Chapter 81
Vaisampayana said, ‘After some length of time, O best of monarchs,Devayani of the fairest complexion went into the same woods for purposesof pleasure. And accompanied by Sarmishtha with her thousand maids shereached the same spot and began to wander freely.
And waited upon by allthose companions she felt supremely happy. And sporting with lighthearts, they began drinking the honey in flowers, eating various kinds offruit and biting some. And just at that time, king Yayati, the son ofNahusha, again came there tired and thirsty, in course of his wanderings,in search of deer. And the king saw Devayani and Sarmishtha, and thoseother maidens also, all decked with celestial ornaments and full ofvoluptuous languor in consequence of the flower-honey they drank. AndDevayani of sweet smiles, unrivalled for beauty and possessed of thefairest complexion amongst them all, was reclining at her ease. And shewas waited upon by Sarmishtha who was gently kneading her feet.
“And Yayati seeing all this, said, ‘O amiable ones, I would ask you bothyour names and parentage. It seems that these two thousand maids wait onyou two.’ ‘Hearing the monarch, Devayani then answered, ‘Listen to me, Obest of men. Know that I am the daughter of Sukra, the spiritual guide ofthe Asuras. This my companion is my waiting-maid. She attendeth on mewherever I go. She is Sarmishtha, the daughter of the Asura kingVrishaparvan.’
“Yayati then asked, ‘I am curious to know why is this thy companion offair eye-brows, this maiden of the fairest complexion, the daughter ofthe Asura chief thy waiting-maid!’ Devayani replied, ‘O best of king,everything resulteth from Fate. Knowing this also to be the result ofFate, wonder not at it. Thy feature and attire are both like a king’s.Thy speech also is fair and correct as that of the Vedas. Tell me thyname, whence thou art and whose son also.’
“The monarch replied, ‘During my vow of Brahmacharya, the whole Vedasentered my ears. I am known as Yayati, a king’s son and myself a king.’Devayani then enquired, ‘O king, what hast thou come here for? Is it togather lotuses or to angle or to hunt?’ Yayati said, ‘O amiable one,thirsty from the pursuit of deer, I have come hither in search of water.I am very much fatigued. I await but your commands to leave this spot.’
“Devayani answered, ‘With my two thousand damsels and my waiting-maidSarmishtha, I wait but your commands. Prosperity to thee. Be thou myfriend and lord.’
“Yayati, thereupon, replied, ‘Beautiful one, I do not deserve thee. Thouart the daughter of Sukra far superior to me. Thy father cannot bestowthee even on a great king.’ To this Devayani replied, ‘Brahmanas hadbefore this been united with the Kshatriyas, and Kshatriyas withBrahmanas. Thou art the son of a Rishi and thyself a Rishi. Therefore, Oson of Nahusha, marry me.’ Yayati, however, replied, ‘O thou of thehandsomest features, the four orders have, indeed, sprung from one body.But their duties and purity are not the same, the Brahmana being trulysuperior to all.’ Devayani answered, ‘This hand of mine hath never beentouched before by any man save thee. Therefore, do I accept thee for mylord. How, indeed, shall any other man touch my hand which had beforebeen touched by thyself who art a Rishi? Yayati then said, ‘The wise knowthat a Brahmana is more to be avoided than an angry snake of virulentpoison, or a blazing fire of spreading flames.’ Devayani then told themonarch, ‘O bull amongst men, why dost thou, indeed, say that Brahmanashould be more avoided than an angry snake of virulent poison or ablazing fire of spreading flames?’ The monarch answered, ‘The snakekilleth only one. The sharpest weapon slayeth but a single person. TheBrahmana, when angry destroyeth whole cities and kingdoms! Therefore, Otimid one, do I deem a Brahmana as more to be avoided than either. Icannot hence wed thee, O amiable one, unless thy father bestoweth thee onme. Devayani then said, ‘Thou art, indeed, chosen by me. And, O king, itis understood that thou wilt accept me if my father bestoweth me on thee.Thou needst not fear to accept my poor self bestowed on thee. Thou dostnot, indeed, ask for me.’
“Vaisampayana continued, ‘After this, Devayani quickly sent a maidservantto her father. The maid represented to Sukra everything as it hadhappened. And as soon as he had heard all, Bhargava came and saw Yayati.And beholding Bhargava come, Yayati worshipped and adored that Brahmana,and stood with joined palms in expectation of his commands.’
“And Devayani then said, ‘This O father, is the son of Nahusha. He tookhold of my hand, when I was in distress. I bow to thee. Bestow me uponhim. I shall not wed any other person in the world.’ Sukra exclaimed, ‘Othou of splendid courage, thou hast, indeed, been accepted as her lord bythis my dear daughter. I bestow her on thee. Therefore, O son of Nahusha,accept her as thy wife.’
“Yayati then said, ‘I solicit the boon, O Brahmana, that by so doing, thesin of begetting a half-breed might not touch me.’ Sukra, however,assured him by saying, ‘I shall absolve thee from the sin. Ask thou theboon that thou desirest. Fear not to wed her. I grant thee absolution.Maintain virtuously thy wife–the slender-waisted Devayani. Transports ofhappiness be thine in her company. This other maiden, Vrishaparvan’sdaughter, Sarmishtha should ever be regarded by thee. But thou shall notsummon her to thy bed.’
“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Thus addressed by Sukra, Yayati then walkedround the Brahmana. And the king then went through the auspiciousceremony of marriage according to the rites of the scriptures. And havingreceived from Sukra this rich treasure of the excellent Devayani withSarmishtha and those two thousand maidens, and duly honoured also bySukra himself and the Asuras, the best of monarchs, then, commanded bythe high-souled Bhargava, returned to his capital with a joyous heart.'”
