Gods, Demons, and Others Chapter Summary & Analysis - Four; Nala, Savitri, The Mispaired Anklet, Shakuntala Summary

Four; Nala, Savitri, The Mispaired Anklet, Shakuntala Summary and Analysis

Nala: Nala, the ruler of Nishadha, to everyone's surprise, remains a bachelor. One day a poet arrives in the king's court, describing a beautiful young princess named Damayanti, from a neighboring kingdom. From that moment forward, Nala is enamored with the princess and can think of nothing but meeting her. The poet tells him to send a messenger to Damayanti, and Nala sends one of his swans. When the swan returns, he reports that Damayanti is just as enamored with him as he is with her, and that he should await word of her Swayamwara. When it is announced, Nala finds himself on the road with four strangers, who turn out to be Indra, chief for the minor gods, Varuna, god of air, rain and ocean, Agni, god of fire and Yama, lord of death, all in human form wishing to have a chance to win the hand of Damayanti....
(read more)