King Yayāti, having united with Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, fulfilled his desire. With mutual respect and honor, they parted as they had come. From this union, Śarmiṣṭhā, she of lovely brows, first conceived by that illustrious king. In due time, the radiant queen gave birth to a prince, whose splendor was like that of the gods, shining with the brilliance of the sun. When word reached Devayānī, Yayāti’s first wife, that a prince had been born, her heart was troubled. Sorrow and anxious thoughts about Śarmiṣṭhā filled her, and she approached the beautiful-browed Śarmiṣṭhā, questioning her with a heavy heart: “Why have you acted wrongly, driven by desire?” Śarmiṣṭhā replied, “A certain sage, righteous and learned in the Vedas, once came to me. I requested a boon from him, in accordance with dharma. I have not acted unrighteously out of desire, O pure-smiled one. My child is from the sage—I speak the truth.” Devayānī responded gently, “Let it be so, Śarmiṣṭhā. I bear you no anger. If you have gained offspring from a superior and elder twice-born, it is well. But if this is true, tell me: who is this sage? I wish to know his lineage, his name, and his origin.” Śarmiṣṭhā answered, “He was radiant, shining like the sun. When I saw him, O pure-smiled one, I could not even ask his name.” Thus, the two women spoke together, and, sharing laughter, Bhārgavī Devayānī—knowing the truth—returned to her own dwelling. In time, King Yayāti begot two sons with Devayānī: Yadu and Turvasu, powerful and resplendent like Indra and Viṣṇu. Meanwhile, Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, bore Yayāti three sons: Druhyu, Anu, and Pūru. Later, Devayānī, bright with her gentle smile, went with Yayāti to a lush forest. There, she saw boys of divine appearance, playing freely—astonished, she asked, “Whose children are these, O King? They resemble sons of the gods, so beautiful in form and radiance, and they look so much like you!” After questioning the king, she turned to the boys: “What are your names and lineages? Is your father a brāhmaṇa, children? Tell me truly—I wish to know.” Guided by a local woman, the boys led her to the king. They declared, “Śarmiṣṭhā is our mother.” With this, they approached Yayāti. But in Devayānī’s presence, the king did not welcome them. The boys, saddened, returned weeping to Śarmiṣṭhā. Seeing their affection for the king and understanding the truth, Queen Śarmiṣṭhā addressed Devayānī: “Though subject to me, why did you do what displeased me? You have acted as the asuras do—do you not fear?” Śarmiṣṭhā continued, “What the sage said is true, O lovely-smiling one. Acting justly and righteously, I do not fear you. When you chose the king, I too chose him; for by righteousness, the husband of a friend becomes one’s own husband, O beautiful one. You are to be honored and respected by me, foremost and eldest among brāhmaṇīs, but the royal sage, my husband, is even more to be revered—do you not know this?” Hearing these words, Devayānī turned to Yayāti and said, “O King, I will not remain here today; you have wronged me.” With eyes dark and brimming with tears, she rose suddenly and set out for her father’s home, distressed. The king, agitated, followed, attempting to appease her, but she did not look back, her eyes red with anger. Without a word to Yayāti, she soon reached the presence of her father, Kāvya Uśanas. Upon seeing her father, she offered her respects and stood before him. Yayāti, too, honored the sage Bhārgava. Devayānī spoke: “Righteousness has been overcome by unrighteousness, and wrongdoing has increased; Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, has acted as an ascetic. Three sons have been born to her by King Yayāti. Of myself, O father, I will tell you of two sons. This king, renowned for knowing righteousness, O best of Bhṛgus, has transgressed the bounds; Kāvya, I tell you this.” Uśanas, the wise sage, replied, “You are known for righteousness, O great king, yet you have done what is pleasing but unrighteous. Therefore, soon, unconquerable old age will seize you. A man who, though asked, does not grant a woman her season, is called a slayer of the embryo, O Brāhmaṇa, say the speakers of Brahman. But if a man, when approached in private by a woman desiring her season, does not go to her lawfully, he is called a slayer of Brahman by the wise.” Yayāti pleaded, “Considering these reasons, O best of Bhṛgus, and fearful of unrighteousness, I approached Śarmiṣṭhā. But I did not act on your behalf; you are not under my control, O king. In matters of false conduct, theft does not occur, O son of Nahusha.” But Uśanas, angered, cursed Yayāti. Instantly, Yayāti’s youth left him, and he was overtaken by old age. Distressed, Yayāti implored, “Unsatisfied with youth, O best of Bhṛgus, in Devayānī, grant me your favor, O Brāhmaṇa, that this old age may not remain with me.