Bhagavatapurana 9.18: athāṣṭādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

9.18.1

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
yatiryayātiḥ saṃyātirāyatirviyatiḥ kṛtiḥ /
ṣaḍ ime nahuṣasyāsannindriyāṇīva dehinaḥ //

Śrī Śuka said: / Yati, Yayāti, Saṃyāti, Āyati, Viyati, and Kṛti— / these six were the sons of Nahuṣa, like the six senses of an embodied soul.

1. Sri Suka said:—Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, Viyati and Kriti were the six sons of Nahusha, and they were like the six senses of a Jiva invested with a body.

9.18.2

rājyaṃ naicchadyatiḥ pitrā dattaṃ tatpariṇāmavit /
yatra praviṣṭaḥ puruṣa ātmānaṃ nāvabudhyate //

Yati did not desire the kingdom offered by his father, knowing its ultimate outcome, / entered into which a person does not know the self.

2. Yati did not like the kingdom offered by his father; for, he knew its end. That one that falls into it is not alive to Atman.

9.18.3

pitari bhraṃśite sthānādindrāṇyā dharṣaṇāddvijaiḥ /
prāpite 'jagaratvaṃ vai yayātirabhavan nṛpaḥ //

When his father had fallen from his position, reduced to the state of a python by the twice-born for molesting Indra's wife, Yayāti indeed became king.

3. When on account of the offence he gave to Indra's queen, his father was made to fall from his position by the sages and condemned to be an Ajagara (boa-constructor), Yayati became the ruler. 4. The elder brother (Yayati) married the daughters of Sukra and Vrishaparvan, appointed his younger brothers to govern the country in the four directions and himself protected the earth (remaining in the capital).

9.18.4

catasṛṣv ādiśaddikṣu bhrāt-n bhrātā yavīyasaḥ /
kṛtadāro jugoporvīṃ kāvyasya vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ //

Assigning his younger brothers to the four directions, the brother took a wife and protected the earth, [the kingdom] of Vṛṣaparvan, [disciple] of Kāvya.

9.18.5

/0 śrīrājovāca
brahmarṣirbhagavān kāvyaḥ kṣatrabandhuśca nāhuṣaḥ /
rājanyaviprayoḥ kasmādvivāhaḥ pratilomakaḥ //

The king said:
Lord Kāvya was a divine seer, while the descendant of Nahuṣa was an unworthy kṣatriya.
Why was there a marriage in reverse of the natural order between a warrior and a brāhmaṇa?

5. The king said:— The venerable Sukra is a brahmin sage and Nahusha's son Yayati is but a Kshatriya prince; how did this irregular marriage relation between a Kshatriya and a brahmin come about?

9.18.6

/0 śrīśuka uvāca
ekadā dānavendrasya śarmiṣṭhā nāma kanyakā /
sakhīsahasrasaṃyuktā guruputryā ca bhāminī //

Śrī Śuka said:
Once, the daughter of the king of the Dānavas, named Śarmiṣṭhā, along with a thousand female companions and her teacher's passionate daughter,

6. & 7. Sri Suka said:— Once accompanied by a thousand companions and by her preceptor's daughter, Devayani, Sarmishta, a girl of imperious nature and daughter of the great Asura Vrishaparvan, was wandering in the garden (near the city) full of trees laden with flowers and charming with sweetly humming bees, lotus-beds and sands.

9.18.7

devayānyā purodyāne puṣpitadrumasaṅkule /
vyacarat kalagītāli nalinīpuline 'balā //

Devayānī, were strolling in the city park, crowded with blossoming trees, on the bank of a lotus pool where bees hummed sweetly—those delicate women.

9.18.8

tā jalāśayamāsādya kanyāḥ kamalalocanāḥ /
tīre nyasya dukūlāni vijahruḥ siñcatīrmithaḥ //

Reaching the body of water, those lotus-eyed maidens placed their fine silks on the bank and sported, splashing one another.

8. Those maidens with eyes like lotus flowers came to a pool of water, left their clothes on the bank and sported in it, dashing waters at one another.

9.18.9

vīkṣya vrajantaṃ giriśaṃ saha devyā vṛṣasthitam /
sahasottīrya vāsāṃsi paryadhurvrīḍitāḥ striyaḥ //

Seeing the Lord of the Mountain approaching on his bull together with the goddess, the embarrassed women quickly came out of the water and put on their clothes.

9. On seeing Siva with his queen on the back of his bull passing that way, they hastily came up to the bank and in shyness put on their dress.

9.18.10

śarmiṣṭhājānatī vāso guruputryāḥ samavyayat /
svīyaṃ matvā prakupitā devayānīdamabravīt //

Not knowing, Śarmiṣṭhā put on the garment of her teacher's daughter, thinking it was her own. Enraged, Devayānī spoke this:

10. In ignorance Sarmishta put on the cloth of the preceptor's daughter thinking it her own; thereupon Devayani becoming enraged, spoke thus.

9.18.11

aho nirīkṣyatāmasyā dāsyāḥ karma hyasāmpratam /
asmaddhāryaṃ dhṛtavatī śunīva haviradhvare //

'Ah, look at the improper deed of this maidservant!
She has worn what is to be worn by us, like a female dog [taking] the sacrificial offering in a sacrifice!

11. “Ha! look at the impropriety of this slave; she has put on our dress, just like a dog carrying away the offering in a sacrifice.

9.18.12

yairidaṃ tapasā sṛṣṭaṃ mukhaṃ puṃsaḥ parasya ye /
dhāryate yairiha jyotiḥ śivaḥ panthāḥ pradarśitaḥ //

By whom this [world] was created through asceticism; who are the mouth of the Supreme Person;
by whom the light is upheld here, and the auspicious path shown;

12. “(We are brahmins) of brahmins who created this by their tapas, who form the very mouth of the Supreme Being, by whom the light of God in the world is kept burning and the auspicious way in the Veda is exhibited;

9.18.13

yān vandantyupatiṣṭhante lokanāthāḥ sureśvarāḥ /
bhagavān api viśvātmā pāvanaḥ śrīniketanaḥ //

whom the lords of the worlds, the rulers of the gods, salute and revere,
and even the Lord, the Self of the universe, the Purifier, the abode of Śrī—

13. “Whom the great gods, protectors of the world and even Almighty Lord who is the Atman of all, the most purifying One and the abode of Lakshmi praise and worship.

9.18.14

vayaṃ tatrāpi bhṛgavaḥ śiṣyo 'syā naḥ pitāsuraḥ /
asmaddhāryaṃ dhṛtavatī śūdro vedamivāsatī //

among them we are moreover Bhṛgus, while her father, the Asura, is a disciple of ours!
She has put on what is to be worn by us, like an outcaste woman [reciting] the Veda!'

14. And among them we are Bhrugus; her father, an Asura, is our disciple; she, a wicked girl, has put on our clothes just as a sudra should interfere with the Veda”.

9.18.15

evaṃ kṣipantīṃ śarmiṣṭhā guruputrīmabhāṣata /
ruṣā śvasantyuraṅgīva dharṣitā daṣṭadacchadā //

To the teacher's daughter thus insulting her, Śarmiṣṭhā replied,
hissing with rage like a female serpent, provoked, biting her lower lip:

15. To her preceptor's daughter who was thus reproaching her, Sarmishta retorted. She bit her lips, sighed in rage, like a serpent, when thus severely attacked and spoke (as follows).

9.18.16

ātmavṛttamavijñāya katthase bahu bhikṣuki /
kiṃ na pratīkṣase 'smākaṃ gṛhān balibhujo yathā //

'Not knowing your own position, do you boast so much, you beggar?
Do you not wait upon our houses like birds waiting for food offerings?'

16. Not knowing thy own condition, O beggarly creature, thou prattlest much: dost thou not like the crow wait at our door?

9.18.17

evaṃvidhaiḥ suparuṣaiḥ kṣiptvācāryasutāṃ satīm /
śarmiṣṭhā prākṣipat kūpe vāsaścādāya manyunā //

Having insulted the virtuous daughter of the teacher with such very harsh words,
Śarmiṣṭhā, having seized her garment in anger, threw her into a well.

17. Having thus in various harsh words derided the good daughter of her preceptor, Sarmishta stripped her of her clothes and in rage hurled her down into a well.

9.18.18

tasyāṃ gatāyāṃ svagṛhaṃ yayātirmṛgayāṃ caran /
prāpto yadṛcchayā kūpe jalārthī tāṃ dadarśa ha //

When she had gone to her home, Yayāti, roaming about on a hunt,
arrived by chance at the well seeking water and saw her there.

18. When she had gone home, Yayati, who had been wandering in the forest on a hunting expedition, came there by chance to find water in the well and saw her in it.

9.18.19

dattvā svamuttaraṃ vāsastasyai rājā vivāsase /
gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇimujjahāra dayāparaḥ //

Giving his own upper garment to her who was unclothed,
the king, supreme in compassion, took her hand with his hand and lifted her out.

19. The king gave his upper garment to her who was in nakedness and full of mercy took her hand with his and lifted her up.

9.18.20

taṃ vīramāhauśanasī premanirbharayā girā /
rājaṃstvayā gṛhīto me pāṇiḥ parapurañjaya //

The daughter of Uśanas spoke to that hero in words overflowing with love:
'O king, conqueror of enemy cities, my hand has been taken by you.

20. The daughter of Usanas spoke to the warrior in words brimming with affection, ‘O king, my hand has been taken by thee, O Victorious one.

9.18.21

hastagrāho 'paro mā bhūdgṛhītāyāstvayā hi me /
eṣa īśakṛto vīra sambandho nau na pauruṣaḥ /
yadidaṃ kūpamagnāyā bhavato darśanaṃ mama //

Let there be no other husband for me whose hand has indeed been taken by you.
This union between us, O hero, is made by the Lord, not by human effort,
since I, fallen into a well, have received this sight of you.

21. ‘No one else should again take my hand, when I am once taken by thee, O warrior; this is a relation between us brought about by the Almighty Lord, not by human effort.

9.18.22

na brāhmaṇo me bhavitā hastagrāho mahābhuja /
kacasya bārhaspatyasya śāpādyamaśapaṃ purā //

No brāhmaṇa shall become my husband, O mighty-armed one,
because of the curse of Kaca, son of Bṛhaspati, whom I formerly cursed.'

22. ‘Since I have had this sight of thee while fallen in the well, O warrior of long great arms, a brahmin is not to be the suitor to my hand: (and that) on account of the curse of Kacha, Brihaspati’s son, on whom I had formerly pronounced a curse’.

9.18.23

yayātiranabhipretaṃ daivopahṛtamātmanaḥ /
manastu tadgataṃ buddhvā pratijagrāha tadvacaḥ //

Although it was not desired by Yayāti, since it was brought about by fate for him,
and knowing that her mind was fixed on him, he accepted her words.

23. Yayati saw that it was a thing, not at all thought of by him, but brought about by Providence, and seeing that his heart also was (now) with her, he accepted her proposal.

9.18.24

gate rājani sā dhīre tatra sma rudatī pituḥ /
nyavedayat tataḥ sarvamuktaṃ śarmiṣṭhayā kṛtam //

When the resolute king had gone, she, weeping there, reported to her father
everything that had been said and done by Śarmiṣṭhā.

24. When the warrior king was gone, she remained there crying and told her father of all that was said and done by Sarmishta.

9.18.25

durmanā bhagavān kāvyaḥ paurohityaṃ vigarhayan /
stuvan vṛttiṃ ca kāpotīṃ duhitrā sa yayau purāt //

Troubled in mind, the venerable Kāvya, condemning the office of family priest
and praising the dove-like life of gleaning, departed from the city with his daughter.

25. The venerable Sukracharya, troubled at heart, condemned the priesthood and, commending the life of the Kapota (a bird that gleans grains of corn scattered in the fields and lives on it), he went out of the city along with his daughter.

9.18.26

vṛṣaparvā tamājñāya pratyanīkavivakṣitam /
guruṃ prasādayan mūrdhnā pādayoḥ patitaḥ pathi //

Knowing him to be intent on turning against him,
Vṛṣaparvan, propitiating his teacher with his head, fell at his feet on the road.

26. On knowing this which his enemies welcomed most, Vrishaparvan fell on his preceptor’s feet on the road, and placed his head on them in order to appease him.

9.18.27

kṣaṇārdhamanyurbhagavān śiṣyaṃ vyācaṣṭa bhārgavaḥ /
kāmo 'syāḥ kriyatāṃ rājan naināṃ tyaktumihotsahe //

The venerable descendant of Bhṛgu, his wrath subsiding in half a moment, said to his disciple:
'Let her desire be fulfilled, O king; I cannot bear to abandon her here.'

27. The venerable Sukra, whose anger lasted but half a minute, said to his disciple, “Let the wishes of my daughter be granted, O king. I cannot bear to leave her here”. 28. "Let it be so", said Vrishaparvan; thereupon Devayani expressed what she had in her mind; "wherever I go, being given in marriage by my father, she should follow me there at my back with all her attendants".

9.18.28

tathetyavasthite prāha devayānī manogatam /
pitrā dattā yato yāsye sānugā yātu māmanu //

When he agreed, saying 'So be it,' Devayānī expressed the desire in her heart:
'Wherever I go when given by my father, let her follow me along with her attendants.'

9.18.29

pitrā dattā devayānyai śarmiṣṭhā sānugā tadā /
svānāṃ tat saṅkaṭaṃ vīkṣya tadarthasya ca gauravam /
devayānīṃ paryacarat strīsahasreṇa dāsavat //

Then Śarmiṣṭhā, given by her father to Devayānī along with her attendants,
seeing the danger to her own people and the gravity of that purpose,
served Devayānī like a maidservant along with a thousand women.

29. On considering that difficulty of his own people and the importance of their purpose, Sarmishta rendered service to Devayani like a slave along with her thousand attendants.

9.18.30

nāhuṣāya sutāṃ dattvā saha śarmiṣṭhayośanā /
tamāha rājan charmiṣṭhāmādhāstalpe na karhicit //

Giving his daughter to Nahuṣa's son together with Śarmiṣṭhā, Uśanas
said to him: 'O king, never place Śarmiṣṭhā on your bed.'

30. Sukracharya gave Yayati his daughter together with Sarmishta and told him, "never do thou share thy bed with Sarmishta".

9.18.31

vilokyauśanasīṃ rājañ charmiṣṭhā suprajāṃ kvacit /
tameva vavre rahasi sakhyāḥ patimṛtau satī //

O king, seeing the daughter of Uśanas blessed with children, at one time Śarmiṣṭhā,
being in her fertile season, chose her companion's husband in secret.

31. Seeing Devayani blessed with children, Sarmishta who was in season secretly courted the affection of her friend's husband.

9.18.32

rājaputryārthito 'patye dharmaṃ cāvekṣya dharmavit /
smaran chukravacaḥ kāle diṣṭamevābhyapadyata //

Requested for an offspring by the princess, and considering dharma, the knower of dharma,
remembering the words of Śukra, simply yielded to fate at that time.

32. Solicited by a princess for the sake of progeny and considering the rule of Dharma as one versed in it, though he remembered in time Sukracharya's words, he decided upon the course indicated by Providence (and granted her wishes).

9.18.33

yaduṃ ca turvasuṃ caiva devayānī vyajāyata /
druhyuṃ cānuṃ ca pūruṃ ca śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī //

Devayānī gave birth to Yadu and Turvasu,
and Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, to Druhyu, Anu, and Pūru.

33. Devayani bore two sons named Yadu and Turvasu; and Sarmishta, daughter of Vrishaparvan, had three sons Dhruhyu, Anu and Pooru.

9.18.34

garbhasambhavamāsuryā bharturvijñāya māninī /
devayānī piturgehaṃ yayau krodhavimūrchitā //

Knowing of the Asura woman's pregnancy by her husband, proud Devayānī,
beside herself with rage, went to her father's house.

34. Devayani understood that the Asura's daughter had been favoured by her own lord and she was pregnant. She went in wrath away to her father's house.

9.18.35

priyāmanugataḥ kāmī vacobhirupamantrayan /
na prasādayituṃ śeke pādasaṃvāhanādibhiḥ //

The lustful husband followed his beloved, entreating her with words,
but could not appease her even by massaging her feet and other services.

35. The loving husband followed her and tried to reconcile her with appropriate words and promises and even with shampooing her feet; but he was not able to please her.

9.18.36

śukrastamāha kupitaḥ strīkāmānṛtapūruṣa /
tvāṃ jarā viśatāṃ manda virūpakaraṇī nṛṇām //

Enraged, Śukra said to him: 'O lustful toward women, untruthful man!
May old age enter you, fool, making human beings deformed!'

36. The enraged Sukra said to him, "O false man addicted to women, let old age which disfigures men overtake thee, O dull creature".

9.18.37

/0 śrīyayātiruvāca
atṛpto 'smyadya kāmānāṃ brahman duhitari sma te /
vyatyasyatāṃ yathākāmaṃ vayasā yo 'bhidhāsyati //

Śrī Yayāti said:
'I am not yet sated with desires, O brāhmaṇa, with your daughter.
Let it be exchanged at will with whoever will take on the age.'

37. Yayati said:— O sage, I have not yet now become satiated with the enjoyment of pleasures in the company of thy daughter; so please change thy curse, so that I may at will exchange my old age with the youth of any other prepared to receive my old age.

9.18.38

iti labdhavyavasthānaḥ putraṃ jyeṣṭhamavocata /
yado tāta pratīcchemāṃ jarāṃ dehi nijaṃ vayaḥ //

Having thus obtained the condition, he spoke to his eldest son:
'O Yadu, my son, accept this old age and give me your own youth.

38. Having secured this condition he said to his eldest son "Yadu, my child, take this old age caused by thy grandfather from me and give me thy youth".

9.18.39

mātāmahakṛtāṃ vatsa na tṛpto viṣayeṣv aham /
vayasā bhavadīyena raṃsye katipayāḥ samāḥ //

It was inflicted by your maternal grandfather, my child; I am not sated with sense objects.
With your youth I shall enjoy myself for a few years.'

39. "O child, I am not yet satiated with the objects of sense; let me enjoy some years more with thy youthfulness". 40. Yadu said:— I cannot bear to live, putting on thy old age that may suddenly overtake me; for, without an actual experience of vulgar pleasure, a man cannot get rid of his thirst for it.

9.18.40

/0 śrīyaduruvāca
notsahe jarasā sthātumantarā prāptayā tava /
aviditvā sukhaṃ grāmyaṃ vaitṛṣṇyaṃ naiti pūruṣaḥ //

Śrī Yadu said:
'I cannot bear to endure old age that comes prematurely to me through you.
Without having known sensual pleasure, a man does not attain dispassion.'

9.18.41

turvasuścoditaḥ pitrā druhyuścānuśca bhārata /
pratyācakhyuradharmajñā hyanitye nityabuddhayaḥ //

Turvasu, urged by his father, and Druhyu and Anu, O descendant of Bharata,
refused, ignorant of dharma, regarding the impermanent as permanent.

41. Then Turvasu, Druhyu and Anu were each requested by the father; all refused, not knowing the secret of Dharma and mistaking the transient things for permanent objects.

9.18.42

apṛcchat tanayaṃ pūruṃ vayasonaṃ guṇādhikam /
na tvamagrajavadvatsa māṃ pratyākhyātumarhasi //

He asked his son Pūru, who was inferior in age but superior in virtues:
'You ought not to refuse me, my child, as your elder brothers did.'

42. Lastly he asked his son Pooru who was by age the youngest but by qualities the foremost of his sons and said, “O child, it is not fit for thee to refuse like thy elder brothers”.

9.18.43

/0 śrīpūruruvāca
ko nu loke manuṣyendra piturātmakṛtaḥ pumān /
pratikartuṃ kṣamo yasya prasādādvindate param //

Śrī Pūru said:
'What man in the world, O ruler of men, is able to repay his father,
by who has made his body and by whose grace he attains the highest?

43. Pooru said:— Who could (fully) requite his father, O king, who is the author of his body in the world and by whose grace one may attain to the highest?

9.18.44

uttamaścintitaṃ kuryāt proktakārī tu madhyamaḥ /
adhamo 'śraddhayā kuryādakartoccaritaṃ pituḥ //

The best [son] would do what is thought; the middling does what is commanded;
the lowest would do it without faith; but he who does not do his father's bidding is like feces.'

44. “He is the best son who would do what the father *thinks* of and he is a middling character who does what is expressly told by him and he is the lowest who does the father’s bidding with indifference and he who refuses to do is his father’s refuse”.

9.18.45

iti pramuditaḥ pūruḥ pratyagṛhṇāj jarāṃ pituḥ /
so 'pi tadvayasā kāmān yathāvaj jujuṣe nṛpa //

Delighted, Pūru accepted his father's old age in this way.
And he too, O king, enjoyed desires properly with that youth.

45. Thus Pooru was rejoiced to accept the old age of his father and the father too with his youth enjoyed pleasures as he liked.

9.18.46

saptadvīpapatiḥ saṃyak pitṛvat pālayan prajāḥ /
yathopajoṣaṃ viṣayāñ jujuṣe 'vyāhatendriyaḥ //

As the master of the seven islands, properly protecting the subjects like a father,
with unimpaired senses he enjoyed the sense objects to his heart's content.

46. As the lord of the seven Dwipas he like a father protected his subjects well and also to his heart’s content, enjoyed pleasures with his senses unimpaired.

9.18.47

devayānyapyanudinaṃ manovāgdehavastubhiḥ /
preyasaḥ paramāṃ prītimuvāha preyasī rahaḥ //

Devayānī too, every day with mind, speech, body, and material goods,
brought supreme delight in secret to her beloved, as his beloved.

47. The beloved Devayani too tried every day to give him satisfaction by her thought, word and deed and other things and secretly bore him the highest affection.

9.18.48

ayajadyajñapuruṣaṃ kratubhirbhūridakṣiṇaiḥ /
sarvadevamayaṃ devaṃ sarvavedamayaṃ harim //

He worshipped the Person of sacrifice with rites accompanied by abundant priestly fees,
the God who embodies all gods, Hari who embodies all Vedas.

48. Yayati also performed sacrifices with liberal *dakshinas* and worshipped the Lord of *yagna*, the lord of all the gods, Hari, the one spoken of by all the Vedas.

9.18.49

yasminnidaṃ viracitaṃ vyomnīva jaladāvaliḥ /
nāneva bhāti nābhāti svapnamāyāmanorathaḥ //

In whom this [universe] is arranged like a row of clouds in the sky, / appearing as manifold yet not appearing, like a dream, an illusion, or a fantasy of the mind—

49. — Hari on whom this Universe is produced as the clouds are in the sky, appears to be and to be different and (when the senses are closed) ceases to be, like dream, illusion and fancy.

9.18.50

tameva hṛdi vinyasya vāsudevaṃ guhāśayam /
nārāyaṇamaṇīyāṃsaṃ nirāśīrayajat prabhum //

installing in his heart that very Vāsudeva dwelling in the secret chamber, / the subtle Nārāyaṇa, the Lord, he worshipped without desires.

50. Contemplating only that Vasudeva abiding in every heart, as also enthroned in his heart, the most subtle Narayana, he worshipped Him without any wish for blessings. (D. without seeking after the course of self-denial).

9.18.51

evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇi manaḥṣaṣṭhairmanaḥsukham /
vidadhāno 'pi nātṛpyat sārvabhaumaḥ kadindriyaiḥ //

Though enjoying mental pleasures for thousands of years through the six senses led by the mind, / the emperor was not satisfied by the wretched senses.

51. Though trying thus to find pleasure through his six bad senses including the mind for thousands of years, the emperor did not become satiated.