SECTION LXXXII
(Sambhava Parva continued)
"Vaisampayana said, 'Yayati then, on
returning to his capital which was like unto the city of Indra, entered his
inner apartments and established there his bride Devayani. And the monarch,
directed by Devayani, established Vrishaparvan's daughter Sarmishtha in a
mansion especially erected near the artificial woods of Asokas in his gardens.
And the king surrounded Vrishaparvan's daughter Sarmishtha with a thousand
maids and honoured her by making every arrangement for her food and garments.
But it was with Devayani that the royal son of Nahusha sported like a celestial
for many years in joy and bliss. And when her season came, the fair Devayani
conceived. And she brought forth as her first child a fine boy. And when a
thousand years had passed away, Vrishaparvan's daughter Sarmishtha having
attained to puberty saw that her season had come. She became anxious and said
to herself, 'My season hath arrived. But I have not yet chosen a husband. O,
what hath happened, what should I do? How am I to obtain the fruition of my
wishes? Devayani hath become mother. My youth is doomed to pass away in vain.
Shall I choose him also for my husband whom Devayani hath chosen? This is,
indeed, my resolve: that monarch should give me a son. Will not the virtuous
one grant me a private interview?'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'While Sarmishtha
was thus busy with her thoughts, the king wandering listlessly came to that
very wood of Asokas, and beholding Sarmishtha before him, stood there in
silence. Then Sarmishtha of sweet smiles seeing the monarch before her with
nobody to witness what might pass, approached him and said with joined palms,
'O son of Nahusha, no one can behold the ladies that dwell in the inner apartments
of Soma, of Indra, of Vishnu, of Yama, of Varuna, and of thee! Thou knowest, O
king, that I am both handsome and well-born. I solicit thee, O king! My season
hath arrived. See that it goeth not in vain.'
"Yayati answered, 'Well do I know that
honour of birth is thine, born as thou art in the proud race of the Danavas.
Thou art also gifted with beauty. I do not, indeed, see even the speck of a
fault in thy feature. But Usanas commanded me, while I was united with
Devayani, that never should Vrishaparvan's daughter he summoned to my bed.'
"Sarmishtha then said, 'It hath been said, O
king, that it is not sinful to lie on the occasion of a joke, in respect of
women sought to be enjoyed, on occasions of marriage, in peril of immediate
death and of the loss of one's whole fortune. Lying is excusable on these five
occasions. O king, it is not true that he is fallen who speaks not the truth
when asked. Both Devayani and myself have been called hither as companions to
serve the same purpose. When, therefore, thou hadst said that you wouldst
confine thyself to one only amongst as, that was a lie thou hadst spoken.'
Yayati replied, 'A king should ever be a model in the eyes of his people. That
monarch certainly meets with destruction who speaks an untruth. As for myself,
I dare not speak an untruth even if the greatest loss threatens me!' Sarmishtha
answered, 'O monarch, one may look upon her friend's husband as her own. One's
friend's marriage is the same as one's own. Thou hast been chosen by my friend
as her husband. Thou art as much my husband, therefore.' Yayati then said, 'It
is, indeed my vow always to grant what one asketh. As thou askest me, tell me
then what I am to do.' Sarmishtha then said, 'Absolve me, O king, from sin.
Protect my virtue. Becoming a mother by thee, let me practise the highest
virtue in this world. It is said, O king, that a wife, a slave, and a son can
never earn wealth for themselves. What they earn always belongeth to him who
owneth them. I am, indeed, the slave of Devayani. Thou art Devayani's master
and lord. Thou art, therefore, O king, my master and lord as much as
Devayani's! I solicit thee! O, fulfil my wishes!'
"Vaisampayana continued, 'Thus addressed by
Sarmishtha, the monarch was persuaded into the truth of all she spoke. He
therefore, honoured Sarmishtha by protecting her virtue. And they passed some
time together. And taking affectionate farewell of each other, they then
parted, each returning to whence he or she had come.
"And it came to pass that Sarmishtha of
sweet smiles and fair eyebrows conceived in consequence of that connection of
hers with that best of monarchs. And, O king, that lotus-eyed lady then in due
course of time brought forth a son of the splendour of a celestial child and of
eyes like-lotus-petals.'"
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