Of Golden Swans and Iron wills: A Tale of Eternal Love and Perseverance - Nala Damayanti

Some stories live quietly in the corners of our memory—until a painting, a moment, or a book brings them roaring back to life. One such is this story.

Nala Damayanti - We’ve all heard or read this story at least once in our lives. I had too—I roughly knew their story. Recently, I came across a beautiful painting by the Indian genius Raja Ravi Varma during my visit to the Egmore Museum in Chennai. Instantly, I was inspired to learn more. Among the many works displayed in the gallery, I noticed that he had depicted the story of Nala and Damayanti quite a few times. Intrigued, I decided to read the book - Nala Damayanti by Anand Neelakantan.

Hamsa Damayanti by Raja Ravi Varma, depicting Damayanti conversing with the divine swan about Nala.

I’m sure this story has many adaptations, but this particular one is told from Damayanti’s point of view. Damayanti, a princess so poignant and an epitome of beauty, falls in love with the King of Nishadas, Nala. Nala represents honor, bravery, and loyalty. This is a tale of true love, which blends mythology, romance and introspection. This story features many extraordinary characters, including Nala, Damayanti, Hemanga (the Golden Swan), and the King of Ayodhya - Rituparna. But my favorite characters are Damayanti and Rituparna.

Damayanti displays many admirable qualities. Some might say her true love for Nala or her intelligence in times of adversity are her greatest traits. But the quality I admire most in Damayanti is her perseverance. Her refusal to give up, even when it seems all doors are shut, becomes the strongest pillar of this story. If it weren’t for her perseverance, Nala would have never found his way back to her. When we read her story, Damayanti should be remembered not just for her beauty, but for her determination and the willpower she carried to the very end.

Damayanti and her maid in the moonlight by Raja Ravi Varma

The second character I truly admire is the King of Ayodhya, Rituparna. What a character he is! I really liked the way the author portrayed him. In the story, Lord Brahma claims Rituparna to be one of his finest human creations—but in reality, this king doesn’t even believe in God! He simply has a good heart, lives life to the fullest, and believes in himself. This reminds us that, ultimately, being a good human being is what truly matters. That’s what any God would wish for us. Being kind and compassionate should transcend belief systems and rituals. No God would ever wish harm to be done in their name. At the end of the day, carrying forward a little kindness is what really counts.

I highly recommend this book. It’s well-written, witty, and carries a tinge of humor. If you’re a mythology lover looking for something engaging, go for this one.