Nal and Damayantee Fall in Love

There was a king named Nal who was the son of the King Veerasen of Nishadh Desh. He was very well versed in the knowledge of horses and otherwise too, he was very qualitative. He was very fond of playing dice game. And there was another king like him - Bheem of Vidarbh Desh. He had everything but a child. He made lots of efforts but of no use. Once a Brahmarshi named Daman came to him. He and his wife pleased the Rishi with their services. Pleased with them the Rishi granted their wish, that they will soon have a beautiful daughter and three mighty sons. So they had. They named their daughter Damayantee and the three sons Dam, Dant and Daman. Bheem's sons were very mighty and the daughter was very beautiful. She soon became celebrity of the world. Neither any goddess, nor Yaksh, nor Apsaraa had such beauty as hers. Even Devtaa wished to possess her. Nal was also not less handsome in the three worlds, he was like Kaam Dev. Now both were so beautiful that the people who traveled one from country to another used to sing the praise of their beauty in both countries. This praise developed a kind of attachment in both Nal and Damayantee's hearts for each other and it was growing strong to stronger everyday.

Now Nal always started thinking about Damayantee and passing his time in solitude in his palace gardens. Once when he was taking a stroll there, that he saw several swans with gold wings. He caught one of them. The swan got frightened and said - "Please do not kill me, I will do something to please you. I will praise you before Damayantee in such a way that she will never choose any other man as her husband." Hearing this Nal freed him. The swans flew and came to Vidarbh Desh. As Damayantee saw them she also found them extraordinary and ran to catch them, but they all scattered in all directions. Her all maids also ran after them, but the Swan after whom Damayantee ran, took her in a lonely place and talked to her in human speech - "There is a king of Nishadh Desh, named Nal. There is no other man like him. He is equal to Ashwinee Kumaar in beauty. If you become his wife your life will be blessed. We have never seen any man, any Gandharv, any Devtaa like him. s you are a jewel among women he is the jewel among men." Damayantee said - "You speak thus to Nal also." The swan replied "So be it" and he flew away to Nishadh Desh.

Brihadaashwa said - "After talking to swan, Damayantee lost her all peace of mind because of Nal. Soon she started looking pale and sad. She wept all the time. Seeing this her maids told the king about her illness. First the King Bheem got worried but then thought that "Oh, My daughter has grown up now, I should organize her Swayamvar." So he organized it and sent messages to many kings and princes about her Swayamvar. In course of time people have started gathering in Vidarbh Desh to grace the occasion.

At the same time, two celestial Muni, Naarad Jee and Parvat, arrived in Indra Lok. Maghaavat (Indra) worshipped them and asked them about the peace and the news in other Lok. They told him that everything was all right. The King of Vidarbh Desh was organizing his beautiful daughter Damayantee's Swayamvar, it is going to take place shortly. All kings and princes want to have her. At the same time other Lokpaal Agni etc also came there and they also heard this news. They all said - "We will also go." and they also set out to Vidarbh Desh to attend Damayantee's Swayamvar. When Nal heard about the Swayamvar of Dmayantee, he also set for Vidarbh Desh with his all valor. He was looking like the god of Love himself, resplendent as the Sun. Seeing his valor, all Lokpaal got disappointed that maybe Damayantee would not marry them. So they approached Raajaa Nal and said to him - "You are devoted to truth, please help us, we want to marry Damayantee, so be our messenger to her."