Damayanti
Heroine of the Nalopakhyana, known for devotion to Nala.
Damayanti is a heroine from ancient Indian literature, best known for her role in the Nalopakhyana episode within the Mahabharata's Vana Parva, dated circa 400 BCE – 400 CE.[1]
Quick Facts
- Children
- Indrasena (son); Indrasenā (daughter)
- Family
- Bhima, King of Vidarbha (father)
- Queen of Vidarbha (mother)
- Dama, Danta, and Damana (brothers)
- Origin
- Vidarbha kingdom
- Spouse
- Nala
- Relatives
- Queen-mother of Chedi (maternal aunt)
- Subahu and Sunanda (maternal cousins)
- Pushkara (brother-in-law)
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
Damayanti is the daughter of King Bhima of Vidarbha, born after the hermit Dama blessed the childless king and queen.[2] King Bhima arranged a swayamvara where the gods Indra, Agni, Varuna, and Yama also sought her hand.[3] After marriage, the gandharva Kali caused Nala to lose his kingdom through gambling, leading to the couple's exile.[4] Nala abandoned Damayanti while she slept, and she subsequently endured wandering, a snake attack, and a hunter's assault before finding shelter in Chedi.[5][6]
She devised a false swayamvara to lure Nala, who was disguised as the charioteer Bahuka, and after tests confirmed his identity, they reunited.[2][7] Nala then reclaimed his kingdom and ruled wisely with Damayanti and their children.[7] A group of golden-hued swans, sent by Nala, arrived at Damayanti’s palace gardens; one swan spoke to her, describing Nala's virtues, appearance, and qualities, which caused her to develop a deep longing for him before they had met in person.[2]
References
- Wikipedia, "Damayanti" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: J. A. B. van Buitenen, "The Mahabharata, Volume 2", University of Chicago Press, 1981, p. 318–322 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Damayanti" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mani, "Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature", Motilal Banarsidass, 2015-01-01, p. Damayantī (374) (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Damayanti" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Mani, "Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature", Motilal Banarsidass, 2015-01-01, p. Damayantī (374); Bibek Debroy, "The Mahabharata, 10 Volumes by B. Debroy", p. 1111–1121; Doniger, "Splitting the Difference: Gender and Myth in Ancient Greece and India", University of Chicago Press, 1999-04-15, p. 141–142 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Damayanti" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hegarty, "Religion, Narrative and Public Imagination in South Asia: Past and Place in the Sanskrit Mahabharata", Routledge, March 2013, p. 84 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Damayanti" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bibek Debroy, "The Mahabharata, 10 Volumes by B. Debroy", p. 1121–1141 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Damayanti" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Bibek Debroy, "The Mahabharata, 10 Volumes by B. Debroy", p. 1143–1147 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Damayanti" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Unbekannt, "The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa I", anboco, 2016-08-18, p. 1047; www.wisdomlib.org, "Section LXXVIII [Mahabharata, English]", www.wisdomlib.org, 2012-11-23; Bibek Debroy, "The Mahabharata, 10 Volumes by B. Debroy", p. 1156–1180 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Damayanti (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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