Where you have dwelled, O wide-eyed one with a face radiant as the moon, there too have I dwelled, gentle lady—within the very womb of Kavya, O luminous woman. By the path of dharma, you are my sister, O auspicious-faced one; do not say otherwise. I have lived with you happily, gentle lady, and I hold no anger in my heart. Now I take my leave of you and must depart. May my journey be blessed. Without violating dharma, remember me in another tale. Remain ever vigilant and devoted, and continue to worship my guru. Though you were once slain by the demons, I protected you with the resolve of a husband. If you now reject me for the sake of dharma, desire, or wealth, then let it be. But know this: because of this, Kacha, this knowledge you have sought will not reach its fulfillment for you. Declaring myself the guru’s son, I must reject you, not out of fault, but by the guidance of my guru. If you wish, with his permission, you may curse me. Yet I speak the ancient dharma, O Devayani, just as you do. I am not fit to be cursed by you, O blessed one, neither by desire nor by dharma today. Therefore, the desire you hold will not come to pass. No son of a sage will ever take your hand in marriage. And as you have said, my knowledge will not bear fruit for me. Yet, I shall teach it to another, and for him, the knowledge will bear its fruit. Having spoken thus, Kacha, O best of kings, swiftly departed for the abode of the lord of the gods. When he arrived, the gods, led by Indra, honored him and joyfully spoke to Brihaspati: “O Kacha, you have performed a great and wondrous deed for our benefit. Your fame will not perish, and you shall receive your share.” When Kacha had mastered the knowledge and returned, the gods were overjoyed, learning from him that he had accomplished his purpose. All the gods gathered together and addressed Shatakratu, saying, “Now is the time for your valor; slay the enemies, O Purandara.” Thus urged by the gods, Maghavan agreed and set forth. As he moved through the forest, he came upon a group of maidens at play, the scene as delightful as Chaitraratha itself. Suddenly, the wind, taking form, scattered all their garments. The maidens, emerging from the water, gathered up their garments, each taking what she found, arranging them in various ways. In this confusion, Sharmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, unknowingly took Devayani’s garment, not realizing her mistake. Because of this, a quarrel arose between Devayani and Sharmishtha. Devayani, upset, said, “Why do you take my garment, you who have become my disciple, O Asuri? Lacking proper conduct, you will not attain any good. Your father always sits and lies in humility before mine, praising and questioning him with great propriety. You are the daughter of one who begs, praises, and accepts; I am the daughter of one who is praised and gives, but does not accept. Why do you, unarmed, become angry with one who is armed? You are a beggar and will receive retaliation, but I do not regard you at all.” Sharmishtha, seeing Devayani clinging to her garment in astonishment, acted in anger. She seized Devayani and threw her into a well, then returned to her city. Convinced that Devayani was slain, Sharmishtha, driven by wrath, departed without looking back. Soon after, Yayati, son of Nahusha, arrived at that place, weary and thirsty from the hunt. Approaching the watering place, he saw the water had receded, and there, radiant as a blazing flame, was a maiden. Her beauty was celestial, and the king, gentle and kind, spoke to her with compassion: “Who are you, lovely-faced, dark-skinned maiden, adorned with bright jeweled earrings? Why do you meditate so deeply and sigh so cleverly? How have you fallen into this well, covered with grass and creepers? Whose daughter are you? Tell me everything, O slender-waisted one.” She replied, “I am the daughter of Shukra, who by his knowledge revives the Daityas slain by the gods. Surely you do not recognize me. Here is my right hand, O king, with copper-colored nails; lift me out, for you are noble in my eyes. I know you to be calm, powerful, and renowned; therefore, you ought to lift me from this well where I have fallen.” Recognizing her as a Brahmin woman, the son of Nahusha took her by the right hand and lifted her out of the pit. King Yayati swiftly helped her and, after addressing the lovely-hipped maiden, returned to his own city. When he had departed, Devayani, scorned and tormented by grief, spoke to Ghurnika, who had returned to her. “Quickly go, Ghurnika, and tell my father everything; I will not now enter the city of Vrishaparvan.” So Ghurnika hurried to the palace of the asura. Trembling and distraught, she found Kavya and spoke: “Devayani has been killed in the forest by Sharmishtha, the wise daughter of Vrishaparvan.” Hearing that his daughter had been killed by Sharmishtha, Kavya was overwhelmed with grief. At once, he hastened out, searching the forest for his beloved daughter.