पूज्यासि मम मान्या च ज्येष्ठा च ब्राह्मणी ह्यसि। त्वत्तोपि मे पूज्यतमो राजर्षिः किं न वेत्थ तत्
You are to be honored and respected by me, and you are the eldest, a Brahmin lady. But the royal sage is even more worthy of honor than you—do you not know this?
त्वत्पित्रा मम गुरुणा सह दत्ते उभे शुभे। ततो भर्ता च पूज्यश्च पोष्यां पोषयतीह माम्
Both of us, O auspicious one, were given together by your father, my teacher. Therefore, the husband is to be honored and nourished, and he nourishes me here.
श्रुत्वा तस्यास्ततो वाक्यं देवयान्यब्रवीदिदम्। रमस्वेह यथाकामं देव्या शर्मिष्ठया सह
Hearing her words, Devayani said: 'Enjoy here as you wish, together with Sharmishtha.'
राजन्नाद्येह वत्स्यामि विप्रियं मे कृतं त्वया। इति जज्वाल कोपेन देवयानी ततो भृशम्
O king, I will not stay here today; you have done what displeases me. Thus Devayani burned intensely with anger.
निर्दहन्तीव सव्रीडां शर्मिष्ठां समुदीक्ष्य च। अपविध्य च सर्वाणि भूषणान्यसितेक्षणा
Looking at Sharmishtha, who was ashamed, as if burning her, Devayani, with dark eyes, cast aside all her ornaments.
सहसोत्पतितां श्यामां दृष्ट्वा तां साश्रुलोचनाम्। तूर्णं सकाशं काव्यस्य प्रस्थितां व्यथितस्तदा
Seeing the dark-skinned woman suddenly rise, her eyes filled with tears, Devayani quickly set out for the presence of Kavi, greatly distressed.
अनुवव्राज संभ्रान्तः पृष्ठतः सान्त्वयन्नृपः। न्यवर्तत नचैव स्म क्रोधसंरक्तलोचना
The king, anxious, followed behind, consoling her; but she did not turn back, her eyes reddened with anger.
अविब्रुवन्ती किंचित्सा राजानं साश्रुलोचना। अचिरादेव संप्राप्ता काव्यस्योशनसोऽन्तिकम्
She said nothing to the king, her eyes full of tears, and soon reached the presence of Kavi Ushanas.
सा तु दृष्ट्वै पितरमभिवाद्याग्रतः स्थिता। अनन्तरं यायातिस्तु पूजयामास भार्गवम्
Seeing her father, she stood before him after bowing, and then Yayati honored the descendant of Bhargava.
अधर्मेण जितो धर्मः प्रवृत्तमधरोत्तरम्। शर्मिष्ठयाऽतिवृत्ताऽस्मि दुहित्रा वृषपर्वणः
Righteousness has been defeated by unrighteousness; the course of unrighteousness prevails. I have been greatly wronged by Sharmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan.
त्रयोऽस्यां जनिताः पुत्रा राज्ञाऽनेन ययातिना। दुर्भगाया मम द्वौ तु पुत्रौ तात ब्रवीमि ते
Three sons have been born to her by this king, Yayati. But, O father, I tell you, only two sons are mine, unfortunate as I am.
धर्मज्ञ इति विख्यात एष राजा भृगूद्वह। अतिक्रान्तश्च मर्यादां काव्यैतत्कथयामि ते
This king is renowned as a knower of righteousness, O descendant of Bhrigu. Yet he has transgressed the bounds; O Kavi, I tell you this.
धर्मज्ञः सन्महाराज योऽधर्ममकृथाः प्रियम्। तस्माज्जरा त्वामचिराद्धर्षयिष्यति दुर्जया
O great king, though you know righteousness, you have done what is unrighteous out of desire; therefore, before long, the invincible old age will overpower you.
ऋतुं वै याचमानाया भगवन्नान्यचेतसा। दुहितुर्दानवेन्द्रस्य धर्म्यमेतत्कृतं मया
O venerable one, when she asked for her season with a single-minded heart, I acted righteously in granting this to the daughter of the lord of the Dānavas.
ऋतुं वै याचमानाया न ददाति पुमानृतुम्। भ्रूणहेत्युच्यते ब्रह्मन् स इह ब्रह्मवादिभिः
If a man does not grant the season to a woman who asks for it, O Brāhmaṇa, he is called a destroyer of the embryo by those learned in the Veda.
अभिकामां स्त्रियं यश्च गम्यां रहसि याचितः। नोपैति स च धर्मेषु भ्रूणहेत्युच्यते बुधैः
And if a woman, impassioned and eligible, requests a man in private and he does not approach her, the wise declare him to be a destroyer of the embryo in matters of righteousness.
यद्यद्वृणोति मां कश्चित्तत्तद्देयमिति व्रतम्। त्वया च सापि दत्ता मे नान्यं नाथमिहेच्छति
My vow is that whatever anyone asks of me, that I shall give; and she was given to me by you, and she desires no other protector here.
इत्येतानि समीक्ष्याहं कारणानि भृगूद्वह। अधर्मभयसंविग्नः शर्मिष्ठामुपजग्मिवान्। `मत्वैतन्मे धर्म इति कृतं ब्रह्मन्क्षमस्व माम्
Considering these reasons, O best of Bhṛgus, and troubled by fear of unrighteousness, I approached Śarmiṣṭhā, thinking, 'This is righteousness for me.' O Brāhmaṇa, forgive me for this act.
नन्वहं प्रत्यवेक्ष्यस्ते मदधीनोऽसि पार्थिव। मिथ्याचारस्य धर्मेषु चौर्यं भवति नाहुष
Surely, I acted after considering your will, for I am dependent on you, O king; in matters of righteousness, false conduct is said to be theft, O descendant of Nahusha.
क्रुद्धेनोशनसा शप्तो ययातिर्नाहुषस्तदा। पूर्वं वयः परित्यज्य जरां सद्योऽन्वपद्यत
Then Yayāti, son of Nahusha, was cursed by the angry Uśanas; immediately, forsaking his former youth, he was overtaken by old age.
अतृप्तो यौवनस्याहं देवयान्यां भृगूद्वह। प्रसादं कुरु मे ब्रह्मञ्जरेयं न विशेच्च माम्
O best of Bhṛgus, I am unsatisfied with youth in Devayānī; grant me your favor, O Brāhmaṇa, so that this old age may not afflict me.
नाहं मृषा ब्रवीम्येतज्जरां प्राप्तोऽसि भूमिप। जरां त्वेतां त्वमन्यस्मिन्संक्रामय यदीच्छसि
I do not speak falsely: you have been overtaken by old age, O king; if you wish, you may transfer this old age to another.
राज्यभाक्स भवेद्ब्रह्मन्पुण्यभाक्कीर्तिभाक्तथा। यो मे दद्याद्वयः पुत्रस्तद्भवाननुमन्यताम्
O Brāhmaṇa, he who would give me his youth—let that son be granted the kingdom, merit, and fame; let this be approved by you.
संक्रामयिष्यसि जरां येथेष्टं नहुषात्मज। मामनुध्याय भावेन न च पापमवाप्स्यसि
You may transfer your old age as you wish, O son of Nahusha; do so without hesitation, and you will not incur sin.
वयो दास्यति ते पुत्रो यः स राजा भविष्यति। आयुष्मान्कीर्तिमांश्चैव बह्वपत्यस्तथैव च
The son who gives you his youth will become king; he will be long-lived, renowned, and have many children.
जरां प्राप्य ययातिस्तु स्वपुरं प्राप्य चैव हि। पुत्रं ज्येष्ठं वरिष्ठं च यदुमित्यब्रवीद्वचः
Having been afflicted by old age, Yayāti returned to his own city and spoke these words to his eldest and most distinguished son, Yadu.
जरावली च मां तात पलितानि च पर्यगुः। काव्यस्योशनसः शापान्न च तृप्तोऽस्मि यौवने
Old age has overtaken me, dear son, and gray hairs have spread over me; by the curse of Kāvya Uśanas, I am not yet satisfied with youth.
त्वं यदो प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह। यौवनेन त्वदीयेन चरेयं विषयानहम्
Yadu, take upon yourself my sin along with my old age, so that I may enjoy the pleasures of the senses with your youth.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु पुनस्ते यौवनं त्वहम्। दत्त्वा स्वं प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानं जरया सह
But after a thousand full years, I will return your youth to you, having taken back my sin along with old age.
जरायां बहवो दोषाः पानभोजनकारिताः। तस्माज्जरां न ते राजन्ग्रहीष्य इति मे मतिः
There are many faults in old age, arising from eating and drinking; therefore, O king, it is my decision not to accept your old age.