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.
ततस्तु नाहुषो राजा शर्मिष्ठां प्राप्य बुद्धिमान्। रेमे च सुचिरं कालं तया शर्मिष्ठया सह
After that, King Nahusha, wise in mind, obtained Sharmishtha and enjoyed great happiness with her for a long time.
तस्मादेव तु राजर्षेः शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी। द्रुह्युं चानुं च पूरुं च त्रीन्कुमारानजीजनत्
From that royal sage, Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan, gave birth to three sons: Druhyu, Anu, and Puru.
ततः काले तु कस्मिंश्चिद्देवयानी शुचिस्मिता। ययातिसहिता राजञ्जगाम रहितं वनम्
Then, at a certain time, Devayani of pure smile, together with Yayati, went to a secluded forest, O King.
ददर्श च तदा तत्र कुमारान्देवरूपिणः। क्रीडमानान्सुविश्रब्धान्विस्मिता चेदमब्रवीत्
There she saw boys, divine in appearance, playing with great confidence, and, astonished, she spoke these words.
कस्यैते दारका राजन्देवपुत्रोपमाः शुभाः। वर्चसा रूपतश्चैव सदृशा मे मतास्तव
Whose children are these, O King, beautiful as sons of the gods? By their radiance and form, I think they resemble you.
एवं पृष्ट्वा तु राजानं कुमारान्पर्यपृच्छत
Having thus questioned the king, she then asked the boys as well.
तस्मिन्काले तु तच्छ्रुत्वा धात्री तेषां वचोऽब्रवीत्। किं न ब्रूत कुमारा वः पितरं वै द्विजर्षभम्
At that moment, having heard this, their nurse said, 'Why do you not tell, boys, who your father is, the best of Brahmins?'
ऋषिश्च ब्राह्मणश्चैव द्विजातिश्चैव नः पिता। शर्मिष्ठा नानृतं ब्रूते देवयानि क्षमस्व नः
'Our father is a sage, a Brahmin, and of twice-born lineage; Sharmishtha does not speak falsely. Devayani, forgive us.'
किंनामधेयगोत्रो वः पुत्रका ब्राह्मणः पिता। प्रब्रूत तत्त्वतः क्षिप्रं कश्चासौ क्व च वर्तते
'What is the name and lineage of your Brahmin father, dear children? Tell me the truth quickly—who is he and where does he dwell?'
प्रब्रूत मे यथा तथ्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तं ह्यहम्। एवमुक्ताः कुमारस्ते देवयान्या सुमध्यया
'Tell me exactly as it is, for I wish to hear of him.' Thus addressed by Devayani of slender waist, the boys—
तेऽदर्शयन्प्रदेशिन्या तमेव नृपसत्तमम्। शर्मिष्ठां मातरं चैव तथाऽऽचख्युश्च दारकाः
They pointed out to her, with their fingers, that very best of kings, and also indicated Sharmishtha as their mother.
इत्युक्त्वा सहितास्ते तु राजानमुपचक्रमुः। नाभ्यनन्दत तान्राजा देवयान्यास्तदान्तिके
Having said this, they all approached the king together; but the king did not welcome them in Devayani's presence.
रुदन्तस्तेऽथ शर्मिष्ठामभ्ययुर्बालकास्ततः। `अविब्रुवन्ती किंचिच्च राजानं चारुलोचना
Then, weeping, the boys went to Sharmishtha, while the lovely-eyed woman, saying nothing, approached the king.
नातिदूराच्च राजानं सा चातिष्ठदवाङ्मुखी। श्रुत्वा तेषां तु बालानां सव्रीड इव पार्थिवः
Not far from the king, she stood with her face turned away; and hearing the boys, the king seemed somewhat ashamed.
प्रतिवक्तुमशक्तोऽभूत्तूष्णींभूतोऽभवन्नृपः। दृष्ट्वा तु तेषां बालानां प्रणयं पार्थिवं प्रति
The king was unable to reply and remained silent, seeing the affection of those young girls toward the monarch.
बुद्ध्वा तु तत्त्वतो देवी शर्मिष्ठापिदमब्रवीत्। अभ्यागच्छति मां कश्चिदृषिरित्येवमब्रवीः
But understanding the truth, the lady Sharmishtha said to her: 'You said that some sage is coming to me.'
ययातिमेवं राजानं त्वं गोपायसि भामिनि। पूर्वमेव मया प्रोक्तं त्वया तु वृजिनं कृतम्
O beautiful one, by such means you protect the king; but I had already spoken before, and you have acted wrongly.
मदधीना सती कस्मादकार्षीर्विप्रियं मम। तमेवाऽऽसुरधर्मं त्वमास्थिता न बिभेषि मे
Though you are under my authority, why did you do what displeases me? You have adopted the conduct of demons and do not fear me.
यदुक्तमृषिरित्येव तत्सत्यं चारुहासिनि। न्यायतो धर्मतश्चैव चरन्ती न बिभेमि ते
What was said, 'a sage is coming,' is true, O lovely-smiling one. Acting according to justice and righteousness, I do not fear you.
यदा त्वया वृतो भर्ता वृत एव तदा मया। सखीभर्ता हि धर्मेण भर्ता भवति शोभने
When you chose a husband, I too chose at that time. By righteousness, the husband of a friend becomes one's own husband, O graceful one.