Chapter 64

"Yayati then said, I solicit the boon, O Brahmana, that by so doing, the sin of begetting a half-breed might not touch me."

Sukra, however, assured him by saying. 1 shall absolve thee from the sin. Ask thou the hoon that thou desirest. Fear not to wed

her. I grant thee absolution. Maintain virtuously thy wife--the slender waisted Devayani. Transports of happiness be thine in her company. This other maiden, Vrishaparvan's daughter, Sarmishtha should ever be regarded by thee. But thou shall not summon her to thy bed."" "Vaisampayana continued. Thus addressed by Sukra. Yayati then walked round the Brahmana. And the king then went through the auspicious ceremony of marriage according to the rites of the seriptures. And having received from Sukra this rich

treasure of the excellent Devayani with Sarmishtha and those two thousand maidens, and duly honoured also by Sukra himself

and the Asuras, the best of monarchs, then, commanded by the high-souled Bhargava, returned to his capital with a joyous

heart."

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said. "Yayati then, on returning to his capital which was like unto the city of Indra, entered his inner apartments and established there his bride Devayani. And the monarch, directed by Devayani, established Vrishaparvan's daughter Sarmishtha in a mansion especially erected near the artificial woods of Asokas in his gardens. And the king surrounded Vrishaparvan's daughter Sarmishtha with a thousand maids and honoured her by making every arrangement for her food and garments. But it was with Devayani that the royal son of Nahusha sported like a celestial for many years in joy and bliss. And when her season came, the fair Devayani conceived. And she brought forth as her first child a fine boy. And when a thousand years had passed away, Vrishaparvan's daughter Sarmishtha having attained to puberty saw that her season had come. She became anxious and said to herself. 'My season hath arrived. But I have not yet chosen a husband. O, what hath happened. what should I do? How am I to obtain the fruition of my wishes? Devayani hath become mother. My youth is doomed to pass away in vain. Shall I choose him also for my husband whom Devayani hath chosen? This is, indeed, my resolve; that monarch should give me a son. Will not the virtuous one grant me a private interview?

"Vaisampayana continued, While Sarmishtha was thus busy with her thoughts, the king wandering listlessly came to that very wood of Asukas, and beholding Sarmishtha before him, stood there in silence. Then Sarmishtha of sweet smiles seeing the monarch before her with nobody to witness what might pass, approached him and said with joined palms. O son of Nahusha. no one can behold the ladies that dwell in the inner apartments of Soma, of Indra, of Vishnu, of Yama, of Varuna, and of thee! Thou knowest, O king, that I am both handsome and well-bom. I solicit thee, O king! My season hath arrived. See that it goeth not in vain."

"Yayati answered, "Well do I know that honour of birth is thine, born as thou art in the proud race of the Danavas. Thou art also

gifted with beauty. I do not, indeed, see even the speck of a fault in thy feature. But Usanus commanded me, while I was united

with Devayani, that never should Vrishaparvan's daughter he summoned to my bed."

"Sarmishtha then said. 'It hath been said, O king, that it is not sinful to lie on the occasion of a joke, in respect of women sought

to be enjoyed, on occasions of marriage, in peril of immediate death and of the loss of one's whole fortune. Lying is excusable

on these five occasions. O king, it is not true that he is fallen who speaks not the truth when asked. Both Devayani and myself

have been called hither as companions to serve the same purpose. When, therefore, thou hadst said that you wouldst confine

thyself to one only amongst as, that was a lie thou hadst spoken. Yayati replied. 'A king should ever be a model in the eyes of

his people. That monarch certainly meets with destruction who speaks un untruth. As for myself, I dare not speak an untruth

even if the greatest loss threatens me!' Sarmishtha answered, 'O monarch, one may look upon her friend's husband as her own.

One's friend's marriage is the same as one's own. Thou hast been chosen by my friend as her husband. Thou art as much my husband, therefore. Yayati then said, It is, indeed my vow always to grant what one asketh. As thou askest me, tell me then what I am to do. Sammishtha then said, 'Absolve me, O king, from sin. Protect my virtue. Becoming a mother by thee, let me practise the highest virtue in this world. It is said, O king, that a wife, a slave, and a son can never earn wealth for themselves. What they can always belongeth to him who owneth them. I am, indeed, the slave of Devayani. Thou art Devayani's master and lord. Thou art, therefore, O king, my master and lord as much as Devayani's! I solicit thee! O, fulfil my wishes!"

"Vaisampayana continued. Thus addressed by Sarmishtha, the monarch was persuaded into the truth of all she spoke. He therefore, honoured Sarmishtha by protecting her virtue. And they passed some time together. And taking affectionate farewell of each other, they then parted, each returning to whence he or she had come.

"And it came to pass that Sarmishtha of sweet smiles and fair eyebrows conceived in consequence of that connection of hers with that best of monarchs. And, O king, that lotus-eyed lady then in due course of time brought forth a son of the splendour of

a celestial child and of eyes like-lotus-petals."

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"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 hust? 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.

"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.

"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."

"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.

"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?"