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.
कथमाशीविषात्सर्पाज्ज्वलनात्सर्वतोमुखात्। दुराधर्षतरो विप्र इत्यात्थ पुरुषर्षभ
How is a Brahmin more difficult to withstand than a venomous serpent or fire with mouths on all sides, O best of men, as you have said?
एकमाशीविषो हन्ति शस्त्रेणैकश्च वध्यते। हन्ति विप्रः सराष्ट्राणि पुराण्यपि हि कोपितः
A single serpent kills one, and a weapon slays but one; but an enraged Brahmin can destroy entire kingdoms and even ancient cities.
दुराधर्षतरो विप्रस्तस्माद्भीरु मतो मम। अतोऽदत्तां च पित्रा त्वां भद्रे न विवहाम्यहम्
Therefore, I consider a Brahmin to be more difficult to withstand, and so, O gentle one, my father did not give you to me, and I do not marry you.
दत्तां वहस्व तन्मा त्वं पित्रा राजन्वृतो मया। आयचतो भयं नास्ति दत्तां च प्रतिगृह्णतः
Take her whom my father has given, O king, for I have chosen you; there is no danger for one who seeks or receives what is given.
तिष्ठ राजन्मुहूर्तं च प्रेषयिष्याम्यहं पितुः। गच्छ त्वं धात्रिके शीघ्रं ब्रह्मकल्पमिहानय। स्वयंवरे वृतं शीघ्रं निवेदय च नाहुषम्
Wait a moment, O King; I will send word to my father. Go quickly, nurse, and bring him here at once, as if it were a sacred rite. Inform Nahusha's son at once that I have chosen him in the svayamvara.
त्वरितं देवयान्याथ संदिष्टं पितुरात्मनः। सर्वं निवेदयामास धात्री तस्मै यथातथम्
Then, as instructed by Devayani and her father, the nurse promptly conveyed everything to him just as it was.
श्रुत्वैव च स राजानं दर्शयामास भार्गवः। दृष्ट्वैव चागतं शुक्रं ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः। ववन्दे ब्राह्मणं काव्यं प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतः स्थितः
As soon as he heard, the sage Bhargava brought the king before him. Seeing Shukra arrive, Yayati, lord of the earth, greeted the Brahmin Kavya with joined palms, standing respectfully bowed.
राजायं नाहुषस्तात दुर्गमे पाणिमग्रहीत्। नान्यपूर्वगृहीतं मे तेनाहमभया कृता। नमस्ते देहि मामस्मै लोके नान्यं पतिं वृणे
O father, this king Nahusha's son has taken my hand in a place where none before has done so. By this, he has made me his, granting me safety. Salutations to you—give me to him; in this world, I choose no other husband.
अन्यो धर्मः प्रियस्त्वन्यो वृतस्ते नाहुषः पतिः। कचशापात्त्वया पूर्वं नान्यद्भवितुमर्हति
One law is dear, another is right; but Nahusha's son has been chosen as husband. Because of Kacha's curse, nothing else should happen.
वृतोऽनया पतिर्वीर सुतया त्वं ममेष्टया। स्वयं ग्रहे महान्दोषो ब्राह्मण्या वर्णसंकरात्। गृहाणेमां मया दत्तां महिषीं नहुषात्मज
O hero, you have been chosen by my beloved daughter as her husband. If I myself take her hand, it would be a great fault for a Brahmin due to mixing of castes. Therefore, O son of Nahusha, accept her as your queen, given by me.