असुरैर्हन्यमाने च कच त्वयि पुनःपुनः। तदाप्रभृति या प्रीतिस्तां त्वमद्य स्मरस्व मे
When the Asuras repeatedly killed you, Kacha, from that time onward, remember today the affection I had for you.
सौहार्दे चानुरागे च वेत्थ मे भक्तिमुत्तमाम्। न मामर्हसि धर्मज्ञ त्यक्तुं भक्तामनागसम्
You know my highest devotion in friendship and love; O knower of righteousness, you should not abandon your devoted, blameless one.
अनियोज्ये नियोक्तुं मां देवयानि न चार्हसि। प्रसीद सुभ्रु त्वं मह्यं गुरोर्गुरुतरा शुभे
O Devayani, you ought not to command me in what is not to be commanded; be gracious to me, O fair-browed one, for you are even more venerable to me than my teacher, O auspicious lady.
यत्रोषितं विशालाक्षि त्वया चन्द्रनिभानने। तत्राहमुषितो भद्रे कुक्षौ काव्यस्य भामिनि
Wherever you, O wide-eyed one with a face like the moon, have dwelt, there, O beautiful lady, have I also dwelt, abiding in the womb of Kavya, O radiant one.
भगिनी धर्मतो मे त्वं मैवं वोचः सुमध्यमे। सुखमस्म्युषितो भद्रे न मन्युर्विद्यते मम
By law, you are my sister, O slender-waisted one; do not speak thus. I have dwelt happily, O gentle lady, and I bear no anger.
आपृच्छे त्वां गमिष्यामि शिवमाशंस मे पथि। अविरोधेन धर्मस्य स्मर्तव्योऽस्मि कथान्तरे। अप्रमत्तोत्थिता नित्यमाराधय गुरुं मम
I take leave of you and will depart; wish me well on my journey. Without violating righteousness, remember me when the story is told again. Ever rise with care and serve my teacher devotedly.
यदि मां धर्मकामार्थे प्रत्याख्यास्यसि याचितः। ततः कच न ते विद्या सिद्धिमेषा गमिष्यति
If, when entreated for the sake of righteousness and desire, you reject me, then, O Kacha, this knowledge will not attain its fruition for you.
गुरुपुत्रीति कृत्वाऽहं प्रत्याचक्षे न दोषतः। गुरुणा चाननुज्ञातः काममेवं शपस्व माम्
I have refused you, considering you as the teacher’s daughter, and not out of fault; nor was I permitted by my teacher. Therefore, curse me as you wish.
आर्षं धर्मं ब्रुवाणोऽहं देवयानि यथा त्वया। शप्तो ह्यनर्हः शापस्य कामतोऽद्य न धर्मतः
Speaking in accordance with the ancient law, O Devayani, I have been cursed by you undeservedly, out of desire today, not according to righteousness.
तस्माद्भवत्या यः कामो न तथा स भविष्यति। ऋषिपुत्रो न ते कश्चिज्जातु पाणिं ग्रहीष्यति
Therefore, the desire you have will not be fulfilled in that way; no son of a sage will ever take your hand in marriage.
फलिष्यति न ते विद्या यत्त्वं मामात्थ तत्तथा। अध्यापयिष्यामि तु यं तस्य विद्या फलिष्यति
Your knowledge will not bear fruit as you have said to me; but to whomever I teach it, for him the knowledge will bear fruit.
एवमुक्त्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठो देवयानीं कचस्तदा। त्रिदशेशालयं शीघ्रं जगाम द्विजसत्तमः
Having spoken thus, Kacha, the best of twice-born, then swiftly went to the abode of the lord of the gods, O best of Brahmins.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः। बृहस्पतिं सभाज्येदं कचं वचनमब्रुवन्
Seeing him arrive, the gods, led by Indra, honored Kacha together with Brihaspati and spoke these words.
यत्त्वयास्मद्धितं कर्म कृतं वै परमाद्भुतम्। न ते यशः प्रणशिता भागभाक्व भविष्यसि
The wondrous deed you have done for our benefit will not destroy your fame; you shall partake of your share.
कृतविद्ये कचे प्राप्ते हृष्टरूपा दिवौकसः। कचादधीत्य तां विद्यां कृतार्था भरतर्षभ
When Kacha had mastered the knowledge, the gods rejoiced; having learned that knowledge from Kacha, they were fulfilled, O best of the Bharatas.
सर्व एव समागम्य शतक्रतुमथाब्रुवन्। कालस्ते विक्रमस्याद्य जहि शत्रून्पुरन्दर
Then all the gods assembled and said to Shatakratu: 'Now is the time for your prowess; destroy the enemies, O Purandara.'
एवमुक्तस्तु सहितैस्त्रिदशैर्मघवांस्तदा। तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रचक्राम सोऽपश्यत वने स्त्रियः
Thus addressed by the gods, Maghavan replied, 'So be it,' and set forth; he saw women in the forest.
क्रीडन्तीनां तु कन्यानां वने चैत्ररथोपमे। वायुभूतः स वस्त्राणि सर्वाण्येव व्यमिश्रयत्
While maidens were playing in a forest like Chaitraratha, he, becoming the wind, mingled all their garments together.
ततो जलात्समुत्तीर्य कन्यास्ताः सहितास्तदा। वस्त्राणि जगृहुस्तानि यथाऽऽसन्नान्यनेकशः
Then those maidens, having come out of the water together, each took whatever garments were at hand, in various ways.
तत्र वासो देवयानयाः शर्मिष्ठा जगृहे तदा। व्यतिमिश्रमजानन्ती दुहिता वृषपर्वणः
There, Sharmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, unknowingly took the garment of Devayani, as they were all mixed together.
ततस्तयोर्मिथस्तत्र विरोधः समजायत। देवयान्याश्च राजेन्द्र शर्मिष्ठायाश्च तत्कृते
Then, O king, a conflict arose between Devayani and Sharmishtha over that matter.
कस्माद्गृह्णासि मे वस्त्रं शिष्या भूत्वा ममासुरि। समुदाचारहीनाया न ते साधु भविष्यति
Why do you take my garment, you who are my disciple, O daughter of the Asura? Such conduct, lacking in propriety, will not be good for you.
आसीनं च शयानं च पिता ते पितरं मम। स्तौतिबन्दीव चाभीक्ष्णं नीचैः स्थित्वा विनीतवत्
Your father, sitting or lying down, always stands before my father, praising him like a bard, humbly and with deference.
याचतस्त्वं हि दुहिता स्तुवतः प्रतिगृह्णतः। सुताहं स्तूयमानस्य ददतोऽप्रतिगृह्णतः
You are the daughter of one who begs, praises, and accepts gifts; I am the daughter of one who is praised, who gives, but does not accept.
आदुन्वस्व विदुन्वस्व द्रुह्य कुप्यस्व याचकि। अनायुधा सायुधाया रिक्ता क्षुभ्यसि भिक्षुकि
Now beg, now curse, now act with hostility, now grow angry, O beggar! Unarmed, you are agitated against one who is armed; empty-handed, you are disturbed, O supplicant.
लप्स्यसे प्रतियोद्धारं न हि त्वां गणयाम्यहम्। `प्रतिकूलं वदसि चेदितःप्रभृति याचकि
You will find someone to oppose you, for I do not consider you of account. If you speak against me from now on, O beggar—
समुच्छ्रयं देवयानीं गतां सक्तां च वाससि। शर्मिष्ठा प्राक्षिपत्कूपे ततः स्वपुरमागमत्। हतेयमिति विज्ञाय शर्मिष्ठा पापनिश्चया
Seeing Devayani exalted and clinging to her garment, Sharmishtha threw her into a well and then returned to her own city, thinking, 'She is dead,' her mind set on evil.
अनवेक्ष्य ययौ वेश्म क्रोधवेगपरायणा। `प्रविश्य स्वगृहं स्वस्था धर्ममासुरमास्थिता।' अथ तं देशमभ्यागाद्ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः
Without looking back, driven by the force of anger, she went to her house; entering her own home, she remained calm, following the Asura code. Then Yayati, son of Nahusha, arrived in that place.
श्रान्तयुग्यः श्रान्तहयो मृगलिप्सुः पिपासितः। स नाहुषः प्रेक्षमाण उदपानं गतोदकम्
With his horses and chariot weary, desiring game, and thirsty, that son of Nahusha, looking around, saw a well whose water had dried up.
ददर्श राजा तां तत्र कन्यामग्निशिखामिव। तामपृच्छत्स दृष्ट्वैव कन्याममरवर्णिनीम्
There the king saw her, a maiden shining like a flame; seeing that girl of celestial beauty, he questioned her.