Master?

 

Nala reached Ayodhya, capital of Kosala Kingdom & met King Rituparna saying-My name is Bāhuka, an expert in the art of handling horses. In difficult times, I can give incomparable advice & can be depended upon in matters that requires sound judgement. I’m also an incomparable cook. I’ll always endeavor for your welfare. The King welcomed Bāhuka saying he always wanted an expert charioteer, and appointed Nala in charge of his stables, deputing his charioteers, Jivala & Vārsneya under him

 

Nala resides at Ayodhya & often remembered his wife Damyanti, & sang a soulful verse every evening. Hearing his recitation, Jivala asked-About whose wife does he laments daily in such a pitiful way? Nala said-A certain person devoid of intelligence had an illustrious wife but then broke his promise for her. For some reason that wretch was separated from his wife & wandered for a long time, burning with grief. Remembering his wife, that unfortunate man now sings this sorrowful song

 

Meanwhile, King Bhima sent Brāhmanās in all directions to search for Nala & Damyanti after they were banished from Nisada kingdom. Men fanned out in all directions & one brahmana called Sudeva, came to the capital of Cedis. He happened to see Damyanti inside King’s palace, seated with Sunandā. Her incomparable beauty was still slightly discernable, like fire enveloped by smoke

 

Sudeva thought, although this woman is dirty & emaciated, she is definitely the same princess. Oppressed by grief due to separation from her husband, she appears like a full moon besieged by Rahu’s eclipse. I hope King Nala is still alive & has not succumbed to grief, being separated from such a wife. Sudeva decided to meet Damyanti to comfort her

 

Sudeva said to her-I’m dear friend of your brother & have come looking for you under orders of your father, King Bhima. All your family members & your twins are well and worried about you. Damyanti recognized Sudeva & broke down seeing one of her family friends

 

Sunandā seeing Damyanti crying, went to her mother, the queen of Cedi, who came to see what happened. She took Sudeva aside & asked who really is Damyanti? He replied that the lady is the princess of Vidarbha, daughter of King Bhima & wife of Nisada king Nala. Cheated by his brother, Nala lost his kingdom & together with his wife went to live in forest. They are now separated

 

Sudeva then told that she must have a mole in between her eyebrows, which seems absent covered by layer of dust. If we clean her face, we can be sure of her identity. The queen then took a damp cloth & cleaned the face of Damyanti, making the mole visible

 

The queen said-If you are Damyanti, you are my sister’s daughter & this is your home only. She was overjoyed & touched her aunt’s feet

 

Whatever we possess-assets & abilities are not ours. We cannot use it as we please. They belong to the Supreme Lord & have been given to us to use it in his service, in welfare of others, to make a difference in their lives. This devotional dutifulness is our real asset, which lasts forever. Rest everything may come & go and cannot provide everlasting fulfillment. We are anyways just an instrument in the hands of divine & if we think otherwise, we are in for a big surprise

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife


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