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Damayanti was the wife of Nala, the king of Nishadha Kingdom
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[Original caption] Being separated from her husband Nala, the fair Damayanti enters her fathers place, yet feeling deeply for her husband, she is represented as sitting in a moon light, her maid standing by her side. [end]
The word "Damayanti" owes its origin to a Sanskrit word that means "subduing". The story of Nala - Damayanti is mentioned in the Mahabharata.
Damayanti chose Nala as her husband in Swayamvara (a practice by women in the ancient period to choose their life partner). However, the demon Kali, who wished to marry Damayanti, vowed to take revenge. As Nala was a righteous person of great virtue, Kali had to wait for twelve years to bewitch the soul of Nala. Under the influence of Kali, Nala played a game of dice with his brother Pushkara and lost his kingdom and wealth. Nala and Damayanti went to live in forest where they got separated. After facing many hardships, the couple was finally reunited and Nala won back his kingdom by defeating his brother Pushkar in a game of dice.  |
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