Nalakhyan

One of Premanand's most popular works, it retells the story of the mythical Hindu king Nala and his queen Damayanti.

Through the machinations of Kali, an embodiment of the forces of evil, Nala and Damayanti are sent into exile, separated, and each subjected to a series of trials and reversals.

Although the plot is largely based on the Nalopakhyana in the Mahabharata, Premanand adds several episodes of his own invention.

The main theme of Nalakhyan is pathos, and the work reflects the Hindu ideal of married life.

Premanand combines the mythical story with contemporary elements to bring it closer to his audience.

[3] The main characters of the poem are:[2] Nala's fame inspires his cousin and commander-in-chief, Virsen, to adopt the life of an ascetic.

The female swan curses Nala, saying: "May your wife too suffer separation and wail in like manner".

[2] The swan promises to come back to Nala if first allowed to bid farewell to his wife, new-born son, and mother.

Finding Damayanti in the palace garden, he praises Nala's virtues and his regal features.

In her heart, Damayanti has already given herself in marriage to Nala, and so pays no heed to the messenger's persuasive words.

Finally, taking advantage of a slight oversight by Nala with regard to his physical purity, Kali enters his body.

Nala uses the knife to cut their shared garment in two and runs off, abandoning Damayanti in the thick forest.

He consoles Nala, saying that ugliness will make it easy for him to pass incognito, and gives him three garments which will restore his beauty when worn.

There, he becomes a horsekeeper to king Rituparna, as he is an expert on horses and knows the Ashwa-mantra, or sacred horse-mastery text.

She is falsely accused of stealing a necklace, but Damayanti prays to God and curses the thief.

[2] Kali, who had been hiding in the niche above the door, runs off, tearing off the wooden peg and dropping the necklace on the floor.

Upon hearing this, Damayanti sends Sudev to Rituparna's court once again, keeping this a secret from her parents.

Damayanti tests Bahuka in various ways, including with the boons of gods, trying to ascertain his real identity.

[1][2] Critic Mansukhlal Jhaveri wrote that Nalakhyan was 'decidedly' the best akhyan in Gujarati literature, adding that Premanand is at his best in bringing out the humour and pathos of the tale.