Nala returns to his land

Nala, decked in all finery that deserved a king, then went to King Bhima with Damayanti. The king was thrilled to see him. The citizens of the country were also very happy to see Nala.  Rituaparna was also very happy to hear that Nala had been reunited with Damayanti. He begged forgiveness but Nala said he was grateful to him. Nala then taught Rituparna all he knew about horses, and Rituparna in return taught Nala, all hew knew about the science of the game of dice.
Employing a charioteer, Rituparna then left for Ayodhya and Nala also left for his land.

He then aproached his cousin Pushkara and asked for a game of dice. Nala won back all that he had lost to Pushkara. Pushkara went back to his kingdom.

Nala lived happily in his kingdom, performing sacrifices and ruling as a just ruler.

When he was old, he made his son the king.

Thus ending his tale of Nala, the sage said to Yudhistira - Nala had suffered more than you. Bad luck will not stay for ever. It will pass.

The sage then took leave of the Pandavas.

Damayanti meets Vahuka

Taking permission from her mother, Damayanti went to the stable where Vahuka was. She saw Vahuka in dirty clothes tending to horses. Seeing this, she had tears in her eyes. When Vahuka saw her, his eyes also had tears.
She asked Vahuka if he know of anyone who had deserted his wife in the forest? Why should he abandon me, when I chose him over Gods and became the mother of his children.

When Damayanti said this, Vahuka said It was all because of Kali. As Kali could not have you, he entered my body and since then it has been all bad. I was not in my senses, but how could you arrange for a second swayamvara? Hearing this, Rituaparna has come to wed you.

Damayanti said that was because a brahmana had managed to race you out in Ayodhya. I needed an excuse to have you here, Which is why the false news was sent. Only you are my Lord. I will never choose any other.

The Gods then appeared there and said Damayanti was sinless.

Remembering that garment given by the snake, Vahuka put that on. Immediately he was transformed into his original form. Damayanti embraced him. 

Kali leaves Nala

Rituparna was happy to hear this and decided to attend the swayamvara. He called Vahuka and told him this. Vahuka was stunned. How could Damayanti do this? He then thought maybe Damayanti was doing this to make him appear. Afterall, Damayanti had children. The truth woulkd be found only when he reached Vidarbha.

While they were thus travelling, the upper garment of Rituparna flew off. The king asked Vahuka to stop the chariot so he could collect  the garment. Vahuka said, they had crossed a distance of five yojanas.

The king who was a great mathematician said he would give Vahuka the knowledge of maths and chess and in return he wanted to know the art of riding horses.

The king started teaching Nala. Inside Nala, Kali, tormented by the venom of the serpent, came out, visible only to Nala.
Kali said he would leave now.

He also told Nala, that his tale would become very famous.

Nala decided to retain the form of Vahuka, for some more time.

Messengers sent out to look for Nala

Damayanti approached her mother and said My life is bound with Nala. If you want to see me happy, please send out people to search for Nala.
The queen told her husband this. The king hearing this, sent out messengers everywhere to look for Nala. The messengers went to Damayanti and said they were leaving. Damayanti said When you go, say this - Dear Gambler and My beloved. Where have you vanished after cutting my garment in half. There is someone weeping for you. Answer the cries.
Thus instructed, the messengers went forth, looking out for Nala. 

Nala become Vahuka

Nala travelled and on the tenth day entered Ayodhya, ruled by Rituparna. He approached the king and said My name is Vahuka. I have command over horses. I am an expert in cooking. Help me get a job with you. Rituparna was pleased to hear this and appointed Nala to look after the stables.

Nala began to live in the city, missing Damayanti and thinking wether she was alive or had been killed by the wild beats.

Remembering Damayanti, Nala continued to live in the palace of Rituparna.

Nala bitten by Karkata

Having left Damayanti, Nala saw a huge fire. He heard a voice calling out to him and asking him to enter the fire. Nala stepped in and saw a naga sitting there on his coils. He said his name was Karkat and he had been cursed by Narada to stay there till Nala helped him. The naga asked Nala to carry him out.

Nala did that and left the Naga in a safe spot. The Naga said he would help Nala and told him to take a stepo forward. The moment Nala did so, he was bitten by the Naga. Nala went a change in his body and looked different.

The Naga said Please do not be amazed. Kali, who is now in your body, will have to live with my venom, in pain, till he leaves you. Go to Ayodhya and meet the king there called Rituparna. He is skilled in gambling and the game of dice. Learn the game from him. You will have no fear from animals. Tell him your name is Vahuka. Soon you will be united with your wife and children. Saying this Karkata gave a garment to Nala and said Keep this carefully. When you want to change back to your original form, wear this.  Saying this, Karkata left.

Nala and Damayanti in the forest.

In his game with Pushkar, Nala lost all that he had. Pushkar suggested putting Damayanti at stake which angered Nala. Nala took off the valuables that he was wearing and walking away.
Pushkara then made a proclamation saying anyone providing help, support or shelter to Nala would be punished. He sent messengers to other kingdoms with the message that Nala was not to be provided shelter.

Nala was raoming around hungry and thirsty. He reached a river side and sat there. Unknown to him, Damayanti was following him. She soon caught up with him. Both were very hungry and thirsty. Soon, they spotted a flock of golden birds. Nala thought he would catch the birds and then make a meal out of them. He looked around and all he saw was the loincloth that he was wearing. He took that off and threw it at the birds. These were magical birds who flew off with the cloth. In the sky, the birds said Know me, I am Kali. With me is my friend Dwapara. We will torment you and trouble you. Leaving us Damayanti chose you and this is your punishment for that.  Saying this, the birds vanished.

Nala then said to Damayanti, See the roads in the forest. One part leads to Avanti and the other leads to Vidharba. Take the road to Vidharba. Go to your father's house.

Damayanti said You are in Exile. You have lost all that you had and now are naked, in the forest. If I am with you, I will be of help to you. Why do you want to get rid of me.
Nala said I do not want to see you unhappy.
Damayanti said Then let us both go to the land of Vidharbha. My father will be very happy to see you.
Nala said Your father is dear to me, but I can not go there naked and hungry. I had been there once in my regal attire and now with what face shall I face people?

Nala wrapped himself in Damayanti's garment. Damayanti, afraid that her husband may leave her, was happy that both were wrapped in the same cloth. They soon reached a place where weary travellers halted. Both Nala and Damayanti lay down. Damayanti went into a deep slumber. Nala was unable to sleep. Nala thought that if Damayanti was with him, she would have to suffer daily. If he left, she wouyld be then compelled to return to her father's house.

Nala tore a part of Damayanti's garment and wrapped it around himself. He then said a prayer to the Gods, asking them to take care of Damayanti.

He then walked into the deep forest. 

Damayanti weds Nala

When the swayamvara started, all took their seats along with the Gods. The king came and greeted all and then brought his daughter, Damayanti, in front of all. All were amazed by her beauty.

Damayanti looked around and saw many men who looked absolutely the same as Nala.

She started praying to the Gods silently. She said - I have accepted Nala as my husband. Bless me and help me find a way to identify Nala.

The Gods then gave a sign to Damayanti. Damayanti saw that the Gods did not cast a shadow, like Nala. Damayanti quickly went and garlanded Nala.

The Gods happy blessed them and gave them boons. Indra said he would be able to command  sacrifices. Agni said Nala would have command over fire and invoke it whenever needed. Varuna said Nala would be able to get water whenever needed. Shani gave him the knowledge of weapons. Blessing Nala, the Gods left. 

Nala goes as the messenger of Gods

Hearing about the swayamvar of Damayanti, Narada went to Indra. Indra gave him a seat to sit. The sage said he had heard about the beautiful Damayanti and that she was to have a swayamvar. All celestial beings were going there.
Hearing about Damayanti's beauty, the Gods wanted to see it for themselves. They set forth for the ceremony. On the way, they met Nala, who was also going for the swayamvar. Seeing Nala and admiring his features, they decided to give up going. They approached Nala and asked him for help. Nala agreed and then asked who they were. The Gods introduced themselves. They sasked Nala to go and tell Damayanti that was to choose one among the Gods as her husband.
Nala asked how he would enter the rooms which were well guarded. The Gods said he would not be stopped.
Nala was hesitant as he wanted to win Damayanti's hand, but as he had promised earlier, he went to Damayanti's chamber.
He was stunned to see her beauty. She was more beautiful than what the swan had said.

Damayanti was stunned to see Nala. Who was this divine looking human there? Was it a God or another celestial?

Keeping quiet for a while, not knowing what to say, Damayanti said - Who are you? Whay have you come here? How did you manage to come here, without being discovered by the guards.

Nala said - I am Nala. I have come here as a messenger of the Gods. The Gods desire to have you as their bride, and have asked me to tell you this.

Damayanti said - I respect the Gods and bow to them but I beg to differ. Having heard heard off you from the swan, I have, in heart, accepted you as my husband.

Nala said - It is rare to get a glimpse of Gods and now that they want you, Do you reject them?

Damayanti said - If you accept me, I need no other. When you come with Gods to the swayamvara, I will select you.

Nala went and told the Gods about the conversation.

The Gods also took the form of Nala, and along with Nala, they went inside the swayamvara hall.

Nala hears about Damayanti

Yudhistira told the sage about how he had lost all he had in the game and about the hardships that they were facing.
The sage said you have your brothers with you. That is not hardship. Nala faced many more troubles and hardships than you.

Yudhistira then asked the sage to tell about Nala. The sage said :

Nala was great and handsome king. He ruled the kingdom of Nishad.
In Vidharva, was a king called Bhima, who was equal to Nala in all qualities. A sage called Daman one day came to meet Bhima. Bhima said he was sad as he had no children. The sage blessed the king and said he would be blessed with a lovely daughter. Soon, a daughter was born. The girl was named Damayanti after the sage.

One day Damayanti heard about Nala and just hearing about the king, fell in love with him.
In his kingdom, having heard about about Damayanti, Nala also wanted to meet her and wed her.

One day Nala was in his garden when he saw a swan swimming in a pond. The king caught the swan. The swan asked the king to release it. The bird said if it was granted its life, it would help Nala meet Damayanti.

The king released the bird.

The bird flew to the kingdom where Damayanti lived.

Damayanti was in the garden plucking flowers when the swan came there. Damayanti caught the swan. The swan, in a human voice, asked Damayanto to release, In return, the bird said, it would tell the princess about Nala.

Damayanti released the bird. The bird described Nala to Damayanti and said the king was interested in her. Damayanti was thrilled to hear this. Damayanti told the bird that she wanted to wed Nala. Hearing this, the bird flew back where Nala was.

Damayanti, in her kingdom, was lost in the thoughts of Nala. Her friends reported to the king about Damayanti. The king was also worried. Hearing this, the queen said it was time to get Damayanti married.

The king not knowing who would be a right choice for her, decided to hold a swayamvara.