Damayanti Vanavas

DAMAYANTI-VANAVAS OR THE FOREST LIFE OF DAMAYANTI: Damayanti is the daughter of Bhima, the king of Vidarbha. The legend of Damayanti is found in the Mahabharata. At the same time, Nala was a prince born to Virasena, the king of Nishadha. The swans which came to the palace of Damayanti extolled praises for Nala and also told Nala of Damayanti’s extraordinary beauty. The messages of love being carried to and fro by the swans, Nala and Damayanti fell in love with each other. After the marriage of Nala and Damayanti, several events lead to their being exiled from the kingdom. They were compelled to lead their lives in a forest. Nala, thereafter abandons Damayanti in the forest when she, in a helpless state is consumed by the snake.

This print from the Ravi Varma Press derived from a painting by Raja Ravi Varma depicts the scene of impending danger with the boa-constrictor snake in the foreground.