Damayanti Quotes (0-)

“After these most excellent guests had gone, Bhima, the magnanimous, rejoicing, made the wedding for Damayanti and Nala.”

“But the gods insisted: "Do this, Nala. Give us your promise. Why will you not aid us. Go on immediately, Prince of the Nishadhans".”

“I see a way, O Prince, by which you will be safe and not at all at fault. O Best of Men, go back to the gods, and come with them to my Swayamvara.”

“Damayanti is the wife of Nala and heroine of the tale of Nala and Damayanti. She is also known by her patronymic Bhaimi.”

“Do not send me, since 1 am going for the same purpose myself. How, indeed, can a man who feels love for a woman speak of such a thing to her for others. Excuse and forgive me, Mighty Princes.”

“Finally, she saw that she must appeal to the gods themselves for aid. So, giving them adoration, both with her voice and with her mind, she knelt reverently before them, and tremblingly spoke:”

“Say this also to Nala, O Golden-plumaged One. The bird… flying hack told everything to Nala. After that, Damayanti could think of nothing but Nala.”

“Who art thou, O thou of entirely faultless body, inspiring love in my heart. Thou art a god? 1 wish to know thee, and how thou earnest here and was not noticed. Truly, thou must be a king of wonderful power, because my chamber is well guarded.”

“Without further objection, Nala promised, and passed on to the dwelling of Damayanti. There he saw the daughter of Bhima surrounded by her friends,…As soon as the beautiful maidens saw Nala sprang up...astonished, but not displeased at his presence.”

“Gandhi, father of the nation, asked Indian women to follow the examples of pure and pious Sita, Savitri and Parvati and appreciated the firmness of the character of Draupadi and Damayanti.”

“Since thou, at this time, O Fair One, choosest me in preference to a god, know me as thy husband taking pleasure in thy command; and as long as life shall endure in my body, sweetly smiling one, so long will I be devoted to thee — I give you my promise.”

“His rival became king and proclaimed that no one was to give food or shelter to Nala, so the ruined monarch wandered forth in the forest with his wife (Damayanti) and suffered great privations.”

“Let the gods come with you, O Noble Man, to my Swayamvara. In their presence, I will choose you, Nala; and it will not be your fault.”

“Some birds flew with his only garment. He resolved to abandon his wife in the hope that she would return to her father’s court, so he divided her sole remaining garment while she slept and left her.”

“He was like the Sun-god in his splendor. He was handsome, he honored the gods and ever spoke the truth. Fond of study, he knew all the songs and hymns of the Vedas. He was king of the Nishadhans.”

“At the auspicious time of the holy lunar day, King Bhima sent summons to the kings and princes to assemble for the Swayamvara. These, urged on by the eagerness of their love for Damayanti, were not slow in obeying.”

“Nala and Damayanti were always wandering about like gods. A son and a beautiful daughter were given to them, as the gods had promised; and thus, the ruler of men, sacrificing and wandering about, protected the earth filled with treasure.”

“Damayanti, at that time, was walking with her hundred friends in a pleasure-grove near the palace. When the maidens saw these golden-feathered birds flying into the grove, they ran towards them with cries of delight, each maiden selecting one for pursuit. The swan that Damayanti approached, assuming a human voice, said:”

“Damana felt very kindly disposed; and, when he went away, promised them a 'jewel of* a girl' and three noble sons. And so it happened that Dama, Danta, and Damana, and Damayanti, the jewel of a daughter, came to gladden the house of King Bhima and his queen”

“Damayanti had heard of Nala,- how he was called 'the man-tiger;' how he was without equal in beauty among the people of the earth; and how he seemed the god of love himself in bodily form. Nala, in turn, in his kingdom, heard of nothing but Damayanti's beauty and graciousness.”

“Thus Nala returned to the place where the gods were assembled. When the Protectors of the World saw him entering their midst, they desired to hear what had happened just as it was. "O king," they said, "did you see the brightly-smiling Dayamanti? and what answer did she return to us. Tell us truly."”

“With the magic power you gave me, I found the dwelling-place of Damayanti, and entered its large, well-guarded halls, unseen by all until I reached the apartment of her grace, the king's daughter. She and her friends saw me, and were greatly astonished; and, while you were being described by me, O Best of the Gods, she, the fair-faced woman, beside herself for the moment, chose me.”