The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 1.78: aṣṭasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ

1.78.1

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
śrutvā kumāraṃ jātaṃ tu devayānī śucismitā |
cintayāmāsa duḥkhārtā śarmiṣṭhāṃ prati bhārata || 1 ||

"Vaisampayana said, 'When Devayani of sweet smiles heard of the birth of this child, she became jealous, and O Bharata, Sarmishtha became an object of her unpleasant reflections. And Devayani, repairing to her, addressed her thus, 'O thou of fair eye-brows, what sin is this thou hast committed by yielding to the influence of lust?' Sarmishtha replied, 'A certain Rishi of virtuous soul and fully conversant with the Vedas came to me. Capable of granting boons he was solicited by me to grant my wishes that were based on considerations of virtue. O thou of sweet smiles, I would not seek the sinful fulfilment of my desires. I tell thee truly that this child of mine is by that Rishi!' Devayani answered, 'It is all right if that be the case, O timid one! But if the lineage, name, and family of that Brahmana be known to thee, I should like to hear them.' Sarmishtha replied, 'O thou of sweet smiles, in asceticism and energy, that Rishi is resplendent like the Sun himself. Beholding him, I had not, any need to make these enquiries--' Devayani then said, 'If this is true, if indeed, thou hast obtained thy child from such a superior Brahmana, then, O Sarmishtha, I have no cause of anger.'

1.78.2

abhigamya ca śarmiṣṭhāṃ devayānyabravīdidam |
kimidaṃ vṛjinaṃ subhru kṛtaṃ te kāmalubdhayā || 2 ||

1.78.3

śarmiṣṭhovāca |
ṛṣirabhyāgataḥ kaściddharmātmā vedapāragaḥ |
sa mayā varadaḥ kāmaṃ yācito dharmasaṃhitam || 3 ||

1.78.4

nāhamanyāyataḥ kāmamācarāmi śucismite |
tasmādṛṣermamāpatyamiti satyaṃ bravīmi te || 4 ||

1.78.5

devayānyuvāca |
śobhanaṃ bhīru satyaṃ cedatha sa jñāyate dvijaḥ |
gotranāmābhijanato vettumicchāmi taṃ dvijam || 5 ||

1.78.6

śarmiṣṭhovāca |
ojasā tejasā caiva dīpyamānaṃ raviṃ yathā |
taṃ dṛṣṭvā mama saṃpraṣṭuṃ śaktirnāsīcchucismite || 6 ||

1.78.7

devayānyuvāca |
yadyetadevaṃ śarmiṣṭhe na manyurvidyate mama |
apatyaṃ yadi te labdhaṃ jyeṣṭhācchreṣṭhācca vai dvijāt || 7 ||

1.78.8

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
anyonyamevamuktvā ca saṃprahasya ca te mithaḥ |
jagāma bhārgavī veśma tathyamityeva jajñuṣī || 8 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having thus talked and laughed with each other, they separated, Devayani returning to the palace with the knowledge imparted to her by Sarmishtha. And, O king, Yayati also begot on Devayani two sons called Yadu and Turvasu, who were like Indra and Vishnu. And Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, became through the royal sage the mother of three sons in all, named Drahyu, Anu, and Puru.

1.78.9

yayātirdevayānyāṃ tu putrāvajanayannṛpaḥ |
yaduṃ ca turvasuṃ caiva śakraviṣṇū ivāparau || 9 ||

1.78.10

tasmādeva tu rājarṣeḥ śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī |
druhyuṃ cānuṃ ca pūruṃ ca trīnkumārānajījanat || 10 ||

1.78.11

tataḥ kāle tu kasmiṃściddevayānī śucismitā |
yayātisahitā rājannirjagāma mahāvanam || 11 ||

"And, O king, it so came to pass that one day Devayani of sweet smiles, accompanied by Yayati, went into a solitary part of the woods, (in the king's extensive park). And there she saw three children of celestial beauty playing with perfect trustfulness. And Devayani asked in surprise, 'Whose children are they, O king, who are so handsome and so like unto the children of the celestials? In splendour and beauty they are like thee, I should think.'

1.78.12

dadarśa ca tadā tatra kumārāndevarūpiṇaḥ |
krīḍamānānsuviśrabdhānvismitā cedamabravīt || 12 ||

1.78.13

kasyaite dārakā rājandevaputropamāḥ śubhāḥ |
varcasā rūpataścaiva sadṛśā me matāstava || 13 ||

1.78.14

evaṃ pṛṣṭvā tu rājānaṃ kumārānparyapṛcchata |
kiṃnāmadheyagotro vaḥ putrakā brāhmaṇaḥ pitā |
vibrūta me yathātathyaṃ śrotumicchāmi taṃ hyaham || 14 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'And Devayani without waiting for a reply from the king, asked the children themselves, 'Ye children, what is your lineage? Who is your father? Answer me truly. I desire to know all.' Those children then pointed at the king (with their forefingers) and spoke of Sarmishtha as their mother.

1.78.15

te'darśayanpradeśinyā tameva nṛpasattamam |
śarmiṣṭhāṃ mātaraṃ caiva tasyācakhyuśca dārakāḥ || 15 ||

1.78.16

ityuktvā sahitāste tu rājānamupacakramuḥ |
nābhyanandata tānrājā devayānyāstadāntike |
rudantaste'tha śarmiṣṭhāmabhyayurbālakāstataḥ || 16 ||

"And having so said, the children approached the king to clasp his knees. But the king dared not caress them in the presence of Devayani. The boys then left the place, and made towards their mother, weeping in grief. And the king, at this conduct of the boys, became very much abashed. But Devayani, marking the affection of the children for the king learnt the secret and addressing Sarmishtha, said, 'How hast thou dared to do me an injury, being, as thou art, dependent on me? Dost thou not fear to have recourse once more to that Asura custom of thine?'

1.78.17

dṛṣṭvā tu teṣāṃ bālānāṃ praṇayaṃ pārthivaṃ prati |
buddhvā ca tattvato devī śarmiṣṭhāmidamabravīt || 17 ||

1.78.18

madadhīnā satī kasmādakārṣīrvipriyaṃ mama |
tamevāsuradharmaṃ tvamāsthitā na bibheṣi kim || 18 ||

1.78.19

śarmiṣṭhovāca |
yaduktamṛṣirityeva tatsatyaṃ cāruhāsini |
nyāyato dharmataścaiva carantī na bibhemi te || 19 ||

"Sarmishtha said, 'O thou of sweet smiles, all that I told thee of a Rishi is perfectly true. I have acted rightly and according to the precepts of virtue, and therefore, do I not fear thee. When thou hadst chosen the king for thy husband, I, too, chose him as mine. O beautiful one, a friend's husband is, according to usage, one's own husband as well. Thou art the daughter of a Brahmana and, therefore, deservest my worship and regard.

1.78.20

yadā tvayā vṛto rājā vṛta eva tadā mayā |
sakhībhartā hi dharmeṇa bhartā bhavati śobhane || 20 ||

1.78.21

pūjyāsi mama mānyā ca jyeṣṭhā śreṣṭhā ca brāhmaṇī |
tvatto'pi me pūjyatamo rājarṣiḥ kiṃ na vettha tat || 21 ||

[paragraph continues] But dost thou not know that this royal sage is held by me in greater esteem still?'

1.78.22

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
śrutvā tasyāstato vākyaṃ devayānyabravīdidam |
rājannādyeha vatsyāmi vipriyaṃ me kṛtaṃ tvayā || 22 ||

"Vaisampayana said, 'Devayani then, hearing those words of hers, exclaimed, O king, thus, 'Thou hast wronged me, O monarch! I shall not live here any longer.' And saying this, she quickly rose, with tearful eyes, to go to her father. And the king was grieved to see her thus, and alarmed greatly, followed in her foot-steps, endeavouring to appease her wrath. But Devayani, with eyes red with anger, would not desist. Speaking not a word to the king, with eyes bathed in tears, she soon reached the side of her father Usanas, the son of Kavi. And beholding her father, she stood before him, after due salutations. And Yayati also, immediately after, saluted and worshipped Bhargava.'

1.78.23

sahasotpatitāṃ śyāmāṃ dṛṣṭvā tāṃ sāśrulocanām |
tvaritaṃ sakāśaṃ kāvyasya prasthitāṃ vyathitastadā || 23 ||

1.78.24

anuvavrāja saṃbhrāntaḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ sāntvayannṛpaḥ |
nyavartata na caiva sma krodhasaṃraktalocanā || 24 ||

1.78.25

avibruvantī kiṃcittu rājānaṃ cārulocanā |
acirādiva saṃprāptā kāvyasyośanaso'ntikam || 25 ||

1.78.26

sā tu dṛṣṭvaiva pitaramabhivādyāgrataḥ sthitā |
anantaraṃ yayātistu pūjayāmāsa bhārgavam || 26 ||

1.78.27

devayānyuvāca |
adharmeṇa jito dharmaḥ pravṛttamadharottaram |
śarmiṣṭhayātivṛttāsmi duhitrā vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ || 27 ||

"And Devayani said, 'O father, virtue hath been vanquished by vice. The low have risen, and the high have fallen. I have been offended again by Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan. Three sons have been begotten upon her by this king Yayati. But, O father, being luckless I have got only two sons! O son of Bhrigu, this king is renowned for his knowledge of the precepts of religion. But, O Kavya, I tell thee that he hath deviated from the path of rectitude.'

1.78.28

trayo'syāṃ janitāḥ putrā rājñānena yayātinā |
durbhagāyā mama dvau tu putrau tāta bravīmi te || 28 ||

1.78.29

dharmajña iti vikhyāta eṣa rājā bhṛgūdvaha |
atikrāntaśca maryādāṃ kāvyaitatkathayāmi te || 29 ||

1.78.30

śukra uvāca |
dharmajñaḥ sanmahārāja yo'dharmamakṛthāḥ priyam |
tasmājjarā tvāmacirāddharṣayiṣyati durjayā || 30 ||

"Sukra, hearing all this, said, 'O monarch, since thou hast made vice thy beloved pursuit, though fully acquainted with the precepts of religion, invincible decrepitude shall paralyse thee!' Yayati answered, 'Adorable one, I was solicited by the daughter of the Danava king to fructify her season. I did it from a sense of virtue and not from other motives. That male person, who being solicited by a woman in her season doth not grant her wishes, is called, O Brahmana, by those conversant with the Vedas, a slayer of the embryo. He who, solicited in secret by a woman full of desire and in season, goeth not in unto her, loseth virtue and is called by the learned a killer of the embryo, O son of Bhrigu, for these reasons, and anxious to avoid sin, I went into Sarmishtha.' Sukra then replied, 'Thou art dependent on me. Thou shouldst have awaited my command. Having acted falsely in the matter of thy duty, O son of Nahusha, thou hast been guilty of the sin of theft.'

1.78.31

yayātiruvāca |
ṛtuṃ vai yācamānāyā bhagavannānyacetasā |
duhiturdānavendrasya dharmyametatkṛtaṃ mayā || 31 ||

1.78.32

ṛtuṃ vai yācamānāyā na dadāti pumānvṛtaḥ |
bhrūṇahetyucyate brahmansa iha brahmavādibhiḥ || 32 ||

1.78.33

abhikāmāṃ striyaṃ yastu gamyāṃ rahasi yācitaḥ |
nopaiti sa ca dharmeṣu bhrūṇahetyucyate budhaiḥ || 33 ||

1.78.34

ityetāni samīkṣyāhaṃ kāraṇāni bhṛgūdvaha |
adharmabhayasaṃvignaḥ śarmiṣṭhāmupajagmivān || 34 ||

1.78.35

śukra uvāca |
nanvahaṃ pratyavekṣyaste madadhīno'si pārthiva |
mithyācārasya dharmeṣu cauryaṃ bhavati nāhuṣa || 35 ||

1.78.36

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
kruddhenośanasā śapto yayātirnāhuṣastadā |
pūrvaṃ vayaḥ parityajya jarāṃ sadyo'nvapadyata || 36 ||

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Yayati, the son of Nahusha, thus cursed by the angry Usanas, was then divested of his youth and immediately overcome by decrepitude. And Yayati said, 'O son of Bhrigu, I have not yet been satiated with youth or with Devayani. Therefore, O Brahmana, be graceful unto me so that decrepitude might not touch me.' Sukra then answered, 'I never speak an untruth. Even now, O king, art thou attacked by decrepitude. But if thou likest, thou art competent to transfer this thy decrepitude to another.' Yayati said, 'O Brahmana, let it be commanded by thee that that son of mine who giveth me his youth shall enjoy my kingdom, and shall achieve both virtue and fame.' Sukra replied, 'O son of Nahusha, thinking of me thou mayst transfer this thy decrepitude to whomsoever thou likest. That son who shall give thee his youth shall become thy successor to the throne. He shall also have long life, wide fame, and numerous progeny!'"

1.78.37

yayātiruvāca |
atṛpto yauvanasyāhaṃ devayānyāṃ bhṛgūdvaha |
prasādaṃ kuru me brahmañjareyaṃ mā viśeta mām || 37 ||

1.78.38

śukra uvāca |
nāhaṃ mṛṣā bravīmyetajjarāṃ prāpto'si bhūmipa |
jarāṃ tvetāṃ tvamanyasmai saṃkrāmaya yadīcchasi || 38 ||

1.78.39

yayātiruvāca |
rājyabhāksa bhavedbrahmanpuṇyabhākkīrtibhāktathā |
yo me dadyādvayaḥ putrastadbhavānanumanyatām || 39 ||

1.78.40

śukra uvāca |
saṃkrāmayiṣyasi jarāṃ yatheṣṭaṃ nahuṣātmaja |
māmanudhyāya bhāvena na ca pāpamavāpsyasi || 40 ||

1.78.41

vayo dāsyati te putro yaḥ sa rājā bhaviṣyati |
āyuṣmānkīrtimāṃścaiva bahvapatyastathaiva ca || 41 ||