Nala

Nala () is a legendary king of ancient Nishadha kingdom and the central protagonist of the Nalopakhyana, a sub-narrative within the Indian epic Mahabharata, found in its third book, Vana Parva (Book of the Forest). He is renowned for his valor, wisdom, and exceptional skill in charioteering. His story revolves around his love for Damayanti, the princess of Vidarbha, and his struggle to reclaim his lost fortune.

Key facts

Character.name: Nala
Character.info hdr: Personal Information
Character.gender: Male
Character.image: Raja Ravi Varma - Mahabharata - NalaDamayanti.jpg
Character.caption: Nala abandons Damayanti out of guilt, painting by Raja Ravi Varma
Character.family: Virasena (father) Pushkara (younger brother)
Character.nationality: Nishadha
Character.spouse: Damayanti
Character.children: Indrasena (son)Indrasenā (daughter)

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Wikidata facts

Image: Raja Ravi Varma - Mahabharata - NalaDamayanti.jpg

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Commons category: Nala-Damayanti

Sources (3)

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~11 min read

Article

9 sections

Contents

Biography
Early life and marriage
Exile
Rediscovery and Reunion
Translations and student editions
See also
References
Further reading
External links

According to Nalopakhyana, despite his virtues, Nala falls victim to a curse from the malicious deity Kali, who influences him to lose his kingdom in a game of dice against his brother Pushkara. Forced into exile, he abandons Damayanti in the forest, believing she would suffer less without him. Wandering in disguise under the name Bahuka after being transformed by a serpent’s bite, Nala takes service as a charioteer in the court of King Rituparna of Ayodhya, where he acquires new skills in gambling and horsemanship. Meanwhile, Damayanti devises a plan to find him. Their eventual reunion leads to Nala reclaiming his true identity, allowing him to challenge Pushkara in a new game and restore his kingdom.