Saturday, 9 July 2016

Damayanti becomes a maid

Damayanti went deeper into the forest where she saw tall trees, many animals and beautiful streams flowing there. She was lost in her thought, looking for Nala, and thus never noticed the beauty of the place. She kept missing and kept crying out to Nala.

Travelling, she saw a river and stopped there. People were surprised to see a stranger there. One person asked her, who she was. Why was roaming alone in the forest?

Damayanti said Do not be afraid. I am not a demoness or ghost. I have lost my husband and am looking for him.

Some people, who were travelling merchants, said they were travelling to the kingdom of Chedi. They would take her with them.

And after having proceeded for many days the merchants saw a large lake with lotuses. Tired, they decided to halt there. A herd of elephants was passing by. It was evening. The elephants saw the caravan and also saw some elephants tied there. A fight broke up between the elphants and in their frenzy, the elephants started crushing the merchants sleeping there. The merchants suffered great losses.

Damayanti was scared. The merchants thought that all had happened because of her. Damayanti said I have not committed any sins. It may be because of my previous birth's sins that I have lost my husband and I am roaming around, asking for help.

The merchants left without Damayanti. Damayanti saw a group of travelling brahmanas and see went along with them. They soon reached the kingdom of Chedi which ruled by a king called Suvahu. People started wondering who this was, clad in torn garments and dirty. The king's mother saw Damayanti from her terrace and asked her to fetch Damayanti.

When the queen mother asked her who she was, Damayanti said that she was a maid who was separated from her husband. The Queen Mother asked her to stay in the palace and said she would help Damayanti look for her husband.

The queen mother then sent for her daughter called Sunanda and asked her to accept the new lady as her personal maid. 

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