The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 1.72: dvisaptitamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.72.1

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
samāvṛttavrataṃ taṃ tu visṛṣṭaṃ guruṇā tadā |
prasthitaṃ tridaśāvāsaṃ devayānyabravīdidam || 1 ||

"Vaisampayana said, 'After the expiry of the period of his vow, Kacha, having obtained his preceptor's leave, was about to return to the abode of the celestials, when Devayani, addressing him, said, 'O grandson of the Rishi Angiras, in conduct and birth, in learning, asceticism and humility, thou shinest most brightly. As the celebrated Rishi Angiras is honoured and regarded by my father, so is thy father regarded and worshipped by me. O thou of ascetic wealth, knowing this, listen to what I say. Recollect my conduct towards thee during the period of thy vow (Brahmacharya). Thy vow hath now been over. It behoveth thee to fix thy affections on me. O accept my hand duly with ordained mantras.'

1.72.2

ṛṣeraṅgirasaḥ pautra vṛttenābhijanena ca |
bhrājase vidyayā caiva tapasā ca damena ca || 2 ||

1.72.3

ṛṣiryathāṅgirā mānyaḥ piturmama mahāyaśāḥ |
tathā mānyaśca pūjyaśca bhūyo mama bṛhaspatiḥ || 3 ||

1.72.4

evaṃ jñātvā vijānīhi yadbravīmi tapodhana |
vratasthe niyamopete yathā vartāmyahaṃ tvayi || 4 ||

1.72.5

sa samāvṛttavidyo māṃ bhaktāṃ bhajitumarhasi |
gṛhāṇa pāṇiṃ vidhivanmama mantrapuraskṛtam || 5 ||

1.72.6

kaca uvāca |
pūjyo mānyaśca bhagavānyathā tava pitā mama |
tathā tvamanavadyāṅgi pūjanīyatarā mama || 6 ||

"Kacha replied, 'Thou art to me an object of regard and worship even as thy father! O thou of faultless features, thou art, indeed, even an object of greater reverence! Thou art dearer than life to the high-souled Bhargava, O amiable one! As the daughter of my preceptor, thou art ever worthy of my worship! As my preceptor Sukra, thy father, is ever deserving of my regards, so art thou, O Devayani! Therefore, it behoveth thee not to say so.' Hearing this, Devayani replied, 'Thou, too, art the son of my father's preceptor's son. Therefore, O best of Brahmanas, thou art deserving of my regards and worship. O Kacha, when thou wert slain so many times by the Asuras, recollect today the affection I showed for thee. Remembering my friendship and affection for thee, and, indeed, my devoted regard also, O virtuous one, it behoveth thee not to abandon me without any fault. I am truly devoted to thee.'

1.72.7

ātmaprāṇaiḥ priyatamā bhārgavasya mahātmanaḥ |
tvaṃ bhadre dharmataḥ pūjyā guruputrī sadā mama || 7 ||

1.72.8

yathā mama gururnityaṃ mānyaḥ śukraḥ pitā tava |
devayāni tathaiva tvaṃ naivaṃ māṃ vaktumarhasi || 8 ||

1.72.9

devayānyuvāca |
guruputrasya putro vai na tu tvamasi me pituḥ |
tasmānmānyaśca pūjyaśca mamāpi tvaṃ dvijottama || 9 ||

1.72.10

asurairhanyamāne ca kaca tvayi punaḥ punaḥ |
tadā prabhṛti yā prītistāṃ tvameva smarasva me || 10 ||

1.72.11

sauhārde cānurāge ca vettha me bhaktimuttamām |
na māmarhasi dharmajña tyaktuṃ bhaktāmanāgasam || 11 ||

1.72.12

kaca uvāca |
aniyojye niyoge māṃ niyunakṣi śubhavrate |
prasīda subhru tvaṃ mahyaṃ gurorgurutarī śubhe || 12 ||

"Hearing all this, Kacha said, 'O thou of virtuous vows, do not urge me into such a sinful course. O thou of fair eye-brows, be gracious unto me. Beautiful one, thou art to me an object of greater regard than my preceptor. Full of virtuous resolves, O large-eyed one, of face as handsome, as moon, the place where thou hadst resided, viz., the body of Kavya, hath also been my abode. Thou art truly my sister. Amiable one, happily have we passed the days that we have been together. There is perfect good understanding between us. I ask thy leave to return to my abode. Therefore, bless me so that my journey may be safe. I must be remembered by thee, when thou recallest me in connection with topics of conversation, as one that hath not transgressed virtue. Always attend upon my preceptor with readiness and singleness of heart.' To all this, Devaniya answered, 'Solicited, by me, if, indeed, thou truly refusest to make me thy wife, then, O Kacha, this thy knowledge shall not bear fruit.'

1.72.13

yatroṣitaṃ viśālākṣi tvayā candranibhānane |
tatrāhamuṣito bhadre kukṣau kāvyasya bhāmini || 13 ||

1.72.14

bhaginī dharmato me tvaṃ maivaṃ vocaḥ śubhānane |
sukhamasmyuṣito bhadre na manyurvidyate mama || 14 ||

1.72.15

āpṛcche tvāṃ gamiṣyāmi śivamāśaṃsa me pathi |
avirodhena dharmasya smartavyo'smi kathāntare |
apramattotthitā nityamārādhaya guruṃ mama || 15 ||

1.72.16

devayānyuvāca |
yadi māṃ dharmakāmārthe pratyākhyāsyasi coditaḥ |
tataḥ kaca na te vidyā siddhimeṣā gamiṣyati || 16 ||

1.72.17

kaca uvāca |
guruputrīti kṛtvāhaṃ pratyācakṣe na doṣataḥ |
guruṇā cābhyanujñātaḥ kāmamevaṃ śapasva mām || 17 ||

"Hearing this, Kacha said, 'I have refused thy request only because thou art the daughter of my preceptor, and not because thou hast any fault. Nor hath my preceptor in this respect issued any command. Curse me if it please thee. I have told thee what the behaviour should be of a Rishi. I do not deserve thy curse, O Devayani. But yet thou hast cursed me! Thou hast acted under the influence of passion and not from a sense of duty. Therefore, thy desire will not be fulfilled. No Rishi's son shall ever accept thy hand in marriage. Thou hast said that my knowledge shall not bear fruit. Let it be so. But in respect of him it shall bear fruit to whom I may impart it.'

1.72.18

ārṣaṃ dharmaṃ bruvāṇo'haṃ devayāni yathā tvayā |
śapto nārho'smi śāpasya kāmato'dya na dharmataḥ || 18 ||

1.72.19

tasmādbhavatyā yaḥ kāmo na tathā sa bhaviṣyati |
ṛṣiputro na te kaścijjātu pāṇiṃ grahīṣyati || 19 ||

1.72.20

phaliṣyati na te vidyā yattvaṃ māmāttha tattathā |
adhyāpayiṣyāmi tu yaṃ tasya vidyā phaliṣyati || 20 ||

1.72.21

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
evamuktvā dvijaśreṣṭho devayānīṃ kacastadā |
tridaśeśālayaṃ śīghraṃ jagāma dvijasattamaḥ || 21 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'That first of Brahmanas, Kacha, having said so unto Devayani speedily wended his way unto the abode of the chief of the celestials. Beholding him arrived, the celestials with Indra ahead, having first worshipped him, spoke unto him as follows, 'Thou hast indeed, performed an act of great benefit for us. Wonderful hath been thy achievement! Thy fame shall never die! Thou shall be a sharer with us in sacrificial offerings.'"

1.72.22

tamāgatamabhiprekṣya devā indrapurogamāḥ |
bṛhaspatiṃ sabhājyedaṃ kacamāhurmudānvitāḥ || 22 ||

1.72.23

yattvamasmaddhitaṃ karma cakartha paramādbhutam |
na te yaśaḥ praṇaśitā bhāgabhāṅno bhaviṣyasi || 23 ||