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.
सर्वमेव नरव्याघ्र विधानमनुवर्तते विधिना विहितं ज्ञात्वा मा विचित्रं मनः कृथाः
Everything, O tiger among men, proceeds according to destiny; knowing it is ordained by fate, do not let your mind be perplexed.
राजवद्रूपवेषौ ते ब्राह्मीं वाचं बिभर्षि च किंनामा त्वं कुतश्चासि कस्य पुत्रश्च शंस मे
You appear in royal form and dress, yet you speak with a Brāhmin's voice. Tell me your name, your origin, and whose son you are.
ब्रह्मचर्येण वेदो मे कृत्स्नः श्रुतिपथं गतः राजाहं राजपुत्रश्च ययातिरिति विश्रुतः
By celibacy I have mastered the entire Veda. I am a king and prince, renowned as Yayāti.
केन चार्थेन नृपते ह्य् एनं देशं समागतः जिघृक्षुर्वारि यत्किंचिद् अथवा मृगलिप्सया
For what purpose, O king, have you come to this place? Is it to take water, or perhaps seeking game?
मृगलिप्सुरहं भद्रे पानीयार्थम् इहागतः बहुधाप्यनुयुक्तो ऽस्मि त्वम् अनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
Desiring game, O gentle one, I have come here for water. Though you question me in many ways, you should grant me leave.
द्वाभ्यां कन्यासहस्राभ्यां दास्या शर्मिष्ठया सह त्वदधीनास्मि भद्रं ते सखे भर्ता च मे भव
With two thousand maidens and the maid Śarmiṣṭhā, I am under your authority. Blessings to you, friend—be my husband.
विद्ध्यौशनसि भद्रं ते न त्वदर्हो ऽस्मि भामिनि अविवाह्याः स्म राजानो देवयानि पितुस्तव
Know, O auspicious one, that I am not worthy, O beautiful lady; kings are not to be married, Devayani, by your father.
संसृष्टं ब्रह्मणा क्षत्रं क्षत्रं ब्रह्मणि संश्रितम् ऋषिश्च ऋषिपुत्रश्च नाहुषाद्य भजस्व माम्
The kshatriya and the brahmin orders are joined together by Brahma; kshatriya is established in brahmin, and brahmin in kshatriya; O son of Nahusha, neither sage nor sage’s son should you choose me.
एकदेहोद्भवा वर्णाश् चत्वारो ऽपि वरानने पृथग्धर्माः पृथक्छौचास् तेषां वै ब्राह्मणो वरः
The four classes, O lovely-faced one, are born from one body, each with its own duties and its own purity; among them, the brahmin is the highest.
पाणिग्रहो नाहुषायं न पुंभिः सेवितः पुरा त्वं पाणिमग्रहीदग्रे वृणोमि त्वामहं ततः
The taking of the hand by Nahusha’s son was not practiced by men before; you took my hand first, therefore I choose you.