01.076
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
atha dīrghasya kālasya devayānī nṛpottama। vanaṃ tadeva niryātā krīḍārthaṃ varavarṇinī ॥01-76-1॥
Then, after a long time, Devayānī, O best of kings, the fair-complexioned lady, went out to that very forest for sport. (01-76-1)
tena dāsīsahasreṇa sārdhaṃ śarmiṣṭhayā tadā। tameva deśaṃ samprāptā yathākāmaṃ cacāra sā ॥ tābhiḥ sakhībhiḥ sahitā sarvābhirmuditā bhṛśam ॥01-76-2॥
Then, with that thousand maidservants and with Śarmiṣṭhā, she reached that very place and roamed as she pleased. Accompanied by all those female friends, she was exceedingly delighted. (01-76-2)
krīḍantyo'bhiratāḥ sarvāḥ pibantyo madhumādhavīm। khādantyo vividhānbhakṣyānvidaśantyaḥ phalāni ca ॥01-76-3॥
All of them were playing delightedly, drinking sweet Mādhavī wine, eating various foods, and biting into fruits. (01-76-3)
punaśca nāhuṣo rājā mṛgalipsuryadṛcchayā। tameva deśaṁ samprāpto jalārthī śramakarśitaḥ ॥01-76-4॥
Again, King Nāhuṣa, seeking game, happened by chance to arrive at that very region, looking for water and worn out by fatigue. (01-76-4)
dadṛśe devayānīṃ ca śarmiṣṭhāṃ tāśca yoṣitaḥ। pibantīrlalamānāśca divyābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ ॥01-76-5॥
He saw Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and those women, who were drinking, playing, and adorned with divine ornaments. (01-76-5)
upaviṣṭāṃ ca dadṛśe devayānīṃ śucismitām। rūpeṇāpratimāṃ tāsāṃ strīṇāṃ madhye varāṅganām ॥ śarmiṣṭhayā sevyamānāṃ pādasaṃvāhanādibhiḥ ॥01-76-6॥
He saw Devayānī seated, smiling purely, incomparable in beauty among those women, an excellent lady, being attended by Śarmiṣṭhā with foot-massage and other services. (01-76-6)
yayātiruvāca॥
Yayāti said.
dvābhyāṃ kanyāsahasrābhyāṃ dve kanye parivārite। gotre ca nāmanī caiva dvayoḥ pṛcchāmi vāmaham ॥01-76-7॥
Surrounded by two thousand maidens, you two maidens: I ask the lineage and the names of you both. (01-76-7)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
ākhyāsyāmy aham ādatsva vacanaṃ me narādhipa। śukro nāmāsuraguruḥ sutāṃ jānīhi tasya mām ॥01-76-8॥
I shall tell you; accept my words, O lord of men. Know me to be the daughter of Śukra, the preceptor of the Asuras. (01-76-8)
iyaṃ ca me sakhī dāsī yatrāhaṃ tatra gāminī। duhitā dānavendrasya śarmiṣṭhā vr̥ṣaparvaṇaḥ ॥01-76-9॥
This Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, lord of the Dānavas, is also my friend and maidservant; she goes wherever I am. (01-76-9)
yayātiruvāca॥
Yayāti said.
kathaṁ nu te sakhī dāsī kanyeyaṁ varavarṇinī। asurendrasutā subhru paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me ॥01-76-10॥
How is this maiden, your friend and servant, of excellent complexion, the daughter of the lord of the Asuras, O fair-browed one? I am indeed greatly curious. (01-76-10)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
sarva eva naravyāghra vidhānamanuvartate। vidhānavihitaṁ matvā mā vicitrāḥ kathāḥ kr̥thāḥ ॥01-76-11॥
Everyone, O tiger among men, follows what is ordained. Considering it to be fixed by ordinance, do not invent varied stories. (01-76-11)
rājavad rūpaveṣau te brāhmīṃ vācaṃ bibharṣi ca। kiṃnāmā tvaṃ kutaścāsi kasya putraśca śaṃsa me ॥01-76-12॥
Your form and attire are like those of a king, and you speak in the manner of a Brahmin. What is your name, where are you from, and whose son are you? Tell me. (01-76-12)
yayātiruvāca॥
Yayāti said.
brahmacaryeṇa kṛtsno me vedaḥ śrutipathaṃ gataḥ। rājāhaṃ rājaputraśca yayātiriti viśrutaḥ ॥01-76-13॥
Through brahmacarya, I have learned the entire Veda. I am a king and a king's son, renowned as Yayāti. (01-76-13)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
kenāsyarthena nṛpate imaṃ deśamupāgataḥ। jighṛkṣurvārijaṃ kiñcidatha vā mṛgalipsayā ॥01-76-14॥
O king, for what purpose have you come to this country: wishing to take some lotus, or else with the desire to obtain a deer? (01-76-14)
yayātiruvāca॥
Yayāti said.
mṛgalipsurahaṃ bhadre pānīyārthamupāgataḥ। bahu cāpyanuyukto'smi tanmānujñātumarhasi ॥01-76-15॥
O auspicious lady, I have come seeking deer and water. I have also been questioned at length; therefore, you should permit me. (01-76-15)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
dvābhyāṃ kanyāsahasrābhyāṃ dāsyā śarmiṣṭhayā saha। tvadadhīnāsmi bhadraṃ te sakhā bhartā ca me bhava ॥01-76-16॥
With two thousand maidens and with Śarmiṣṭhā as my servant, I am under your authority. Blessings to you; be my friend and my husband. (01-76-16)
yayātiruvāca॥
Yayāti said.
viddhyauśanasi bhadraṁ te na tvāmarho’smi bhāmini। avivāhyā hi rājāno devayāni pitustava ॥01-76-17॥
Understand, O daughter of Uśanas: may it be well with you. I am not worthy of you, O beautiful woman. For kings are not suitable for marriage by your father, O Devayānī. (01-76-17)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
saṃsṛṣṭaṃ brahmaṇā kṣatraṃ kṣatraṃ ca brahmasaṃhitam। ṛṣiśca ṛṣiputraśca nāhuṣāṅga vahasva mām ॥01-76-18॥
Royal power is joined with spiritual power, and royal power is united with brahman. I am a seer and the son of a seer; O descendant of Nahuṣa, dear one, carry me. (01-76-18)
yayātiruvāca॥
Yayāti said.
ekadehodbhavā varṇāścatvāro'pi varāṅgane। pṛthagdharmāḥ pṛthakśaucāsteṣāṃ tu brāhmaṇo varaḥ ॥01-76-19॥
Though the four varṇas have arisen from one body, O fair-limbed one, their duties and rules of purity are distinct; but among them the Brāhmaṇa is foremost. (01-76-19)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
pāṇidharmō nāhuṣāyaṁ na pumbhiḥ sēvitaḥ purā। taṁ mē tvamagrahīragrē vr̥ṇōmi tvāmahaṁ tataḥ ॥01-76-20॥
O descendant of Nahuṣa, this custom of taking the hand was not formerly practiced by men. You took my hand first; therefore I choose you. (01-76-20)
kathaṁ nu me manasvinyāḥ pāṇimanyaḥ pumānspṛśet। gṛhītamṛṣiputreṇa svayaṁ vāpyṛṣiṇā tvayā ॥01-76-21॥
How could another man touch the hand of me, a high-minded woman, when it has been grasped by a seer's son, or even by you yourself, a seer? (01-76-21)
yayātiruvāca॥
Yayāti said.
kruddhādāśīviṣātsarpājjvalanātsarvatomukhāt। durādharṣataro vipraḥ puruṣeṇa vijānatā ॥01-76-22॥
A discerning man should know that a learned Brāhmaṇa is harder to assail than an enraged venomous serpent and than fire blazing in every direction. (01-76-22)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
kathamāśīviṣātsarpājjvalanātsarvatomukhāt। durādharṣataro vipra ityāttha puruṣarṣabha ॥01-76-23॥
O best of men, how is a Brahmin, as you said, even more unassailable than a venomous serpent and a fire that has mouths on every side? (01-76-23)
yayātiruvāca॥
Yayāti said.
ekamāśīviṣo hanti śastreṇaikaśca vadhyate। hanti vipraḥ sarāṣṭrāṇi purāṇyapi hi kopitaḥ ॥01-76-24॥
A single poisonous serpent kills one person, and one person is killed by a weapon. But an angered Brahmin can indeed destroy even cities together with kingdoms. (01-76-24)
durādharṣataro viprastasmādbhīru mato mama। ato'dattāṃ ca pitrā tvāṃ bhadre na vivahāmyaham ॥01-76-25॥
The Brāhmaṇa, therefore, is regarded by me as still harder to assail, O timid one. Therefore, O gracious lady, I will not marry you, since you have not been given by your father. (01-76-25)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
dattāṁ vahasva pitrā māṁ tvaṁ hi rājanvṛto mayā। ayācato bhayaṁ nāsti dattāṁ ca pratigṛhṇataḥ ॥01-76-26॥
Take me, given by my father, for you, O king, have been chosen by me. There is no fear for one who has not asked, nor for one who accepts what is given. (01-76-26)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tvaritaṁ devayānyātha preṣitaṁ piturātmanaḥ। śrutvaiva ca sa rājānaṁ darśayāmāsa bhārgavaḥ ॥01-76-27॥
Then, as soon as Bhārgava heard the swift message sent by Devayānī to her own father, he appeared before the king. (01-76-27)
dr̥ṣṭvaiva cāgataṃ śukraṃ yayātiḥ pr̥thivīpatiḥ। vavande brāhmaṇaṃ kāvyaṃ prāñjaliḥ praṇataḥ sthitaḥ ॥01-76-28॥
When Yayāti, the lord of the earth, saw that Śukra had arrived, he stood with folded hands and bowed down, saluting the Brāhmaṇa Kāvya. (01-76-28)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
rājāyaṃ nāhuṣastāta durge me pāṇimagrahīt। namaste dehi māmasmai nānyaṃ loke patiṃ vṛṇe ॥01-76-29॥
O father, this king, a descendant of Nahuṣa, took my hand in difficulty. I bow to you; give me to him, for I choose no other husband in the world. (01-76-29)
śukra uvāca॥
Śukra said.
vṛto'nayā patirvīra sutayā tvaṃ mameṣṭayā। gṛhāṇemāṃ mayā dattāṃ mahiṣīṃ nahuṣātmaja ॥01-76-30॥
O hero, you have been chosen as husband by this beloved daughter of mine. O son of Nahuṣa, accept this queen given by me. (01-76-30)
yayātiruvāca॥
Yayati said.
adharmo na spṛśedevaṁ mahānmāmiha bhārgava। varṇasaṅkarajo brahmanniti tvāṁ pravṛṇomyaham ॥01-76-31॥
O Bhārgava, O Brahman, I choose you so that no great sin born of varṇa-mixture may touch me here in this way. (01-76-31)
śukra uvāca॥
Śukra said.
adharmāttvāṃ vimuñcāmi varayasva yathepṣitam। asminvivāhe mā glāsīrahaṃ pāpaṃ nudāmi te ॥01-76-32॥
I release you from unrighteousness; choose as you desire. Do not be distressed in this marriage; I drive away your sin. (01-76-32)
vahasva bhāryāṃ dharmeṇa devayānīṃ sumadhyamām। anayā saha samprītimatulāṃ samavāpsyasi ॥01-76-33॥
Accept the beautifully waisted Devayānī as your wife in accordance with dharma. With her, you will obtain incomparable happiness. (01-76-33)
iyaṁ cāpi kumārī te śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī। sampūjyā satataṁ rājanmā caināṁ śayane hvayeḥ ॥01-76-34॥
This maiden of yours, Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, should also always be treated with full honor, O king; and you must not summon her to your bed. (01-76-34)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evamukto yayātistu śukraṁ kṛtvā pradakṣiṇam। jagāma svapuraṁ hṛṣṭo anujñāto mahātmanā ॥01-76-35॥
Thus addressed, Yayati circumambulated Śukra and, delighted after being permitted by the great-souled one, went to his own city. (01-76-35)
