समुद्रं प्रविशध्वं वो दिशो वा व्रजतासुराः दुहितुर्नाप्रियं सोढुं शक्तो ऽहं दयिता हि मे
Enter the ocean, or go to the directions, O Asuras; I am unable to endure anything unpleasant for my daughter, for she is dear to me.
प्रसाद्यतां देवयानी जीवितं यत्र मे स्थितम् योगक्षेमकरस्ते ऽहम् इन्द्रस्येव बृहस्पतिः
Let Devayānī be appeased, for my life depends on her; I am the provider of her welfare, like Bṛhaspati is for Indra.
यत्किंचिद् असुरेन्द्राणां विद्यते वसु भार्गव भुवि हस्तिरथाश्वं वा तस्य त्वं मम चेश्वरः
Whatever wealth exists on earth belonging to the lords of the Asuras—be it elephants, chariots, or horses—O Bhārgava, you are the master of that, as am I.
यत्किंचिद् अस्ति द्रविणं दैत्येन्द्राणां महासुर तस्येश्वरो ऽस्मि यद्येतद् देवयानी प्रसाद्यताम्
Whatever treasure there is belonging to the lords of the Daityas, O great Asura, I am the master of that—if only Devayānī may be appeased.
ततस्तु त्वरितः शुक्रस् तेन राज्ञा समं ययौ उवाच चैनां सुभगे प्रतिपन्नं वचस्तव
Then Śukra, hastening, went together with that king, and said to her, 'O fortunate one, your request has been granted.'
यदि त्वमीश्वरस्तात राज्ञो वित्तस्य भार्गव नाभिजानामि तत्ते ऽहं राजा वदतु मां स्वयम्
If you are indeed the lord, O Bhārgava, of the king’s wealth, I do not know that; let the king himself tell me so.
यं काममभिजानासि देवयानि शुचिस्मिते तत्ते ऽहं सम्प्रदास्यामि यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्लभम्
O Devayānī of pure smile, whatever desire you express, I shall grant it to you, even if it be exceedingly difficult to obtain.
दासीं कन्यासहस्रेण शर्मिष्ठामभिकामये अनुयास्यति मां तत्र यत्र दास्यति मे पिता
With a thousand maidservants, I desire Śarmiṣṭhā as my slave; she shall follow me wherever my father gives me.
उत्तिष्ठ धात्रि गच्छ त्वं शर्मिष्ठां शीघ्रमानय यं च कामयते कामं देवयानी करोतु तम्
Rise, nurse, go and quickly bring Śarmiṣṭhā; let Devayānī do whatever she desires.
ततो धात्री तत्र गत्वा शर्मिष्ठाम् इदमब्रवीत् उत्तिष्ठ भद्रे शर्मिष्ठे ज्ञातीनां सुखमावह
Then the nurse, going there, said this to Śarmiṣṭhā: 'Rise, O blessed Śarmiṣṭhā, bring happiness to your kin.'
त्यजति ब्राह्मणः शिष्यान् देवयान्या प्रचोदितः यं सा कामयते कामं स कार्यो ऽत्र त्वयानघे दासीत्वम् अभिजातासि देवयान्याः सुशोभने
The Brāhmaṇa, urged by Devayānī, is abandoning his disciples; whatever desire she has must be fulfilled by you, O blameless one. You have become a maidservant to Devayānī, O beautiful one.
यं च कामयते कामं करवाण्यहमद्य तम् मा गान्मन्युवशं शुक्रो देवयानी च मत्कृते
Whatever desire she wishes, I shall do that today; let neither Śukra nor Devayānī be overcome by anger on my account.
ततः कन्यासहस्रेण वृता शिबिकया तदा पितुर्निदेशात्त्वरिता निश्चक्राम पुरोत्तमात्
Then, chosen with a thousand maidens, she quickly left the splendid palace in a palanquin, by her father's command.
अहं कन्यासहस्रेण दाशी ते परिचारिका ध्रुवं त्वां तत्र यास्यामि यत्र दास्यति ते पिता
With a thousand maidens, I am your slave and attendant; surely I shall go wherever your father gives you.
स्तुवतो दुहिता चाहं याचतः प्रतिगृह्णतः स्तूयमानस्य दुहिता कथं दासी भविष्यसि
I am the daughter of one who is praised, of one who asks and receives; how can the daughter of one who is honored become a slave?
येन केनचिदार्तानां ज्ञातीनां सुखमावहेत् अनुयास्याम्यहं तत्र यत्र दास्यति ते पिता
By whatever means one might bring happiness to suffering kin, I shall follow you wherever your father gives you.
प्रतिश्रुते दासभावे दुहित्रा वृषपर्वणः देवयानी नृपश्रेष्ठ पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
When the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan had agreed to servitude, Devayānī, O best of kings, spoke these words to her father.
प्रविशामि पुरं तात तुष्टास्मि द्विजसत्तम अमोघं तव विज्ञानम् अस्ति विद्याबलं च ते
I shall enter the city, father; I am satisfied, O best of Brāhmaṇas. Your knowledge is unfailing, and you possess the power of learning.
एवमुक्तो द्विजश्रेष्ठो दुहित्रा सुमहायशाः प्रविवेश पुरं हृष्टः पूजितः सर्वदानवैः
Thus addressed, the illustrious best of twice-born entered the city, delighted, honored by all the Dānavas.
अथ दीर्घेण कालेन देवयानी नृपोत्तम वनं तदैव निर्याता क्रीडार्थं वरवर्णिनी
Then, after a long time, Devayānī, the best of women, went out to the forest for play, O best of kings.
तेन दासीसहस्रेण सार्धं शर्मिष्ठया तदा तमेव देशं सम्प्राप्ता यथाकामं चचार सा
With a thousand maidservants and with Śarmiṣṭhā, she reached that very place and wandered there as she wished.
ताभिः सखीभिः सहिता सर्वाभिर्मुदिता भृशम् क्रीडन्त्यो ऽभिरताः सर्वाः पिबन्त्यो मधु माधवम्
Together with all her joyful companions, they all delighted in play, drinking the sweet honey of spring.
खादन्त्यो विविधान्भक्ष्यान् फलानि विविधानि च पुनश्च नाहुषो राजा मृगलिप्सुर्यदृच्छया
Eating various foods and many kinds of fruits, again, King Nahusha, seeking game, happened to arrive there.
तमेव देशं सम्प्राप्तो जललिप्सुः प्रतर्षितः ददर्श देवयानीं च शर्मिष्ठां ताश्च योषितः
Arriving at that very place, thirsty and desiring water, he saw Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and those women.
पिबन्त्यो ललनास्ताश्च दिव्याभरणभूषिताः उपविष्टां च ददृशे देवयानीं शुचिस्मिताम्
He saw those women, adorned with divine ornaments, drinking, and Devayānī with her pure smile seated among them.
रूपेणाप्रतिमां तासां स्त्रीणां मध्ये वराङ्गनाम् शर्मिष्ठया सेव्यमानां पादसंवाहनादिभिः
Among those women, she was unmatched in beauty, a noble lady, served by Śarmiṣṭhā with foot massages and the like.
द्वाभ्यां कन्यासहस्राभ्यां द्वे कन्ये परिवारिते गोत्रे च नामनी चैव द्वयोः पृच्छाम्यतो ह्य् अहम्
Surrounded by two thousand maidens and two young women, I ask you their lineage and names.
आख्यास्याम्यहम् आदत्स्व वचनं मे नराधिप शुको नामासुरगुरुः सुतां जानीहि तस्य माम्
I will tell you; accept my words, O king. Know me as the daughter of Śukra, the preceptor of the Asuras.
इयं च मे सखी दासी यत्राहं तत्र गामिनी दुहिता दानवेन्द्रस्य शर्मिष्ठा वृषपर्वणः
And this friend of mine is a maid; wherever I go, she goes. Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, lord of the Dānavas.
कथं तु ते सखी दासी कन्येयं वरवर्णिनी असुरेन्द्रसुता सुभूः परं कौतूहलं हि मे
But how is your friend a maid, this noble young woman, daughter of the lord of the Asuras? I am greatly curious.