After King Nahusha, renowned for his wisdom, took Sharmishtha as his wife, he enjoyed great happiness with her for a long time. In due course, Sharmishtha, the noble daughter of Vrishaparvan, bore him three sons: Druhyu, Anu, and Puru. Some time later, Devayani, pure and radiant, went with her husband Yayati into a secluded forest. There, Devayani came upon some boys of striking beauty and divine bearing, playing with confidence. Amazed by their appearance, she turned to Yayati and asked, “O King, whose children are these, so lovely and radiant, resembling you in form and splendor?” Having questioned the king, she also addressed the boys themselves. At that moment, their nurse spoke up, urging them, “Why do you not tell her, children, who your father is? He is the best among Brahmins!” The boys replied, “Our father is a sage, a Brahmin, twice-born; Sharmishtha does not speak falsely. Forgive us, Devayani.” Still not satisfied, Devayani pressed them further, “What is the name and lineage of your Brahmin father, dear children? Tell me truly—who is he, and where does he dwell? Speak exactly as it is, for I wish to hear of him.” Thus urged, the boys pointed with their fingers to the great king himself, Yayati, and also indicated Sharmishtha as their mother. Having revealed the truth, the children approached Yayati together, but in Devayani’s presence, the king did not welcome them. Distressed, the boys went weeping to Sharmishtha, while Sharmishtha herself, silent and ashamed, approached the king and stood nearby, her face turned away. Seeing the children’s affection and Sharmishtha’s sorrow, Yayati was filled with shame and remained silent. Understanding the situation, Sharmishtha addressed Devayani: “You once said that a sage was coming to me. In this way you sought to protect the king, but I had already spoken before, and you have acted wrongly. Though you are my superior, why have you done what displeases me? You have adopted the ways of the asuras and do not fear me. What you said about a sage coming is true, O lovely-smiling one. I act according to righteousness and do not fear you. “When you chose a husband, I too chose at that time. According to righteousness, the husband of a friend becomes one’s own husband, O graceful one. You are to be honored and respected by me, for you are the eldest and a Brahmin lady. But the royal sage is even more worthy of honor—do you not know this? Both of us were given together to the king by your father, my teacher. Therefore, the husband is to be honored and nourished, and he nourishes me here.” Hearing Sharmishtha’s words, Devayani replied, “Enjoy as you wish here, together with Sharmishtha.” But her heart burned with anger, and she declared, “O king, I will not remain here today, for you have done what displeases me.” With a fierce gaze, she looked upon Sharmishtha, casting aside all her ornaments in her anguish. Seeing Devayani rise suddenly, her eyes brimming with tears, Sharmishtha, dark-skinned and sorrowful, watched as Devayani departed in great distress, making her way to her father, Kavi Ushanas. Yayati, anxious and full of remorse, followed behind, trying to console her, but Devayani did not look back, her eyes red with anger. Without a word to Yayati, she pressed on until she reached her father’s presence. Upon seeing her father, Devayani bowed before him. Yayati, too, offered his respects to the great sage of the Bhargava lineage. Devayani then spoke, her voice full of pain: “Righteousness has been defeated by unrighteousness; unrighteousness prevails. I have been greatly wronged by Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan. She has borne three sons by this king, Yayati, while I, unfortunate as I am, have only two sons. This king, famed as a knower of righteousness, has transgressed the bounds, O Kavi, and I tell you this.” Kavi Ushanas, hearing her words, turned to Yayati, who spoke in his own defense: “O great king, though you know righteousness, you have acted unrighteously out of desire; therefore, soon, the invincible old age will overpower you. O venerable one, when Sharmishtha sought her season with a sincere heart, I acted righteously in granting her request, for if a man does not grant a woman’s season when she asks, he is called a destroyer of the embryo by those learned in the Veda. If a woman, impassioned and eligible, requests a man in private and he does not approach her, the wise declare him to be a destroyer of the embryo in matters of righteousness. “My vow is to grant whatever anyone asks of me; and Sharmishtha was given to me by you, and she desires no other protector. Considering these reasons, and troubled by the fear of unrighteousness, I approached Sharmishtha, believing it was righteous. O Brahmin, forgive me for this act. Surely, I acted with your will in mind, for I am dependent on you. In matters of righteousness, false conduct is said to be theft, O descendant of Nahusha.” But Kavi Ushanas, angered, pronounced a curse upon Yayati. In that very moment, Yayati, son of Nahusha, lost his youthful vigor and was overtaken by old age.