The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION LXXXIII (Sambhava Parva continued)

 The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

 SECTION LXXXIII

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'When Devayani of sweet smiles heard of the birth of

this child, she became jealous, and O Bharata, Sarmishtha became an

object of her unpleasant reflections. And Devayani, repairing to her,

addressed her thus, 'O thou of fair eye-brows, what sin is this thou hast

committed by yielding to the influence of lust?' Sarmishtha replied, 'A

certain Rishi of virtuous soul and fully conversant with the Vedas came

to me. Capable of granting boons he was solicited by me to grant my

wishes that were based on considerations of virtue. O thou of sweet

smiles, I would not seek the sinful fulfilment of my desires. I tell thee

truly that this child of mine is by that Rishi!' Devayani answered, 'It

is all right if that be the case, O timid one! But if the lineage, name,

and family of that Brahmana be known to thee, I should like to hear

them.' Sarmishtha replied, 'O thou of sweet smiles, in asceticism and

energy, that Rishi is resplendent like the Sun himself. Beholding him, I

had not, any need to make these enquiries--' Devayani then said, 'If this

is true, if indeed, thou hast obtained thy child from such a superior

Brahmana, then, O Sarmishtha, I have no cause of anger.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Having thus talked and laughed with each other,

they separated, Devayani returning to the palace with the knowledge

imparted to her by Sarmishtha. And, O king, Yayati also begot on Devayani

two sons called Yadu and Turvasu, who were like Indra and Vishnu. And

Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, became through the royal sage

the mother of three sons in all, named Drahyu, Anu, and Puru.

"And, O king, it so came to pass that one day Devayani of sweet smiles,

accompanied by Yayati, went into a solitary part of the woods, (in the

king's extensive park). And there she saw three children of celestial

beauty playing with perfect trustfulness. And Devayani asked in surprise,

'Whose children are they, O king, who are so handsome and so like unto

the children of the celestials? In splendour and beauty they are like

thee, I should think.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'And Devayani without waiting for a reply from

the king, asked the children themselves, 'Ye children, what is your

lineage? Who is your father? Answer me truly. I desire to know all.'

Those children then pointed at the king (with their forefingers) and

spoke of Sarmishtha as their mother.

"And having so said, the children approached the king to clasp his knees.

But the king dared not caress them in the presence of Devayani. The boys

then left the place, and made towards their mother, weeping in grief. And

the king, at this conduct of the boys, became very much abashed. But

Devayani, marking the affection of the children for the king learnt the

secret and addressing Sarmishtha, said, 'How hast thou dared to do me an

injury, being, as thou art, dependent on me? Dost thou not fear to have

recourse once more to that Asura custom of thine?'

"Sarmishtha said, 'O thou of sweet smiles, all that I told thee of a

Rishi is perfectly true. I have acted rightly and according to the

precepts of virtue, and therefore, do I not fear thee. When thou hadst

chosen the king for thy husband, I, too, chose him as mine. O beautiful

one, a friend's husband is, according to usage, one's own husband as

well. Thou art the daughter of a Brahmana and, therefore, deservest my

worship and regard. But dost thou not know that this royal sage is held

by me in greater esteem still?'

"Vaisampayana said, 'Devayani then, hearing those words of hers,

exclaimed, O king, thus, 'Thou hast wronged me, O monarch! I shall not

live here any longer.' And saying this, she quickly rose, with tearful

eyes, to go to her father. And the king was grieved to see her thus, and

alarmed greatly, followed in her foot-steps, endeavouring to appease her

wrath. But Devayani, with eyes red with anger, would not desist. Speaking

not a word to the king, with eyes bathed in tears, she soon reached the

side of her father Usanas, the son of Kavi. And beholding her father, she

stood before him, after due salutations. And Yayati also, immediately

after, saluted and worshipped Bhargava.'

"And Devayani said, 'O father, virtue hath been vanquished by vice. The

low have risen, and the high have fallen. I have been offended again by

Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan. Three sons have been begotten

upon her by this king Yayati. But, O father, being luckless I have got

only two sons! O son of Bhrigu, this king is renowned for his knowledge

of the precepts of religion. But, O Kavya, I tell thee that he hath

deviated from the path of rectitude.'

"Sukra, hearing all this, said, 'O monarch, since thou hast made vice thy

beloved pursuit, though fully acquainted with the precepts of religion,

invincible decrepitude shall paralyse thee!' Yayati answered, 'Adorable

one, I was solicited by the daughter of the Danava king to fructify her

season. I did it from a sense of virtue and not from other motives. That

male person, who being solicited by a woman in her season doth not grant

her wishes, is called, O Brahmana, by those conversant with the Vedas, a

slayer of the embryo. He who, solicited in secret by a woman full of

desire and in season, goeth not in unto her, loseth virtue and is called

by the learned a killer of the embryo, O son of Bhrigu, for these

reasons, and anxious to avoid sin, I went into Sarmishtha.' Sukra then

replied, 'Thou art dependent on me. Thou shouldst have awaited my

command. Having acted falsely in the matter of thy duty, O son of

Nahusha, thou hast been guilty of the sin of theft.'

"Vaisampayana continued, 'Yayati, the son of Nahusha, thus cursed by the

angry Usanas, was then divested of his youth and immediately overcome by

decrepitude. And Yayati said, 'O son of Bhrigu, I have not yet been

satiated with youth or with Devayani. Therefore, O Brahmana, be graceful

unto me so that decrepitude might not touch me.' Sukra then answered, 'I

never speak an untruth. Even now, O king, art thou attacked by

decrepitude. But if thou likest, thou art competent to transfer this thy

decrepitude to another.' Yayati said, 'O Brahmana, let it be commanded by

thee that that son of mine who giveth me his youth shall enjoy my

kingdom, and shall achieve both virtue and fame.' Sukra replied, 'O son

of Nahusha, thinking of me thou mayst transfer this thy decrepitude to

whomsoever thou likest. That son who shall give thee his youth shall

become thy successor to the throne. He shall also have long life, wide

fame, and numerous progeny!'"