Damayantīkathā

A Campū literary work composed by Trivikarama Bhaṭṭa, inspired by a story from the Mahābhārata, consists of seven ucchvāsa-s (cantos). It tells the romantic tale of Nala, the king of the Niṣadha kingdom, and Damayantī, the princess of Kuṇḍina. The story narrates how they meet, how Nala sends a swan as a messenger to Damayantī, and how, during the svayaṃvara, Damayantī recognizes Nala despite the disguises adopted by the gods. The plot takes a dramatic turn when Kali, disguised, enters Nala's body and manipulates his mind. As a result, Nala loses his kingdom and wealth. He and Damayantī retreat to the forest, where they become separated. After many twists and turns, they eventually reunite, and Nala regains his former glory. The author, Trivikarama Bhaṭṭa, was the son of Nemāditya of the Śāṇḍilya gotra and a contemporary of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa king Indra III. He also composed the Nausari inscription of Indra III. (Dasgupta and De, A History of Sanskrit literature classical period. p. 435). This story has inspired many poets over the centuries. Śrīharṣa wrote his famous epic Naiṣadhacarita based on this tale, and the renowned Persian poet Faizi composed Nal wa Daman in Persian, also drawing inspiration from it. (Written in 17 lines per leaf.; 53 leaves foliated 1–53, upper left and lower right verso. Mistakes blacked out; some corrections and additions in margins; vertical margins marked with double black line; there is a central design on each folio involving four characters.)