forest, in order to keep their spirits up
by teaching them how others have overcome adversity.
Damayanti's father sends invitations to the kingdoms of the
world when she is old enough to marry, announcing her svayamvara, a ritual in
which Damayanti will pick her spouse.
The gods (devas) and the monarchs of the earth come to the
svayamvara to seek her hand.
Damayanti, on the other hand, has already chosen Nala after
being told by a swan who praises him.
The gods attempt to thwart this by taking on the physical
appearance of Nala, so Damayanti won't be able to tell the two apart.
Damayanti uses an act of truth as a last option, a
ceremonial action whose effectiveness is predicated on the force of truth.
Damayanti reveals in her act of truth that she has never
loved anybody except Nala.
She instructs the gods to revert to their original forms in
order to prove her point.
The gods are compelled to obey her orders by the force of
truth.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
The gods reward Nala's faithfulness with different heavenly
gifts as a result of her marriage to Damayanti.
Two of the spurned suitors curse Nala to lose his kingdom after
learning of the marriage.
Because of the curse, Nala and Damayanti are separated and
must endure many hardships, including Nala's body being magically altered so
that no one can identify him.
Damayanti recognizes him in the end because of his heavenly
talents, which cannot be disguised, and the lovers are reunited blissfully.
See also power of truth.
