इत्युक्त्वा नगरे राजंस्त्रिकालं घोषितं त्वया। त्वयोक्तमनृतं राजन्वृथा घोषितमेव वा। तत्सत्यं कुरु राजेन्द्र यथा वैश्रवणस्तथा
Having said this, O King, you proclaimed it in the city three times; what you declared, O King, was not false or vainly proclaimed. Make it true, O King, as Vaisravana does.
दातव्यं याचमानेभ्य इति मे व्रतमाहितम्। त्वं च याचसि मां कामं ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
It is my vow to give to those who ask; and you are asking me—tell me, what shall I do for you?
धनं वा यदि वा किंचिद्राज्यं वाऽपि शुचिस्मिते
Whether it is wealth, or anything else, or even a kingdom, O fair-smiling one—
नान्यं वृणे पुत्रकामा पुत्रात्परतरं न च।' त्वत्तोऽपत्यवती लोके चरेयं धर्ममुत्तमम्
I choose nothing else, desiring a son; nothing is greater than a son. May I, having a child from you, practice the highest dharma in the world.
त्रय एवाधना राजन्भार्या दासस्तथा सुतः। यत्ते समधिगच्छन्ति यस्यैते तस्य तद्धनम्
There are three who are without wealth, O King: a wife, a servant, and a son; whatever they obtain belongs to the one to whom they belong.
पुत्रार्थं भर्तृपोषार्थं स्त्रियः सृष्टाः स्वयंभुवा। अपतिर्वापि या कन्या अनपत्या च या भवेत्। तासां जन्म वृथा लोके गतिस्तासां न विद्यते
Women were created by the Self-born for the sake of sons and the support of husbands; a maiden without a husband, or a woman without a child—their birth is in vain in the world, and they have no destiny.
देवयान्या भुजिष्याऽस्मि वश्या च तव भार्गवी। सा चाहं च त्वया राजन्भजनीये भजस्व माम्
I am the companion of Devayani, and subject to you, O descendant of Bhrigu; both she and I, O King, are to be cherished by you—cherish me.
एवमुक्तस्तु राजा स तथ्यमित्यभिजज्ञिवान्। पूजयामास शर्मिष्ठां धर्मं च प्रत्यपादयत्
Thus addressed, the king recognized it as true, honored Sharmishtha, and established righteousness.
स समागम्य शर्मिष्ठां यथा काममवाप्य च। अन्योन्यं चाभिसंपूज्य जग्मतुस्तौ यथागतम्
He met with Sharmishtha, fulfilled his desire with her, and after honoring each other, the two departed as they had come.
तस्मिन्समागमे सुभ्रूः शर्मिष्ठा चारुहासिनी। लेभे गर्भं प्रथमतस्तस्मान्नृपतिसत्तमात्
In that union, the fair-browed, lovely-smiling Sharmishtha first conceived from that best of kings.
प्रयज्ञे च ततः काले राजन्राजीवलोचना। कुमारं देवगर्भाभं राजीवनिभलोचनम्
Then, at the proper time for the sacrifice, O king, she bore a son with eyes like lotuses, resembling one born of the gods.
तस्मिन्नक्षत्रसंयोगे शुक्ले पुण्यर्क्षगेन्दुना। स राजा मुमुदे सम्राट् तया शर्मिष्ठया सह
At that auspicious conjunction of stars, under the bright and sacred lunar mansion, the emperor rejoiced together with Sharmishtha.
प्रजानां श्रीरिवाभ्याशे शर्मिष्ठा ह्यभवद्वधूः। पन्नगीवोग्ररूपा वै देवयानी ममाप्यभूत्
Sharmishtha became his wife, like the goddess of prosperity among people; but Devayani, for me, was like a fierce serpent.
पर्जन्य इव सस्यानां देवानाममृतं यथा। तद्वन्ममापि संभूता शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी। इत्येवं मनसा ज्ञात्वा देवयानीमवर्जयत्
Just as rain is for crops, or nectar for the gods, so Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan, was for me; thinking thus in his mind, he neglected Devayani.
श्रुत्वा कुमारं जातं तु देवयानी शुचिस्मिता। चिन्तयामास दुःखार्ता शर्मिष्ठां प्रति भारत
Hearing that a son had been born, Devayani, pure-smiling, was overcome with sorrow and began to ponder about Sharmishtha, O Bharata.
अभिगम्य च शर्मिष्ठां देवयान्यब्रवीदिदम्
Approaching Sharmishtha, Devayani spoke these words.
ऋषिरभ्यागतः कश्चिद्धर्मात्मा वेदपारगः। स मया वरदः कामं याचितो धर्मसंहितम्
A certain sage, righteous and learned in the Vedas, came to me; I asked him for a boon, in accordance with dharma.
अपत्यार्थे स तु मया वृतो वै चारुहासिनि'। नाहमन्यायतः काममाचरामि शुचिस्मिते। तस्मादृषेर्ममापत्यमिति सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते
Desiring offspring, I chose him, O lovely-smiling one; I do not act out of desire in any improper way, O pure-smiling one; therefore, my child is from the sage—this I truly tell you.
शोभनं भीरु यद्येवमथ स ज्ञायते द्विजः। गोत्रनामाभिजनतो वेत्तुमिच्छामि तं द्विजम्
If this is so, O timid one, then let that brahmin be known; I wish to know his lineage, name, and family.
तपसा तेजसा चैव दीप्यमानं यथा रविम्। तं दृष्ट्वा मम संप्रष्टुं शक्तिर्नासीच्छुचिस्मिते
Seeing him blazing with ascetic power and energy like the sun, I, O pure-smiling one, did not have the strength to question him.
यद्येतदेवं शर्मिष्ठे न मन्युर्विद्यते मम। अपत्यं यदि ते लब्धं ज्येष्ठाच्छ्रेष्ठाच्च वै द्विजात्
If this is truly so, Sharmishtha, I bear no anger; if you have obtained a child from a superior and elder brahmin.
अन्योन्यमेवमुक्त्वा तु संप्रहस्य च ते मिथः। जगाम भार्गवी वेश्म तथ्यमित्यवजग्मुषी
Having spoken thus to each other and smiling together, Bhargavi (Devayani) went to her chamber, accepting it as true.
ययातिर्देवयान्यां तु पुत्रावजनयन्नृपः। यदुं च तुर्वसुं चैव शक्रविष्णू इवापरौ
King Yayati begot two sons on Devayani: Yadu and Turvasu, like another Indra and Vishnu.
तस्मिन्काले तु राजर्षिर्ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः। माध्वीकरससंयुक्तां मदिरां मदवर्धनीम्
At that time, King Yayati, lord of the earth, gave Devayani, the daughter of Shukra, intoxicating wine mixed with honey.
पाययामास शुक्रस्य तनयां रक्तपिङ्गलाम्। पीत्वा पीत्वा च मदिरां देवयानी मुमोह सा
He made the red-golden Devayani drink the wine; drinking again and again, Devayani fell unconscious.
रुदती गायमाना च नृत्यन्ती च मुहुर्मुहुः। बहु प्रलपती देवी राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
Weeping, singing, and dancing again and again, the lady spoke many incoherent words and addressed the king thus.
राजवद्रूपवेषौ ते किमर्थं त्वमिहागतः। केन कार्येण संप्राप्तो निर्जनं गहनं वनम्
You appear in the form and dress of a king—why have you come here? For what purpose have you arrived in this lonely, dense forest?
द्विजश्रेष्ठ नृपश्रेष्ठो ययातिश्चोग्रदर्शनः। तस्मादितः पलायस्व हितमिच्छसि चेद्द्विज
O best of Brahmins, the mighty and fearsome king Yayati is here; if you wish for your welfare, Brahmin, flee from this place.
इत्येवं प्रलपन्तीं तां देवयानीं तु नाहुषः। भर्त्सयामास वचनैरनर्हां पापवर्धनीम्
Thus, as Devayani was speaking in this way, Nahusha rebuked her with words, considering her unworthy and one who increases sin.
ततो वर्षवरान्मूकान्व्यङ्गान्वृद्धांश्च पङ्गुकान्। रक्षणे देवयान्याः स पोषणे च शशास तान्
Then he commanded the mute, the crippled, the aged, and the lame among them to protect and provide for Devayani.