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.
अधर्मो न स्पृशेदेष महान्मामिह भार्गव। वर्णसंकरजो ब्रह्मन्निति त्वां प्रवृणोम्यहम्
O great Bhargava, let not this great sin of caste-mixing touch me. O Brahmin, for this reason I give her to you.
अधर्मात्त्वां विमुञ्चामि शृणु त्वं वरमीप्सितम्। अस्मिन्विवाहे मा म्लासीरहं पापं नुदामि ते
I release you from wrongdoing—hear the boon you desire. In this marriage, do not be disheartened; I remove your sin.
वहस्व भार्यां धर्मेण देवयानीं सुमध्यमाम्। अनया सह संप्रीतिमतुलां समवाप्नुहि
Take Devayani, of lovely form, as your wife in righteousness. With her, attain incomparable happiness.
इयं चापि कुमारी ते शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी। संपूज्या सततं राजन्मा चैनां शयने ह्वयेः
And this maiden, Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan, is also yours. Always honor her, O King, but do not summon her to your bed.
रहस्येनां समाहूय न वदेर्न च संस्पृशेः। वहस्व भार्यां भद्रं ते यथा काममवाप्स्यसि
Call her in private, but do not speak to her or touch her. Take your wife—may good be yours—and you will obtain your desires.
एवमुक्तो ययातिस्तु शुक्रं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। शास्त्रोक्तविधिना राजा विवाहमकरोच्छुभम्
Thus addressed, Yayati circumambulated Shukra and, following the prescribed rites, performed the auspicious marriage.
लब्ध्वा शुक्रान्महद्वित्तं देवयानीं तदोत्तमाम्। द्विसहस्रेण कन्यानां तथा शर्मिष्ठया सह
Having received great wealth from Shukra and the noble Devayani, along with two thousand maidens and Sharmishtha herself,
संपूजितश्च शुक्रेण दैत्यैश्च नृपसत्तमः। जगाम स्वपुरं हृष्टोऽनुज्ञातोऽथ महात्मना
Honored by Shukra and the Daityas, the best of kings, permitted by the great-souled one, joyfully returned to his own city.
ययातिः स्वपुरं प्राप्य महेन्द्रपुरसंनिभम्। प्रविश्यान्तःपुरं तत्र देवयानीं न्यवेशयत्
Yayati, reaching his own city, which rivaled the city of Indra, entered the inner chambers and settled Devayani there.
देवयान्याश्चानुमते सुतां तां वृषपर्वणः। अशोकवनिकाभ्याशे गृहं कृत्वा न्यवेशयत्
With Devayani's consent, he built a house for Vrishaparvan's daughter near the Ashoka grove and settled her there.
वृतां दासीसहस्रेण शर्मिष्ठां वार्षपर्वणीम्। वासोभरन्नपानैश्च संविभज्य सुसत्कृताम्
Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan, attended by a thousand chosen maidservants, was provided with clothing, food, and drink, and was duly honored.
देवयान्या तु सहितः स नृपो नहुषात्मजः। `प्रीत्या परमया युक्तो मुमुदे शाश्वतीः समाः
Together with Devayani, the son of Nahusha, filled with supreme joy, enjoyed lasting happiness for many years.
अशोकवनिकामध्ये देवयानी समागता। शर्मिष्ठया सा क्रीडित्वा रमणीये मनोरमे
In the midst of the Ashoka grove, Devayani gathered together, having played with Sharmishtha in that delightful and charming place.
तत्रैव तां तु निर्दिश्य राज्ञा सह ययौ गृहम्। एवमेव सह प्रीत्या बहु कालं मुमोद च
There, having indicated her to the king, she went home with him; and in this way, with affection, she rejoiced for a long time.
विजहार बहूनब्दान्देववन्मुदितः सुखी
He spent many years joyfully and happily in the divine grove.
ऋतुकाले तु संप्राप्ते देवयानी वराङ्गना। लेभे गर्भं प्रथमतः कुमारं च व्यजायत
When her season arrived, Devayani, the excellent woman, first conceived and gave birth to a son.
गते वर्षसहस्रे तु शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी। ददर्श यौवनं प्राप्ता ऋतुं सा चान्वचिन्तयत्
After a thousand years had passed, Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan, attained youth and began to reflect upon her season.
शुद्धा स्नाता तु शर्मिष्ठा सर्वालङ्कारशोभिता। अशोकशाखामालम्ब्य सुपुष्पस्तबकैर्वृताम्
Pure and bathed, adorned with all ornaments, Sharmishtha grasped a branch of the Ashoka tree, covered with clusters of splendid blossoms.
आदर्शे मुखमुद्वीक्ष्य भर्तुर्दर्शनलालसा। शोकमोहसमाविष्टा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Gazing at her face in a mirror, longing for her husband's presence, overcome by grief and delusion, she spoke these words.
अशोक शोकापनुद शोकोपहतचेतसाम्। त्वन्नामानं कुरुष्वाद्य प्रियसंदर्शनेन माम्। एवमुक्तवती सा तु शर्मिष्ठा पुनरब्रवीत्
"Ashoka, dispeller of sorrow, for one whose heart is afflicted by grief, today let your name be true for me by granting me the sight of my beloved." Thus spoke Sharmishtha, and again she said: