The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section LXXXI
Section LXXXI.
( Sambhava Parva continued. )
Vaisampayana said, "After some length of time, O best of monarchs, Deva-yani of the fairest complexion went into the same woods for purposes of pleasure. And accompanied by Sharmishta with her thousand maids she reached the same spot and began to wander in freedom. And waited upon by all those companions she felt herself supremely happy. And sporting with light hearts, they began drinking the honey of flowers, eating various kinds of fruits and biting some. And just at this time, king Yayati the son of Nahusha, again came there in course of his wanderings, tired and thirsty, in search of deer. And the king saw Deva-yani and Sharmishta, and those other maidens also, all decked with celestial ornaments and full of voluptuous langour in consequence of the flowery honey they drank. And Deva-yani of sweet smiles, unrivalled in beauty and possessing the fairest complexion amongst them all, was reclining at her ease. And she was waited upon by Sharmishta gently pressing her feet.
"And Yayati seeing all this, said, 'O amiable ones, I would ask ye both your names and parentage. It seems that these two thousand maids wait on ye two.' Hearing the monarch, Deva-yani then answered, 'Listen to me, O best of men. Know thou that I am the daughter of Sukra the spiritual guide of the Asuras. This my companion is my waiting-woman. She attendeth on me wherever I go. She is Sharmishta the daughter of the Asura king Vrishaparva.'
"Yayati then asked, 'I am curious to know why is this thy companion of fair eye-brows—this maiden of the fairest complexion—the daughter of the Asura chief—thy waiting-woman? Deva-yani replied, 'O best of kings, everything resulteth from the fates. Knowing this also to be the result of fate, cease to wonder at it. Thy features and attire are both like a king's. Thy speech also is fair and correct as that of the Veda. Tell me thy name, whence thou art, and whose son also!'
"The monarch replied, 'During my vow of Brahmacharya, the whole Vedas entered my ears. I am known as Yayati, a king's son and a king myself.' Deva-yani then enquired, 'O king, what for hast thou come here? Is it to gather lotuses, or to angle or to hunt?' Yayati said, 'O amiable one, thirsty in the pursuit of deer have I come hither in search of water. I am very much fatigued. I wait but your commands to leave this spot.'
"Deva-yani answered, 'With my two thousand damsels and my waiting-woman Sharmishta, I wait but your commands. Prosperity to thee! Be thou my friend and lord!'
"Yayati hearing this replied, 'Beautiful one, I do not deserve thee. Thou art the daughter of Sukra, far my superior. Thy father cannot bestow thee even on great kings. To this Deva-yani: 'Brahmanas have before this been mixed with the Khatrias, and Khatrias with Brahmanas. Thou art the son of a Rishi and a Rishi thyself. Therefore, O son of Nahusha, marry thou me!' Yayati, however, replied, 'O thou of the handsomest features, the four orders have, indeed, sprung from one body. But their duties and purity are not the same. The Brahmana is truly superior to all? Deva-yani answered, 'This hand of mine hath never been touched before by any man save thee! Therefore do I accept thee for my lord. How, indeed, shall any other man touch my hand which hath before been touched by thyself who art a Rishi?' Yayati then said, 'The wise know that a Brahmana is more to be avoided than an angry snake of virulent poison or a blazing fire of spreading flames.' Deva-yani then told the monarch, 'O thou bull amongst men, why dost thou, indeed, say that a Brahmana should be more avoided than an angry snake of virulent poison or a blazing fire of spreading flames?' The monarch answered, 'The snake but killeth only one. The sharpest weapon slayeth but a single person. The Brahmana, if angry, destroyeth whole cities and kingdoms. Therefore, O timid one, do I deem a Brahmana as more to be avoided than either. I cannot hence wed thee, O amiable one, unless thy father bestoweth thee on me!' Deva-yani then said, 'Thou art, indeed, chosen by me. And, O king, it is understood then that thou wilt accept me if my father bestoweth me on thee. Thou need'st not fear to accept my poor self if bestowed on thee. Thou dost not, indeed, ask for me.'"
Vaisampayana continued, " After this, Deva-yani quickly sent a maid-servant to her father. The maid represented to Sukra everything as it had happened. And as soon as he had heard all, Bhargava came and saw Yayati. And beholding Bhargaya come, Yayati, that lord of the earth, bowing down worshipped and adored that Brahmana, and stood with joined hands in expectation of his commands.
"And Deva-yani then said, 'This, O father, is the son of Nahusha. He took hold of my hand when I was in distress, I bow to thee. Bestow me unto him. I shall not wed any other person in the world!' Sukra exclaimed, 'O thou of splendid courage, thou hast, indeed, been accepted as her husband by this my dear daughter! I bestow her on thee. Therefore, O son of Nahusha, accept her as thy wife!'
"Yayati then said, 'I beseech the boon, O Brahmana, that by so doing, the sin of begetting a mixed caste might not touch me!' Sukra, however, assured him by saying, 'I shall absolve thee from sin. Ask thou the boon that thou desirest! Fear not to wed her. I grant thee absolution! Maintain virtuously thy wife—the slender-waisted Deva-yani! Transports of happiness be thine in her company. This other maiden, Vrishaparva's daughter Sharmishta, should ever be regarded by thee. But thou shalt not summon her to thy bed!'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Sukra, Yayati then walked round the Brahmana. And the king then went through the auspicious ceremony of marriage according to the rites of the Shastras. And having received from Sukra a rich treasure in the excellent Deva-yani with Sharmishta and those two thousand maidens, and duly honored also by Sukra himself and the Asuras, the best of monarchs then, commanded by the high-souled Bhargava, returned to his capital with a joyous heart."
And so ends the eighty-first Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.