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.
सान्त्वयित्वा नृपश्रेष्ठः साम्ना परमवल्गुना। का त्वं ताम्रनखी श्यामा सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डला
Having gently consoled her with the most pleasing words, the best of kings said: 'Who are you, dark-skinned, with coppery nails and well-polished jeweled earrings?'
दीर्घं ध्यायसि चात्यर्थं कस्माच्छ्वसिषि चातुरा। कथं च पतिताऽस्यस्मिन्कूपे वीरुत्तृणावृते
'You are lost in deep thought for long, and why do you sigh so cleverly? How did you fall into this well, overgrown with grass and creepers?'
योऽसौ देवैर्हतान्दैत्यानुत्थापयति विद्यया
He who, by his knowledge, revives the Daityas slain by the gods—
तस्य शुक्रस्य कन्याहं स मां नूनं न बुध्यते। एष मे दक्षिणो राजन्पाणिस्ताम्रनखाङ्गुलिः
'I am the daughter of that Shukra; surely he does not know what has happened to me. This is my right hand, O king, with coppery-nailed fingers.'
समुद्धर गृहीत्वा मां कुलीनस्त्वं हि मे मतः। जानामि हि त्वां संशान्तं वीर्यवन्तं यशस्विनम्
'Lift me out by taking my hand, for I consider you of noble lineage. I know you are calm, powerful, and renowned.'
तस्मान्मां पतितामस्मात्कूपादुद्धर्तुमर्हसि
'Therefore, you ought to rescue me, who have fallen into this well.'
गृहीत्वा दक्षिणे पाणावुज्जहार ततोऽवटात्। उद्धृत्य चैनां तरसा तस्मात्कूपान्नराधिपः
Taking her by the right hand, the king lifted her out of the pit; having swiftly raised her from the well, the ruler of men—
गच्छ भद्रे यथाकामं न भयं विद्यते तव। इत्युच्यमाना नृपतिं देवयानीदमुत्तरम्
said, 'Go, noble lady, wherever you wish; you have nothing to fear.' Thus addressed by the king, Devayani replied as follows.
उवाच मामुपादाय गच्छ शीघ्रं प्रियो हि मे। गृहीताहं त्वया पाणौ तस्माद्भर्ता भविष्यसि
She said, 'Take me with you quickly, for you are dear to me. You have taken my hand, therefore you shall be my husband.'
इत्येवमुक्तो नृपतिराह क्षत्रकुलोद्भवः। त्वं भद्रे ब्राह्मणी तस्मान्मया नार्हसि सङ्गमम्
Thus addressed, the king, born of the Kshatriya line, replied, 'O noble lady, you are a Brahmin woman, therefore union with me is not proper.'