दृष्ट्वा तेषां तु बालानां प्रणयं पार्थिवं प्रति बुद्ध्वा च तत्त्वतो देवी शर्मिष्ठामिदमब्रवीत्
Seeing the affection of those boys for the king, and understanding the truth, Queen Śarmiṣṭhā spoke these words.
मदधीना सती कस्माद् अकार्षीर्विप्रियं मम तमेवासुरधर्मं त्वम् आस्थिता न बिभेषि किम्
Though subject to me, why did you do what displeased me? You have followed the conduct of demons—do you not fear?
यदुक्तमृषिरित्येव तत्सत्यं चारुहासिनि न्यायतो धर्मतश्चैव चरन्ती न बिभेमि ते
What the sage said is true, O lovely-smiling one. Acting justly and righteously, I do not fear you.
यदा त्वया वृतो राजा वृत एव तदा मया सखीभर्ता हि धर्मेण भर्ता भवति शोभने
When the king was chosen by you, he was also chosen by me; for the husband of a friend, by righteousness, becomes one's own husband, O beautiful one.
पूज्यासि मम मान्या च श्रेष्ठा ज्येष्ठा च ब्राह्मणी त्वत्तो हि मे पूज्यतरो राजर्षिः किं न वेत्सि तत्
You are to be honored and respected by me, foremost and eldest among brāhmaṇīs; but the royal sage is more to be revered by me than you—do you not know this?
श्रुत्वा तस्यास्ततो वाक्यं देवयान्यब्रवीद् इदम् राजन्नाद्येह वत्स्यामि विप्रियं मे त्वया कृतम्
Hearing her words, Devayānī said this: 'O King, I will not stay here today; you have done me wrong.'
सहसोत्पतितां श्यामां दृष्ट्वा तां साश्रुलोचनाम् तूर्णं सकाशं काव्यस्य प्रस्थितां व्यथितस्तदा
Seeing her, dark and with tearful eyes, suddenly rise up, she quickly set out for her father's place, distressed.
अनुवव्राज संभ्रान्तः पृष्ठतः सान्त्वयन्नृपः न्यवर्तत न सा चैव क्रोधसंरक्तलोचना
The king, agitated, followed behind, trying to appease her, but she did not turn back, her eyes red with anger.
अविब्रुवन्ती किंचिच्च राजानं साश्रुलोचना अचिरादेव सम्प्राप्ता काव्यस्योशनसो ऽन्तिकम्
She, with tearful eyes and saying nothing to the king, soon reached the presence of Kāvya Uśanas.
सा तु दृष्ट्वैव पितरम् अभिवाद्याग्रतः स्थिता अनन्तरं ययातिस्तु पूजयामास भार्गवम्
Having seen her father, she stood before him after offering her respects; then Yayāti honored the Bhārgava.
अधर्मेण जितो धर्मः प्रवृत्तमधरोत्तरम् शर्मिष्ठा यातिवृत्तास्ति दुहिता वृषपर्वणः
Righteousness has been overcome by unrighteousness, and wrongdoing has increased; Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, has acted as an ascetic.
त्रयो ऽस्यां जनिताः पुत्रा राज्ञानेन ययातिना दुर्भगाया मम द्वौ तु पुत्रौ तात ब्रवीमि ते
Three sons have been born to her by King Yayāti; of my unfortunate daughter, O father, I will tell you of two sons.
धर्मज्ञ इति विख्यात एष राजा भृगूद्वह अतिक्रान्तश्च मर्यादां काव्यैतत्कथयामि ते
This king, renowned as one who knows righteousness, O best of Bhṛgus, has transgressed the bounds; Kāvya, I tell you this.
धर्मज्ञस्त्वं महाराज यो ऽधर्मम् अकृथाः प्रियम् तस्माज्जरा त्वाम् अचिराद् धर्षयिष्यति दुर्जया
You are known as one who knows righteousness, O great king, yet you have done what is pleasing but unrighteous; therefore, soon, the unconquerable old age will seize you.
ऋतुं यो याच्यमानाया न ददाति पुमान्वृतः भ्रूणहेत्युच्यते ब्रह्मन् स चेह ब्रह्मवादिभिः
A man who, though asked, does not grant a woman her season, is called a slayer of the embryo, O Brāhmaṇa, and so say the speakers of Brahman here.
ऋतुकामां स्त्रियं यस्तु गम्यां रहसि याचितः नोपैति यो हि धर्मेण ब्रह्महेत्युच्यते बुधैः
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.
इत्येतानि समीक्ष्याहं कारणानि भृगूद्वह अधर्मभयसंविग्नः शर्मिष्ठाम् उपजग्मिवान्
Considering these reasons, O best of Bhṛgus, and fearful of unrighteousness, I approached Śarmiṣṭhā.
न त्व् अहं प्रत्यवेक्ष्यस्ते मदधीनो ऽसि पार्थिव मिथ्याचरणधर्मेषु चौर्यं भवति नाहुष
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.
क्रोधेनोशनसा शप्तो ययातिर्नाहुषस्तदा पूर्वं वयः परित्यज्य जरां सद्यो ऽन्वपद्यत
Then Yayāti, son of Nahusha, was cursed by Uśanas in anger; immediately, having cast off his youth, he was overtaken by old age.
अतृप्तो यौवनस्याहं देवयान्यां भृगूद्वह प्रसादं कुरु मे ब्रह्मञ् जरेयं मा विशेत माम्
Unsatisfied with youth, O best of Bhṛgus, in Devayānī, grant me your favor, O Brāhmaṇa, that this old age may not enter me.
नाहं मृषा वदाम्येतज् जरां प्राप्तो ऽसि भूमिप जरां त्व् एतां त्वमन्यस्मिन् संक्रामय यदीच्छसि
I do not speak falsely in this, you have obtained old age, O king; if you wish, you may transfer this old age to another.
राज्यभाक् स भवेद्ब्रह्मन् पुण्यभाक्कीर्तिभाक्तथा यो दद्यान्मे वयः पुत्रस् तद्भवाननुमन्यताम्
He who would give me his youth, O Brāhmaṇa, shall enjoy the kingdom, merit, and fame; let that son of mine be approved by you.
संक्रामयिष्यसि जरां यथेष्टं नहुषात्मज मामनुध्याय तत्त्वेन न च पापमवाप्स्यसि
You may transfer old age as you wish, O son of Nahusha; do so truthfully, and you will not incur sin.
वयो दास्यति ते पुत्रो यः स राजा भविष्यति आयुष्मान्कीर्तिमांश्चैव बह्वपत्यस् तथैव च
The son who gives you his youth will become king, long-lived, renowned, and blessed with many children.
जरां प्राप्य ययातिस्तु स्वपुरं प्राप्य चैव हि पुत्रं ज्येष्ठं वरिष्ठं च यदुमित्यब्रवीद्द्विजः
Having obtained old age, Yayāti returned to his own city and spoke to his eldest and most distinguished son, Yadu, O Brāhmaṇa.
जरा वली च मां तात पलितानि च पर्यगुः काव्यस्योशनसः शापान् न च तृप्तो ऽस्मि यौवने
Old age and wrinkles, O son, and gray hairs have come upon me because of the curse of Kāvya Uśanas, and I am not yet satisfied with youth.
त्वं यदो प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह यौवनेन त्वदीयेन चरेयं विषयानहम्
You, Yadu, accept old age along with sin; with your youth, I will enjoy the pleasures of the senses.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु त्वदीयं यौवनं त्व् अहम् दत्त्वा सम्प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानं जरया सह
But when a thousand years are complete, I will return your youth to you, and I will again accept sin together with old age.
सितश्मश्रुधरो दीनो जरसा शिथिलीकृतः वलीसंततगात्रश्च दुर्दर्शो दुर्बलः कृशः
One who is gray-haired and bearded, miserable, weakened by old age, with limbs marked by wrinkles, hard to look at, feeble, and thin—
अशक्तः कार्यकरणे परिभूतः स यौवने सहोपजीविभिश्चैव तज्जरां नाभिकामये
Unable to perform duties, despised, even in youth by those who live with him—such old age I do not desire.