Chapter 63

Devayani.

"Sukra then answered. If it is true. O great Asura, that I am the lord of all the wealth of the Asuras, then go and gratify

"Vaisampayana continued, when the great Kavya was so addressed by Vrishaparvan, he then went to Devayani and told her all. Devayani, however, quickly replied, O Bhargava, if thou art truly the lord of the Asura king himself and of all his wealth,

then let the king himself come to me and say so in my presence." Vrishaparvan then approached Devayani and told her, 'O

Devayani of sweet smiles, whatever thou desirest I am willing to give thee, however difficult it may be to grant the same.

Devayani answered, "I desire Sarmishtha with a thousand maids to wait on me! She must also follow me to where my father

may give me away.

"Vrishaparvan then commanded a maid-servant in attendance on him, saying, 'Go and quickly bring Sarmishtha hither. Let her also accomplish what Devayani wisheth."

"Vaisampayana continued, "The maid-servant then repaired to Sarmishtha and told her, 'O amiable Sarmishtha, rise and follow me. Accomplish the good of thy relatives. Urged by Devayani, the Brahmana (Sukra) is on the point of leaving his disciples (the Asuras). O sinless one, thou must do what Devayani wisheth. Surmishtha replied, 'I shall cheerfully do what Devayani wisheth. Urged by Devayani Sukra is calling me. Both Sukra and Devayani must not leave the Asuras through my fault.

"Vaisampayana continued, Commanded by her father, then, Sarmishtha, accompanied by a thousand maidens, soon came, in a

palanquin, out of her father's excellent mansion. And approaching Devayani she said, 'With my thousand maids. I am thy

waiting-maid! And I shall follow thee where thy father may give thee away. Devayani replied, I am the daughter of one who chanteth the praises of thy father, and who beggeth and accepteth alms, thou, on the other hand, art the daughter of one who is adored. How canst thou be my waiting-maid?

"Sarmishtha answered. 'One must by all means contribute to the happiness of one's afflicted relatives. Therefore shall I follow thee wherever thy father may give thee away."

"Vaisampayana continued, "When Sarmishtha thus promised to be Devayani's waiting-maid the latter, O king, then spoke unto

her father thus, O best of all excellent Brahmanas, I am gratified. I shall now enter the Asura capital! I now know that thy

science and power of knowledge are not futile!

"Vaisampayana continued, That best of Brahmanas, of great reputation, thus addressed by his daughter, then, entered the

Asura capital in the gladness of his heart. And the Danavas worshipped him with great reverence."

(Sambhava Parva continued)

Vaisampayana said, "After some length of time, O best of monarchs, Devayani of the fairest complexion went into the same woods for purposes of pleasure. And accompanied by Sarmishtha with her thousand maids she reached the same spot and hegan to wander freely. And waited upon by all those companions she felt supremely happy. And sporting with light hearts, they began drinking the honey in flowers, eating various kinds of fruit and biting some. And just at that time, king Yayati, the son of Nahusha, again came there tired and thirsty, in course of his wanderings, in search of deer. And the king saw Devayani and Sarmishtha, and those other maidens also, all decked with celestial ornaments and full of voluptuous languor in consequence of the flower-honey they drank. And Devayani of sweet smiles, unrivalled for beauty and possessed of the fairest complexion amongst them all, was reclining ut her ease. And she was waited upon by Sarmishtha who was gently kneading her

feet

"And Yayati seeing all this, said, O amiable ones, I would ask you both your names and parentage. It seems that these two

thousand maids wait on you two Hearing the monarch, Devayani then answered, Lasten to me, O best of men. Know that I am the daughter of Sukra, the spiritual guide of the Asuras. This my companion is my waiting-maid. She attendeth on me wherever I go. She is Sarmishtha, the daughter of the Asura king Vrishaparvan.

"Yayati then asked, I am curious to know why is this thy companion of fair eye-brows, this maiden of the fairest complexion.

the daughter of the Asura chief thy waiting-maid! Devayani replied, 'O best of king, everything resulteth from Fate. Knowing this also to be the result of Fate, wonder not at it. Thy feature and attire are both like a king's. Thy speech also is fair and correct as that of the Vedas. Tell me thy name, whence thou art and whose son also

"The monarch replied. During my vow of Brahmacharya, the whole Vedas entered my ears. I am known as Yayati, a king's son and myself a king.' Devayani then enquired. O king, what hast thou come here for? Is it to gather lotuses or to angle or to

hunt? Yayati said, 'O amiable one, thirsty from the pursuit of deer, I have come hither in search of water. I am very much

fatigued. I await but your commands to leave this spot.

"Devayani answered. With my two thousand damsels and my waiting-maid Sarmishtha, I wait but your commands. Prosperity

to thee. Be thou my friend and lord.

"Yayati, thereupon, replied. 'Beautiful one. I do not deserve thee. Thou art the daughter of Sukra far superior to me. Thy father cannot bestow thee even on a great king. To this Devayani replied, 'Brahmanas had before this been united with the Kshatriyas, and Kshatriyas with Brahmanas. Thou art the son of a Rishi and thyself a Rishi. Therefore. O son of Nahusha, marry me. Yayati, however, replied, O thou of the handsomest features, the four orders have, indeed, sprung from one body. But their duties and purity are not the same, the Brahmana being truly superior to all. Devayani answered, This hand of mine hath never been touched before by any man save thee. Therefore, do I accept thee for my lord. How, indeed, shall any other man touch my hand which had before been touched by thyself who art a Rishi? Yayati then said. The wise know that a Brahmana is more to be avoided than an angry snake of virulent poison, or a blazing fire of spreading flames, Devayani then told the monarch, O bull amongst men, why dost thou, indeed, say that Brahmana should be more avoided than an angry snake of virulent poison or a blazing fire of spreading flames? The monarch answered. The snake killeth only one. The sharpest weapon slayeth but a single person. The Brahmana, when angry destroyeth whole cities and kingdoms! Therefore. O timid one. do I deem a Brahmana as more to be avoided than either. I cannot hence wed thee. O amiable one, unless thy father bestoweth thee on me. Devayani then said. Thou art, indeed, chosen by me. And, O king, it is understood that thou wilt accept me if my father bestoweth me on thee. Thou needs not fear to accept my pour self bestowed on thee. Thou dost not, indeed, ask for me."

"Vaisampayana continued, 'After this, Devayani quickly sent a maidservant to her father. The maid represented to Sukra everything as it had happened. And as soon as he had heard all, Bhargava came and saw Yayati. And beholding Bhargava come, Yayati worshipped and adored that Brahmara, and stood with joined palmus in expectation of his commands.

"And Devayani then said. This O father, is the son of Nahusha. He took hold of my hand, when I was in distress. I bow to thee. Bestow me upon him. I shall not wed any other person in the world. Sukra exclaimed, 'O thou of splendid courage, thou hast indeed, been accepted as her lord by this my dear daughter. I bestow her on thee. Therefore, O son of Nahusha, accept her as

thy wife."