Editing Nala (section)

{{Short description|Character in the Mahabharata}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Nala
| info-hdr = Personal Information
| aliases = {{hlist|Bahuka|Nishadaraja}}
| gender = Male
| image = Raja Ravi Varma - Mahabharata - NalaDamayanti.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Nala abandons Damayanti out of guilt, painting by [[Raja Ravi Varma]]
| family = Virasena (father)
[[Pushkara]] (younger brother)
| nationality = [[Nishadha]]
| spouse = [[Damayanti]]
| affiliation = 
| children = Indrasena (son)<br>Indrasenā (daughter)
}}

'''Nala''' ({{Langx|sa|नल}}) is a legendary king of ancient [[Nishadha kingdom]] and the central protagonist of the ''[[Nalopakhyana]]'', a sub-narrative within the Indian epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', found in its third book, ''[[Vana Parva]]'' (Book of the Forest). He is renowned for his valor, wisdom, and exceptional skill in charioteering. His story revolves around his love for [[Damayanti]], the princess of [[Vidarbha]], and his struggle to reclaim his lost fortune.  

According to ''Nalopakhyana'', despite his virtues, Nala falls victim to a curse from the malicious deity [[Kali (demon)|Kali]], who influences him to lose his kingdom in a game of dice against his brother [[Pushkara]]. Forced into exile, he abandons Damayanti in the forest, believing she would suffer less without him. Wandering in disguise under the name Bahuka after being transformed by a serpent’s bite, Nala takes service as a charioteer in the court of King [[Rituparna]] of [[Ayodhya]], where he acquires new skills in gambling and horsemanship. Meanwhile, Damayanti devises a plan to find him. Their eventual reunion leads to Nala reclaiming his true identity, allowing him to challenge Pushkara in a new game and restore his kingdom.<ref>{{cite book|author=J. A. B. van Buitenen|title=The Mahabharata, Volume 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2QG_ZgsM13IC |year=1981|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-84664-4|pages=318–322}}</ref><!--This citation was C&Ped from [[Damayanti]] --> 

The story of Nala has had a profound influence on Indian literature, folklore, and performing arts. It has been retold in various Sanskrit and regional texts, including adaptations in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Bengali literature. The 12th-century poet [[Sriharsha]] composed [[Naishadha Charita|''Naishadhiya Charita'']], an epic based on Nala’s tale, which is considered one of the five great Sanskrit [[mahakavyas]]. Nala is also regarded as a great cook and the cookbook ''Pakadarpanam'' ({{Langx|sa|पाकदर्पण|links=no}}) is attributed to him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhojanam |first=Nala |title=Nala Bhojanam |url=https://www.oneindia.com/2007/12/30/bhima-good-cook-like-nala-1199016140.html}}</ref>