“Stories of the past, journeys of the present, strength for the future.”
“When fortune fails, journeys and people become our teachers—just as they did for Nala, Yudhiṣṭhira, and for us today.” In the Mahābhārata (Vana Parva, Nalopākhyāna), the story of Nala and Damayantī is narrated to Yudhiṣṭhira by the sage Bṛhadaśva. After the Pāṇḍavas lost everything in the dice game and went into exile, Yudhiṣṭhira was drowning in grief and guilt—blaming himself for the suffering of Draupadī and his brothers. At that time, sage Bṛhadaśva visited them in the forest. To console Yudhiṣṭhira, he narrated the tale of King Nala, saying: “O son of Dharma, there was once a king more unfortunate than you—Nala of Niṣadha. He too lost his kingdom in dice, wandered in exile, and suffered greatly. Yet in the end, through virtue and patience, he regained everything. Take heart, for you too will rise again.” So, the Nalopākhyāna is actually meant as comfort and encouragement to Yudhiṣṭhira—showing him that even the noblest can stumble, but dharma and endurance restore them. ...