the ill speech of Sarmishtha

Bhargava having said so much cut short his speech. The Danavas were surprised and went away to their homes. Kacha, too, having stayed with his preceptor for a full thousand years, then prepared to return to the abode of the celestials, after having obtained his preceptor's permission.

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, you shinest most brightly. As the celebrated Rishi Angiras is honoured and regarded by my father, so is your father regarded and worshipped by me. O you of ascetic wealth, knowing this, listen to what I say.

Recollect my conduct towards you during the period of thy vow (Brahmacharya). Your vow has now been over. I ask you to fix your affections on me. O accept my hand duly with ordained mantras.'

Kacha replied, 'you are to me an object of regard and worship even as your father! O you of faultless features, you art, indeed, even an object of greater reverence! You art dearer than life to the high-souled Bhargava, O amiable one! As the daughter of my preceptor, you are ever worthy of my worship! As my preceptor Sukra, your father, is ever deserving of my regards, so are you, O Devayani! Therefore, i ask you not to say so.'

Hearing this, Devayani replied, 'you, too, are the son of my father's preceptor's son. Therefore, O best of Brahmanas, you are deserving of my regards and worship. O Kacha, when you wert slain so many times by the Asuras, recollect today the affection I showed for you. Remembering my friendship and affection for you and indeed, my devoted regard also, O virtuous one, I ask you not to abandon me without any fault. I am truly devoted to you.'

Hearing all this, Kacha said, 'O you of virtuous vows, do not urge me into such a sinful course. O you of fair eye-brows, be gracious unto me. Beautiful one, you are to me an object of greater regard than my preceptor. Full of virtuous resolves, O large-eyed one, of face as beautiful, as moon, the place where you had resided, viz., the abode of Kavya, had also been my abode.

You are 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 you, when you recallest me in connection with topics of conversation, as one that has not transgressed virtue. Always attend upon my preceptor with readiness and singleness of heart.'

To all this, Devaniya answered, 'Solicited, by me, if, indeed, you truly refuse to make me your wife, then, O Kacha, this your knowledge shall not bear fruit.'

Hearing this, Kacha said, 'I have refused thy request only because you are the daughter of my preceptor, and not because thou hast any fault. Nor has my preceptor in this respect issued any command. Curse me if it please you. I have told you what the behaviour should be of a Rishi. I do not deserve thy curse, O Devayani. But yet you have cursed me! You have acted under the influence of feelings and not from a sense of duty.

Therefore, your desire will not be fulfilled. No Rishi's son shall ever accept your hand in marriage. You have 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.'

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,

'you have indeed, performed an act of great benefit for us. Wonderful have been your achievement! Your fame shall never die! You shall be a sharer with us in sacrificial offerings.'

The dwellers in heaven became exceedingly glad in welcoming Kacha who had mastered the wonderful science. And, the celestials then learnt that science from Kacha and considered their object already achieved. And assembling together, they spoke unto him of a hundred sacrifices, saying, 'The time hath come for showing prowess. Slay thy foes, O Purandara!' And thus addressed, Maghavat, then accompanied by the celestials, set out, saying, 'So be it.'

But on his way he saw a number of damsels. These maidens were sporting in a lake in the gardens of the Gandharva Chitraratha. Changing himself into wind, he soon mixed up the garments of those maidens which they had laid on the bank.

A little while after, the maidens, getting up from the water, approached their garments that had, indeed, got mixed up with one another. And it so happened that from the intermingled heap, the garments of Devayani were appropriated by Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, from ignorance that it was not hers.

And, O king, thereupon, between them, Devayani and Sarmishtha, then ensued a dispute. And Devayani said, 'O daughter of the Asura (chief), why do you take my attire, being as you are my disciple? As you are destitute of good behaviour, nothing good can happen to you!'

Sarmishtha however quickly replied,'your father occupying a lower seat always adores with downcast looks like a hired chanter of praises, my father, whether he sits at his ease or reclineth at full length! You are the daughter of one that chants the praises of others, of one that accepts alms. I am the daughter of one who is adored of one who bestows alms instead of ever accepting them! Beggar-woman as you are, you are free to strike your breast, to use ill words, to vow enmity to me, to give way to your wrath. Acceptress of alms, you weepest tears of anger in vain! If so minded, I can harm you, but you can not. You desire to quarrel. But know you that I do not reckon you as my equal!'

Hearing these words, Devayani became exceedingly angry and began to pull at her clothes. Sarmishtha thereupon threw her into a well and went home. Indeed, the wicked Sarmishtha believing that Devayani was dead bent her steps home-wards in a wrathful mood.

After Sarmishtha had left, Yayati the son of Nahusha soon came to that spot. The king had been out a-hunting. The couple of horses harnessed to his car and the other single horse with him were all fatigued. And the king himself was thirsty. And the son of Nahusha saw a well that was by. And he saw that it was dry.

But in looking down into it, he saw a maiden who in splendour was like a blazing fire. And beholding her within it, the blessed king addressed that girl of the complexion of the celestials, soothing her with sweet words.

And he said, 'Who are you, O fair one, of nails bright as burnished copper, and with ear-rings decked with celestial gems? You seem to be greatly perturbed. Why do you weep in affliction? How, indeed, have you fallen into this well covered with creepers and long grass? And, O slender-waisted girl, answer me truly whose daughter you are.'

Devayani then replied, 'I am the daughter of Sukra who brings back into life the Asuras slain by the gods. He does not know what has befallen me. This is my right hand, O king, with nails bright as burnished copper. You are well-born; I ask you to take and raise me up! I know you art of good behaviour, of great prowess, and of wide fame! I ask you, therefore, to raise me from this well.'

King Yayati, learning that she was a Brahmana's daughter, raised her from that well by catching hold of her right hand. And the monarch promptly raising her from the pit and squinting to her tapering thighs, sweetly and courteously returned to his capital.

When the son of Nahusha had gone away, Devayani of faultless features, afflicted with grief, then spoke unto her maid, Ghurnika by name, who met her then. And she said, 'O Ghurnika, go you quickly and speak to my father without loss of time of everything as it had happened. I shall not now enter the city of Vrishaparvan.'

Ghurnika, thus commanded, repaired quickly to the mansion, of the Asura chief, where she saw Kavya and spoke unto him with her perception dimmed by anger. And she said, 'I tell you, O great Brahmana, that Devayani has been spoken ill-off in the forest by Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan.'

And Kavya, hearing that his daughter had been ill-used by Sarmishtha speedily went out with a heavy heart seeking her in the woods. And when he found her in the woods, he clasped her with affection and spoke unto her with voice choked with grief, 'O daughter, the weal or woe that befalls people is always due to their own actions. You have therefore some fault, I ween, which has been expiated thus.'

Hearing this Devayani replied, 'Be it a penalty or not, listen to me with attention. O, hear that all Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, has said unto me. Really has she said that you are only the hired chanter of the praises of the Asura king!.

Even thus has she--that Sarmishtha, Vrishaparvan's daughter,--spoken to me, with reddened eyes these piercing and cruel words, 'you art the daughter of one that ever chants for hire the praises of others of one that asks for charities of one that accepts alms; whereas I am the daughter of one that receiveth adorations, of one that gives of one that never accepts anything as gift!'

These have been the words repeatedly spoken unto me by the proud Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, with eyes red with anger.