Matsyapurana 27

English (machine translation) 27

Language: English

27.1

Śaunaka said:
When Kaca arrived, his learning completed, the sky-dwellers were joyous in appearance,
having received that science from Kaca, their purpose fulfilled, bull of the Bharatas.

27.2

Then, having gathered together, they all said to Śatakratu:
Now is the time for your valour; slay the enemies, Puraṃdara!

27.3

Addressed thus together with those gods, Maghavan then
said, 'So be it,' and set forth; he saw women in the forest.

27.4

As the maidens were playing in a forest resembling Caitraratha,
he turned into the wind and thoroughly mingled all their clothes.

27.5

Then, having emerged together from the water, those maidens
took their garments, repeatedly [taking them] haphazardly.

27.6

There Śarmiṣṭhā took the garment of Devayānī,
not knowing the mistake, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan.

27.7

Then a dispute arose there between the two,
between Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā, king of kings, on account of that.

27.8

Devayānī said:
Why do you take my garment, being my disciple, Asura woman?
To you, lacking proper conduct, no good will come.

27.9

Śarmiṣṭhā said:
Whether sitting or lying down, your father praises my father
and asks after him constantly, standing in a lower place like a humble servant.

27.10

You are the daughter of one who begs, praises, and receives gifts;
I am the daughter of one who is praised, who gives and does not receive.

27.11

Unarmed woman, why do you rage against me who am armed, beggar-girl?
You will find an opponent; and I do not count you as anything.

27.12

Śaunaka said:
Devayānī, astonished and clinging to her garment,
Śarmiṣṭhā threw into a well; then she entered her own city.

27.13

Thinking, 'She is dead,' Śarmiṣṭhā of evil resolve
went away from there without looking back, overcome by the force of anger.

27.14

Then to that place came Yayāti, son of Nahuṣa,
his chariot-horses weary, weary in appearance, desirous of game, and thirsty.

27.15

Looking into the reservoir devoid of water, the son of Nahuṣa
saw that maiden there, radiant like a flame of fire.

27.16

As soon as he saw her, the maiden of divine beauty, / that best of kings consoled her and questioned her in most charming words:

27.17

"Who are you, lovely-faced maiden, youthful and wearing polished jewel-earrings? / Why are you pondering deeply, and why do you sigh in distress?

27.18

And how did you fall into this well covered with creepers and grass? / Whose daughter are you? Tell me everything, O slender-waisted lady."

27.19

Devayānī said: / "I am the daughter of that Śukra who raises up with his lore / the Daityas slain by the gods; surely you do not know me.

27.20

This is my right hand, O king, with copper-colored nails and fingers; / lift me up by grasping it, for I deem you well-born.

27.21

I know you to be self-controlled, valorous, and renowned; / therefore, you ought to lift me up fallen into this well."

27.22

Śaunaka said: / Then, understanding her to be a Brahmin woman, Nahuṣa's son / grasped her by the right hand and raised her up from that pit.

27.23

Having swiftly lifted her out from that well, the lord of men, / Yayāti, took leave of the fair-hipped maiden and departed for his own city.

27.24

When that son of Nahuṣa had gone, the humiliated Devayānī, / tormented by grief, spoke to Ghūrṇikā who had returned:

27.25

Devayānī said: / "Go quickly, Ghūrṇikā, and report everything to my father; / I will not enter Vṛṣaparvan's city now."

27.26

Śaunaka said: / Going swiftly to the Asura's palace, / Ghūrṇikā saw Kāvya and, trembling and bewildered, spoke these words.

27.27

And she reported: "The illustrious Devayānī was struck down in the forest, / O very wise one, by Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan."

27.28

Hearing that his daughter had then been attacked by Śarmiṣṭhā, / Kāvya set out in haste out of grief, searching for his daughter in the forest.

27.29

Seeing his daughter Devayānī in the penance grove, / Kāvya embraced her with both arms and, sorrowful, spoke these words:

27.30

"All people reap sorrow and happiness through their own faults; / I think some misconduct was yours, and this retribution has been made for it."

27.31

Devayānī said: / "Be it retribution or not, listen attentively to me / concerning what was said to me by Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan.

27.32

Truly, she declared: 'I am the singer of praise for the Daityas'; / thus indeed did Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, say to me,

27.33

in harsh, sharp words, her eyes extremely red with anger: / 'You are the daughter of one who praises, who begs, who accepts gifts;

I am the daughter of one who is praised, who gives, and who does not accept gifts.' / Thus said to me Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, / her eyes bloodshot with rage, her face full of arrogance.

27.35

If, father, I am the daughter of one who praises and accepts gifts, / I shall appease Śarmiṣṭhā; for so was my friend addressed by me." / Śukra said: / "You are not the daughter of one who praises, my dear lady, nor of one who accepts gifts; / rather, Devayānī, you are the daughter of one who is praised.

27.37

Vṛṣaparvan knows that, and Śakra, and King Yayāti, son of Nahuṣa; / for inconceivable, absolute, and sovereign is my power of the Absolute.

Translations (1)

The Matsya Puranam — A Taluqdar of Oudh 1916, English

Linked texts (1)

Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit