the deities. She enjoyed marital bliss with her husband in forests and groves. Game of dice Kali, incensed that Damayanti had chosen a mortal over any of the deities for her husband, plotted his revenge. He recruited his ally, Dvapara, to help him by manipulating the motions of a dice. Kali then possessed Nala, and offered the kingdom of the nishadas to Pushkara, Nala's younger brother, helping him defeat Nala in a game of dice that lasted over a period of several months. Damayanti lamented about her husband's gambling and rejection of his duties, but Nala remained under Kali's influence. Learning that her husband was almost bereft of his possessions and the trickery behind the motions of the dice, she urged Nala's faithful charioteer to take her twins to her family in Kundina, the capital of Vidarbha. When Nala had gambled away all of his riches and lands, Pushkara suggested that he stake Damayanti, causing the couple to storm away from the kingdom to the forest, donning a single garment each. Abandonment Even as they suffered through fatigue and hunger, Damayanti refused to leave her husband's side, and suggested that they go to her father's kingdom. Nala refused to do so under their present circumstances. The couple finally came across a public dwelling house, where Nala, still under the influence of Kali, abandoned his sleeping wife, reasoning that she would be happier without him. When Damayanti stirred, she bewailed his actions, calling him cruel, and also wondering how he would survive without her. She wished ill on the being who had caused her husband's plight. She was attacked by a giant snake, and was saved by a hunter. When the hunter attempted to rape her, she cursed him to die, which was fulfilled. She came across a hermitage, where she was welcomed by the ascetics and to whom she narrated her tale. The ascetics assured her she would soon find her husband again, restored to fortune. Damayanti came across a caravan, joining the traders onboard on their journey to Chedi. A herd of elephants trampled the sleeping traders while they slept. Bemoaning her fate, she joined a group of Brahmanas and reached the capital of Chedi. She attracted the attention of the king's mother, who enquired regarding her identity. Damayanti identified herself as a maidservant of noble birth, and explained her plight to her. The queen invited her to stay