तेन दासीसहस्रेण सार्धं शर्मिष्ठया तदा। तमेव देशं संप्राप्ता यथाकामं चचार सा
Accompanied by a thousand maidservants and Sharmishtha, she arrived at that same place and wandered there as she pleased.
ताभिः सखीभिः सहिता सर्वाभिर्मुदिता भृशम्। क्रीडन्त्योऽभिरताः सर्वाः पिबन्त्यो मधुमाधवीं
Together with all her joyful companions, she and the others played, delighting in drinking honeyed spring wine.
खादन्त्यो विविधान्भक्ष्यान्विदशन्त्यः फलानि च। पुनश्च नाडुषो राजा मृगलिप्सुर्यदृच्छया
They ate various delicacies and bit into fruits; meanwhile, by chance, the king, desiring to hunt, again entered that region.
तमेव देशं संप्राप्तो जलार्थी श्रमकर्शितः। ददर्श देवयानीं स शर्मिष्ठां ताश्च योषितः
Arriving at that very place, seeking water and weary from exertion, he saw Devayani, Sharmishtha, and those maidens.
पिबन्तीर्ललमानाश्च दिव्याभरणभूषिताः। आसनप्रवरे दिव्ये सर्वरत्नविभूषिते। उपविष्टां च ददृशे देवयानीं शुचिस्मिताम्
He saw them drinking and sporting, adorned with divine ornaments, seated on a splendid seat decorated with every jewel, and he beheld Devayani with her pure smile sitting there.
रूपेणाप्रतिमां तासां स्त्रीणां मध्ये वराङ्गनम्। `आसनाच्च ततः किंचिद्विहीनां हेमभीषिताम्
Among those women, he saw the incomparable beauty, the best of maidens, slightly apart from her golden seat.
असुरेन्द्रसुतां चापि निषण्णां चारुहासिनीम्। ददर्श पादौ विप्रायाः संवहन्तीमनिन्दिताम्
He also saw the blameless daughter of the lord of the Asuras, with lovely smile, sitting and massaging the feet of the Brahmin maiden.
गायन्त्योऽथ प्रनृत्यन्त्यो वादयन्त्योऽथ भारत। दृष्ट्वा ययातिमतुलं लज्जयाऽवनताः स्थिताः
Singing, dancing, and playing instruments, O Bharata, upon seeing the illustrious Yayati, they stood bashfully with lowered heads.
द्वाभ्यां कन्यासहस्राभ्यां द्वे कन्ये परिवारिते। गोत्रे च नामनी चैव द्वयोः पृच्छाम्यहं शुभे
Surrounded by two thousand maidens, with two girls beside you, I ask, O beautiful one, your lineage and names.
आख्यास्याम्यहमादत्स्व वचनं मे नराधिप। शुक्रो नामासुरगुरुः सुतां जानीहि तस्य माम्
I will tell you—listen to my words, O king: Know me as the daughter of Shukra, the preceptor of the Asuras.
इयं च मे सखी दासी यत्राहं तत्र गामिनी। दुहिता दानवेन्द्रस्य शर्मिष्ठा वृषपर्वणः
And this is my companion and maid; wherever I go, she follows. She is Sharmishtha, daughter of the lord of the Danavas, Vrishaparvan.
कथं तु ते सखी दासी कन्येयं वरवर्णिनी। असुरेन्द्रसुता सुभ्रूः परं कौतूहलं हि मे
But how is your companion, this beautiful maiden, your maid, O lovely-browed one, daughter of the lord of the Asuras? I am greatly curious.
नैव देवी न गन्धर्वी न यक्षी न च किन्नरी। नैवंरूपा मया नारी दृष्टपूर्वा महीतले
Neither goddess, nor Gandharvi, nor Yakshi, nor Kinnari—never before have I seen a woman of such form upon the earth.
श्रीरिवायतपद्माक्षी सर्वलक्षणशोभना। असुरेन्द्रसुता कन्या सर्वालङ्कारभूषिता
With eyes like lotus petals, radiant as Shri herself, adorned with all auspicious marks, this daughter of the lord of the Asuras is decked in every ornament.
दैवेनोपहता सुभ्रूरुताहो तपसापि वा। अन्यथैषाऽनवद्याङ्गी दासी नेह भविष्यति
Surely, by fate or perhaps by ascetic power, O lovely-browed one, she has been brought low; otherwise, with her flawless limbs, she would not be a maid here.
अस्या रूपेण ते रूपं न किंचित्सदृशं भवेत्। पुरा दुश्चरितेनेयं तव दासी भवत्यहो
In beauty, none of yours matches hers; surely, due to some misdeed in the past, she has become your maid—how astonishing!
सर्व एव नरश्रेष्ठ विधानमनुवर्तते। विधानविहितं मत्वा मा विचित्राः कथाःकृथाः
All indeed, O best of men, follow the prescribed order; considering what is enjoined by ordinance, do not engage in strange discussions.
राजवद्रूपवेषौ ते ब्राह्मीं वाचं बिभर्षि च। को नाम त्वं कुतश्चासि कस्य पुत्रश्च शस मे
You have the appearance and attire of a king, yet you speak with the voice of a Brahmin; tell me, who are you, where do you come from, and whose son are you?
ब्रहमचर्येण वेदो मे कृत्स्रः श्रुतिपथं गतः। राजाहं राजपुत्रश्च ययातिरिति विश्रुतः
Through brahmacharya I have mastered the entire Veda along the path of hearing; I am a king, the son of a king, renowned as Yayati.
केनास्यर्थेन नृपते इमं देशमुपागतः। जिघृक्षुर्वारिजं किंचिदथवा मृगलिप्सया
For what purpose, O king, have you come to this place? Is it to seize some water, or perhaps with the desire to hunt?
मृगलिप्सुरहं भद्रे पानीयार्थमुपागतः। बहुधाऽप्यनुयुक्तोऽस्मि तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
Desiring to hunt, O gentle one, I have come here for water; though you have questioned me in many ways, you should now permit me.
द्वाभ्यां कन्यासहस्राभ्यां दास्या शर्मिष्ठया सह। त्वदधीनाऽस्मि भद्रं ते सखा भर्ता च मे भव
With two thousand maidens and the attendant Sharmishtha, I am under your authority; may good befall you—be my friend and husband.
असुरेन्द्रसुतामीक्ष्य तस्यां सक्तेन चेतसा। शर्मिष्ठा महिषी मह्यमिति मत्वा वचोऽब्रवीत्
Seeing the daughter of the Asura lord, with my mind attached to her, I thought, 'Sharmishtha shall be my queen,' and spoke these words.
विद्ध्यौशनसि भद्रं ते न त्वामर्होऽस्मि भामिनि। अविवाह्या हि राजानो देवयानि पितुस्तव
Know this, O daughter of Ushanas, may good be yours: I am not worthy of you, O fair one; for kings are not to marry Devayani, your father's daughter.
परभार्या स्वसा श्रेष्ठा सगोत्रा पतिता स्नुषा। अवरा भिक्षुकाऽस्वस्था अगम्याः कीर्तिता बुधैः
Another's wife, one's own sister, a woman of the same lineage, a fallen woman, a daughter-in-law, an inferior, a beggar, one who is unwell—these are declared by the wise to be unapproachable.
संसृष्टं ब्रह्मणा क्षत्रं क्षत्रेण ब्रह्म संहितम्। `अन्यत्वमस्ति न तयोरेकान्ततरमास्थिते।' ऋषिश्चाप्यृषिपुत्रश्च नाहुषाङ्ग वहस्व माम्
Brahminhood is joined with royalty, and royalty with Brahminhood; there is no essential difference between them when each abides in its own place. O son of Nahusha, whether sage or sage's son, accept me.
एकदेहोद्भवा वर्णाश्चत्वारोऽपि वराङ्गने। पृथग्धर्माः पृथक्शौचास्तेषां तु ब्राह्मणो वरः
The four classes, O fair-limbed one, are all born from one body; they have distinct duties and distinct purities, but among them the Brahmin is the highest.
पाणि धर्मो नाहुषाऽयं न पुंभिः सेवितः पुरा। तं मे त्वमग्रहीरग्रे वृणोमि त्वामहं ततः
This custom of taking the hand, O descendant of Nahusha, was not practiced by men before; but you took my hand first, and so I choose you.
कथं नु मे मनस्विन्याः पाणिमन्यः पुमान्स्पृशेत्। गृहीतमृषिपुत्रेण स्वयं वाप्यृषिणा त्वया
How could any other man touch the hand of one like me, when it has been taken by a sage's son, or even by you, a sage yourself?
क्रुद्धादाशीविषात्सर्पाज्ज्वलनात्सर्वतोमुखात्। दुराधर्षतरो विप्रो ज्ञेयः पुंसा विजानता
A Brahmin should be regarded by the wise as more difficult to withstand than a wrathful serpent full of poison, or fire with mouths on all sides.