Episode 57 Damayanti, the Indomitable

The Nala-Damayanti story continues. Nala loses his kingdom, and the couple is forced to confront a new reality.

Notes

• The rishi telling the story is Brhadasva

• Nala and Damayanti have twins, Indrasena (he/his/him) and Indrasenaa (she/hers/her)

• Nala’s name in disguise is Bahuka, which captures his image as one with misshapen limbs

• Snake’s name is Karkotaka

• Damayanti finds refuge with the Queen Mother in the kingdom of Cedi, who hires her for her daughter, Sunanda.

• Damayanti’s discovered by her brother’s friend Sudeva, who confirms her identity by a lotus-shaped birthmark between her brows

• Nala is employed by King Rituparna of Ayodhya

• Nala and Damayanti do communicate through poetry.

• Nala’s old driver “Varsneya” is also simultaneously working for King Rituparna, after he’s laid off by Damayanti; the text doesn’t tell us about how he and Nala interact

• Nala does sing the same song every night, though sadly not Lionel Richie’s “Hello”

• Nala actually counts the nuts in the tree, which they cut down to make counting easier. The king does not give a specific number, and mathematical skill is implied.