त्वया दायादवानस्मि त्वं मे वंशकरः सुतः। पौरवो वंश इति ते ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यति
"Through you I have an heir; you are the perpetuator of my line, my son. The lineage will be known in the world as the Paurava line because of you."
ततः स नृपशार्दूल पूरुं राज्येऽभिषिच्य च। ततः सुचरितं कृत्वा भृगुतुङ्गे महातपाः
Then that tiger among kings, having installed Puru in the kingdom, performed virtuous deeds and practiced great austerity on the Bhṛgu mountain.
कालेन महता पश्चात्कालधर्ममुपेयिवान्। कारयित्वा त्वनशनं सदारः स्वर्गमाप्तवान्
After a long time, in accordance with the law of time, he departed this world; having performed the rite of fasting with his wife, he attained heaven.
ययातिः पूर्वजोऽस्माकं दशमो यः प्रजापतेः। कथं स शुक्रतनयां लेभे परमदुर्लभाम्
Yayāti, our ancestor, the tenth son of Prajāpati—how did he obtain the exceedingly rare daughter of Śukra?
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण तपोधन। आनुपूर्व्या च मे शंस राज्ञो वंशकरान्पृथक्
This I wish to hear from you in detail, O sage rich in austerity; also tell me, in order, the separate progenitors of the king's lineage.
ययातिरासीन्नृपतिर्देवराजसमद्युतिः। तं शुक्रवृषपर्वाणौ वव्राते वै यथा पुरा
Yayāti was a king, radiant as the lord of the gods; as before, Śukra and Vṛṣaparvan gave him their daughter.
तत्तेऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि पृच्छते जनमेजय। देवयान्याश्च संयोगं ययातेर्नाहुषस्य च
Now I shall fully recount to you, O Janamejaya, as you ask, the union of Devayānī and Yayāti, son of Nahusha.
सुराणामसुराणां च समजायत वै मिथः। ऐश्वर्यं प्रति संघर्षस्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे
There arose a great conflict between the gods and the asuras throughout the three worlds, moving and unmoving, for the sake of sovereignty.
जिगीषया ततो देवा वव्रिरेऽङ्गिरसं मुनिम्। पौरोहित्येन याज्यार्थे काव्यं तूशनसं परे
Desiring victory, the gods chose the sage Aṅgiras as their priest for officiating at sacrifices, while the others chose Kāvya Uśanas.
ब्राह्मणौ तावुभौ नित्यमन्योन्यस्पर्धिनौ भृशम्। तत्र देवा निजघ्नुर्यान्दानवान्युधि संगतान्
Those two brāhmaṇas, ever rivals, competed intensely; there, the gods defeated the assembled dānavas in battle.
तान्पुनर्जीवयामास काव्यो विद्याबलाश्रयात्। ततस्ते पुनरुत्थाय योधयांचक्रिरे सुरान्
But Kāvya, relying on the power of his knowledge, revived those dānavas; rising again, they fought the gods anew.
असुरास्तु निजघ्नुर्यान्सुरान्समरमूर्धनि। न तान्सञ्जीवयामास बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः
The asuras, in turn, slew the gods on the battlefield; but Bṛhaspati, wise of mind, did not revive them.
न हि वेद स तां विद्यां यां काव्योवेत्ति वीर्यवान्। सञ्जीविनीं ततो देवा विषादमगमन्परम्
For he does not know that science which the mighty Kāvya knows—the art of reviving; therefore, the gods fell into great despair.
ते तु देवा भयोद्विग्नाः काव्यादुशनसस्तदा। ऊचुः कचमुपागम्य ज्येष्ठं पुत्रं बृहस्पतेः
Then the gods, seized by fear, approached Kaca, the eldest son of Bṛhaspati, and spoke to him.
भजमानान्भजस्वास्मान्कुरु नः साह्यमुत्तमम्। या सा विद्या निवसति ब्राह्मणेऽमिततेजसि
Support us, who seek your aid; grant us your utmost help. That knowledge resides in the brāhmaṇa of immeasurable brilliance.
शुक्रे तामाहर क्षिप्रं भागभाङ्गो भविष्यसि। वृषपर्वसमीपे हि शक्यो द्रष्टुं त्वया द्विजः
Bring that knowledge swiftly from Śukra; you shall receive a share of the offerings. Near Vṛṣaparvan, O brāhmaṇa, you can see him.
रक्षते दानवांस्तत्र न स रक्षत्यदानवान्। तमाराधयितुं शक्तो भवान्पूर्ववयाः कविम्
He protects the dānavas there, but does not protect the non-dānavas. You alone, being young, are able to win over the sage.
देवयानीं च दयितां सुतां तस्य महात्मनः। त्वमाराधयितुं शक्तो नान्यः कश्चन विद्यते
And his beloved daughter Devayānī—you alone are able to win her favor; no one else can do so.
शीलदाक्षिण्यमाधुर्यैराचारेण दमेन च। देवयान्यां हि तुष्टायां विद्यां तां प्राप्स्यसि ध्रुवम्
By virtue, generosity, sweetness, proper conduct, and self-control—if you please Devayānī, you will surely obtain that knowledge.
तथेत्युक्त्वा ततः प्रायाद्बृहस्पतिसुतः कचः। तदाऽभिपूजितो देवैः समीपे वृषपर्वणः
Saying 'so be it,' Kaca, son of Bṛhaspati, then departed, honored by the gods, to the abode of Vṛṣaparvan.
स गत्वा त्वरितो राजन्देवैः संप्रेषितः कचः। असुरेन्द्रपुरे शुक्रं दृष्ट्वा वाक्यमुवाच ह
He, urged by the gods, quickly went, O King, and upon seeing Shukra in the city of the lord of the Asuras, Kacha spoke these words.
ऋषेरङ्गिरसः पौत्रं पुत्रं साक्षाद्बृहस्पतेः। नाम्ना कच इति ख्यातं शिष्यं गृह्णात् मां भवान्
I am known as Kacha, the grandson of the sage Angiras, the direct son of Brihaspati; O revered one, please accept me as your disciple.
ब्रह्मचर्यं चरिष्यामि त्वय्यहं परमं गुरौ। अनुमन्यस्व मां ब्रह्मन्सहस्रं परिवत्सरान्
I wish to observe strict celibacy under you, O supreme teacher; grant me permission, O Brahmin, to serve for a thousand years.
कच सुस्वागतं तेऽस्तु प्रतिगृह्णामि ते वचः। अर्चयिष्येऽहमर्च्यं त्वामर्चितोऽस्तु बृहस्पतिः
Kacha, you are most welcome; I accept your words. I shall honor you, worthy of honor, as Brihaspati himself has been honored.
कचस्तु तं तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रतिजग्राह तद्व्रतम्। आदिष्टं कविपुत्रेण शुक्रेणोशनसा स्वयम्
Kacha, having replied 'So be it,' accepted that vow, as instructed personally by Shukra, the son of the sage Ushanas.
व्रतस्य प्राप्तकालं स यथोक्तं प्रत्यगृह्णत। आराधयन्नुपाध्यायं देवयानीं च भारत
When the time for the vow arrived, he accepted it as prescribed, serving his teacher and also Devayani, O Bharata.
नित्यमाराधयिष्यंस्तां युवा यौवनगां मुनिः। गायन्नृत्यन्वादयंश्च देवयानीमतोषयत्
That young sage, always seeking to please her, delighted Devayani, who had come of age, by singing, dancing, and playing music.
स शीलयन्देवयानीं कन्यां संप्राप्तयौवनाम्। पुष्पैः फलैः प्रेषणैश्च तोषयामास भारत
He won over Devayani, the maiden who had reached youth, by offering her flowers, fruits, and various services, O Bharata.
देवयान्यपि तं विप्रं नियमव्रतधारिणम्। गायन्ती च ललन्ती च रहः पर्यचरत्तथा
Devayani too, serving that Brahmin who observed strict vows, would sing and play with him in private.
गायन्तं चैव शुल्कं च दातारं प्रियवादिनम्। नार्यो नरं कामयन्ते रूपिणं स्रग्विणं तथा
Women desire a man who sings, gives gifts, speaks kindly, is handsome, and adorned with garlands.