Vṛṣaparvan, the king, addressed Yayāti, the son of Nahusha, saying, “O hero, my daughter has chosen you as her husband, and I too desire this union. Accept her from me as your queen.” He explained that acting otherwise would bring sin upon both himself and his daughter, due to the mixing of classes, and thus he chose Yayāti as the rightful husband. Vṛṣaparvan released Yayāti from any unrighteousness, granting him permission to request any boon he wished, praising him for this marriage and removing any hidden sin. He urged Yayāti to take Devayani, whose smile was pure, as his wife in righteousness, promising that with her, Yayāti would attain incomparable happiness. He also instructed Yayāti to always honor Śarmiṣṭhā, his daughter, but never to summon her to his bed. With these words, Yayāti circumambulated Śukra and, with great joy and permission from the sage, departed for his own city. Upon reaching his city, magnificent as Indra’s own, Yayāti entered his chambers and settled Devayani there as his queen. With Devayani’s consent, Yayāti built a house for Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, near the Aśoka grove and settled her there. Śarmiṣṭhā, attended by a thousand maidservants, was well provided with garments, food, and drink, and was cared for. Yayāti and Devayani spent many years together joyfully, their happiness likened to the garden of the gods. When the proper season arrived, Devayani conceived and bore a son. After a thousand years, Śarmiṣṭhā reached her youth and her season, radiant and lotus-eyed, but reflected with sorrow: “My season has come, but I have no husband. What has happened? What should I do? How can I find happiness? Devayani has given birth, while I have reached youth in vain. As she chose a husband, so too will I choose one. I am resolved that the king should grant me the fruit of a son. Perhaps now, that righteous one will come to me in private.” As fate would have it, Yayāti, while passing near the Aśoka grove, came upon Śarmiṣṭhā and was astonished. Seeing the king alone, Śarmiṣṭhā approached him with a lovely smile, made reverence with joined palms, and spoke: “O son of Nahusha, who in your house—Soma, Indra, Vāyu, Yama, or Varuṇa—has the right to look upon a woman? O king, you have always known me by my beauty, lineage, and character. Therefore, I beseech you, be gracious and unite with me, O lord of men.” Yayāti replied, “I know you to be a virtuous daughter of the Daityas, blameless in conduct. I see not even a needle-point’s flaw in your beauty. But Śukra once told me, when I married Devayani, that you must not be summoned by me to my bed.” Śarmiṣṭhā responded, “Words spoken in jest do not harm, O king, nor do they among women, nor at the time of marriage, in mortal danger, or when all wealth is lost; these five falsehoods are said to be without sin. When questioned as witnesses, people may speak otherwise; their words may become false, O King. But united in purpose, one who speaks falsely injures truth. The king holds authority among beings; he perishes if he speaks untruth. Even in hardship for wealth, he should not act falsely. Two opinions are held: the husband is both friend and lord; marriage is equality. You are my friend because you are my husband. It is my vow to give to one who asks; you are asking me for pleasure. Tell me, what shall I do for you? Save me from unrighteousness, O King, and establish righteousness. By you, may I bear offspring and practice the highest dharma in the world. There are three who are without wealth: wife, servant, and son. Whatever they acquire belongs to the one to whom they belong; that is his wealth. I am to be enjoyed by you, O Bhārgava, and am under your control. Both Devayani and I must be maintained by you, O King; accept me.” Thus addressed, Yayāti acknowledged the truth and honored Śarmiṣṭhā, establishing righteousness. He united with her, fulfilling his desire, and after mutually honoring one another, they departed as they had come. In that union, Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan and of beautiful brows, conceived from Yayāti. In due time, she gave birth to a prince, radiant as one born of the gods, equal in brilliance to the sun. When Devayani heard that a prince had been born, she was distressed and anxious regarding Śarmiṣṭhā. She approached Śarmiṣṭhā and asked, “Why have you, beautiful-browed, acted wrongly out of desire?” Śarmiṣṭhā replied, “A certain sage, righteous and learned in the Vedas, came to me. I requested him for a boon, in accordance with dharma. I do not act out of desire unrighteously, O pure-smiled one. Therefore, my child is from the sage; I speak the truth to you.” Devayani responded, “Let it be so, Śarmiṣṭhā; I bear no anger. If you have obtained offspring from a superior and elder twice-born, it is well. If it is good and true, O timid one, how can that twice-born be known? I wish to hear his lineage, name, and origin.” Śarmiṣṭhā said, “Radiant with vigor and brilliance like the sun, seeing him, O pure-smiled one, I had no power to question him.” Thus, the events unfolded as ordained, with each character acting within the bounds of dharma and their own destiny.