Damayanti

Damayanti was princess of Vidarbh in Hindu mythology. Being the daughter of king Bhim, she is also known as Bhaimi. She had heard about the beauty of a prince named Nal, and Nal had also heard about the beauty of Damayanti. They managed to exchange love messages with each other by using a golden swan. Their marriage was, however, opposed even by the gods, but Nal succeeded in marrying her at her Svayamvar. The couple had two children - one son and one daughter, Indrasen and Indrasena.

She lived happily for 11 years with her husband. Her miseries started when her husband lost his kingdom to his brother Pushkar in a gamble of dice. She sent her two children with a charioteer to her father in Vidarbh and went along with her husband in the forest. She had only single piece of cloth that she was wearing at that time. Nal advised her to leave him and go to Vidarbh to avoid the miseries. However, she was not ready to go alone. She tried her best to convince her husband to go to Vidarbh, but Nal refused to go to his father-in-law's house in that condition. Nal refused to go to her fathers house, and Damayanti refused to leave him alone in that miserable condition.

One day, when she was asleep, her husband tore the half of the cloth she was wearing and left her with half of the cloth thinking that would enforce her to return to her father. She, however, did not return, rather wandered alone in the forest in search of her husband until found a group of merchants traveling through the forest. With them, she went to Chedi, where she started working as a maid to the princess.

When the news of Damayanti and Nal reached Vidarbh, her father sent people out in their search. A sage recognized her in Chedi. It was also discovered that the queen of Chedi was her maternal aunt. After this discovery, she was escorted back to her father.

Once she was in Vidarbh with her father, she sent out people in search of Nal. At last she feigned to hold another Swayamvar thinking that would bring Nal there. Her trick worked. Nal went there and the couple were reunited.