Damayanti deserted in the forest: part of the story of Damayanti and Nala. Chromolithograph by R. Varma.

Damayanti was the wife of Nala, King of Nishanda whom she chose over four gods during a swayam-vara; Nala being her true love even the gods had assumed his form. Though they married and were happy with two children. Nala was a gambler and tempted to play dice with Kali, a personification of the Kali or iron age who was angry he had missed the swayam-vara. Kali revenged himself by the ruin of Nala via gambling, thus making Nala gamble his kingdom and everything he owned away. Nala's rival, Pushkara became king and banished Nala to the forest, Damayanti followed her husband, but Nala abandoned her hoping she would return to her father's kingdom and so as not to suffer, however Damayanti wandered the forest in distress looking for her husband