Nala

In Hindu mythology, the King of
Nishadas and the husband of Damayanti.
The story of Nala and Damayanti appears
as a story within the Mahabharata, the
later of the two great Hindu epics. It is
recounted to the five Pandava brothers,
the epic’s protagonists, during their twelve
year exile in the forest, as a way to keep up
their spirits by telling how others have
transcended misfortune.
When Damayanti is old enough to
marry, her father sends invitations to the
kings of the earth, announcing her
svayamvara, a rite in which Damayanti
will choose her husband. The kings of
the earth come to the svayamvara to
seek her hand, as do the gods (devas)
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Naisthika
themselves. Yet Damayanti has already
decided to choose Nala after being
advised by a swan who praises him. The
gods try to foil this by taking on the
physical appearance of Nala, so that
Damayanti will not be able to tell the
difference between them. As a last
resort, Damayanti makes an act of
truth, a ritual action whose efficacy is
based on the power of truth. In her act of
truth, Damayanti declares that she has
never loved anyone but Nala. To prove
that this statement is true, she directs
the gods to resume their true forms.
Compelled by the power of truth, the
gods immediately do as she commands.
Nala and Damayanti are married, and as
a reward for her fidelity, the gods give
Nala various divine gifts. Hearing of the
marriage, two of the rejected suitors
curse Nala to lose his kingdom. Because
of the curse, Nala and Damayanti are
separated and suffer long tribulations,
which include Nala having his body
magically changed so that no one is able
to recognize him. In the end Damayanti
recognizes him by his divine powers,
which cannot be hidden, and the lovers
are happily reunited. See also truth,
power of.