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"The King in the North, as you well know,
Exceeds his description, his love for you only grows.
Enamoured, he roams the fields with lovesick desire,
His heart filled with your image, a burning fire.
In his eyes, in the air he breathes, you reside,
He yearns for your presence, in his every thought.
For he loves you deeply, as you love him too,
If the peerless unite, love's reign will imbue.
In this union, our world shall find solace and grace,
As love conquers all, in its warm embrace."
The swan whispered in her ear, uttering the words she had longed to hear. And then, with a graceful departure, it flew away into the sunset, setting off an odyssey of trials, tribulations, and love.
That night, the moon and the stars refused to show up. That night, Damayanti wandered through the gardens, fields, orchids, and streets, adorned with a blissful smile, blushing and radiating with a captivating glow. Her beauty illuminated the dark sky, spreading its radiance as far as the eye could see. Occasionally, a falling star would greet the enamored princess. Perhaps Mother Nature was indulging herself in the celebrations.
Nal & Damayanti continued to live their lives with renewed excitement, always attentive to the signs of auspicious omens.
Trial Of the Champions
Earth's most beautiful woman had surrendered her innermost soul to her love for her king. Damayanti yearned for love through countless cycles of days and nights, succumbing to sighs of despair. Wrapped in misery and solitude, she withdrew from her friends and maids, forsaking the luxuries and necessities of life. Every waking moment was spent gazing towards the northern skies, even in the darkness that obscured her vision. And as she slipped into a shallow slumber, her closed eyelids concealed eyes that were fixated on the northern star.
Her maidens and friends grew increasingly worried and felt helpless, unable to bear witness to their princess's suffering. The news of Damayanti's distress eventually reached the royal corridors of her father, the aging Southern King. Consumed by concern for his beloved daughter, the king sought advice from his counsel, ministers, sages, and saints.
"My dear girl will soon come of age, yet her distress lingers. What can bring her solace?" – the noble king inquired, his heart weighed down by worry.
After careful deliberation, the wise counsel presented a solution born out of their understanding of Damayanti's longings. "Your daughter is a paragon of virtue, and she yearns for a worthy companion, her true king. She’s a girl and would be a Woman soon. We suggest hosting a Swayamvara4 , a grand tournament where eligible kings from all corners of the earth will compete for the highest reward this universe could offer – Damyanti’s companionship. Princess Damayanti will be the supreme judge of her suitors, and it will be only her decision to choose her champion. She will decide the feats and she will set up the charts. The Princess shall become Queen to the only King that she desires" they proposed, their voices brimming with confidence.
4 – Swayamvara is the type of marriage where a woman presents the suitors with challenging tasks and chooses the champion of the trial as her husband
The king's face lit up with hope and delight as he wholeheartedly embraced the idea. A beautiful glow of fatherly love for his beloved daughter sparkled from his optimistic eyes. He summoned his ambassadors and envoys, entrusting them with the crucial task of delivering individual invitations to the lords and kings in all ten directions, cordially inviting them to participate in the grand Swayamvara.
A spectacle unfolds, behold the invitation,
To a grand tournament, where hearts seek elevation.
In this cosmic theater, all are cordially invited,
For the highest reward, to the only champion.
The princess Damayanti, a vision of beauty unmatched,
Shall grace the arena, where destinies are dispatched.
Amidst the valiant and bold, she shall find,
Her champion, a king, in whom her love is enshrined.
Come forth, noble souls, with courage and might,
Gather beneath the moon's enchanting light.
For in this grand affair, fate's hand shall sway,
As hearts entwine in love's mystical ballet.
Esteemed guests, prepare for this grand display,
Where love's power shall guide each warrior's way.
In this tournament, hearts shall be tested true,
And the chosen King, by Queen Damayanti, shall be true.
Soon as the invitations began being read out in the royal courts across the vast lands, swords and arrows found solace, as battles gave way to a greater quest. The barracks became deserted and some were turning into theaters of art and music. The kings, adorned in regal attire, prepared for a grand trial of love, where riches and treasures awaited those worthy. Each ruler, in haste, readied their caravans, laden with opulence and their hearts with a supreme desire. A queue formed, leading to the majestic walls where the princess eagerly awaited her most eligible suitor.