SAMBHAVA PARVA: Chapter 77

History of Yayati

वैशम्पायन उवाच समावृतव्रतं तं तु विसृष्टं गुरुणा तदा। प्रस्थितं त्रिदशावासं देवयान्यब्रवीदिदम्॥ ऋषेरङ्गिरसः पुत्र वृत्तेनाभिजनेन च। भ्राजसे विद्यया चैव तपसा च दमेन च।॥
Vaishampayana said : When the period of his vow expired and when he was prepared to go to the land of the celestials, after having received the permission of his preceptor, Devayani addressed him thus-"O the grandson of Rishi Angirasa, you shine most brightly in conduct, in birth, in learning, in asceticism and in humility.

ऋषिर्यथाङ्गिरा मान्यः पितुर्मम महायशाः। तथा मान्यश्च पूज्यश्च मम भूयो बृहस्पतिः॥
As the Rishi Angirasa is honoured by me illustrious father, so is (your father) Brihaspati honoured and respected by me.

एवं ज्ञात्वा विजानीहि यद् ब्रवीमि तपोधन। व्रतस्थे नियमोपेत यथा वर्ताम्यहं त्वयि॥
O great ascetic, knowing this, hear what I say. You are aware of my behaviour towards you during the period of your vow.

स समावृतविद्यो मां भक्तां भजितुमर्हसि। गृहाण पाणिं विधिवन्मम मन्त्रपुरस्कृतम्॥
"Your vow is now over; you should now fix your affection on me who love you. Accept my hand with ordained rites and Mantras."

कच उवाच पूज्यो मान्यश्च भगवान् यथा तव पिता मम। तथा त्वमनवद्याङ्गि पूजनीयतरा मम॥
Kacha said: You are an object of my respect and worship, as is your illustrious father. O lady of faultless features, you are an object of greater reverence to me (than your father).

प्राणेभ्योऽपि प्रियतरा भार्गवस्य महात्मनः। त्वं भद्रे धर्मतः पूज्या गुरुपुत्री सदा मम॥७)]
You are dearer than life to the high-souled Bhargava. O amiable lady, you are ever worthy of my worship, as you are the daughter of my preceptor.

यथा मम गुरुर्नित्यं मान्य: शुक्रः पिता तव। देवयानि तथैव त्वं नैवं मां वक्तुमर्हसि॥
As your father Shukra, my preceptor, is ever honoured by me, so are you. O Devayani, therefore, you should not speak to me thus.

देवयान्युवाच गुरुपुत्रस्य पुत्रो वै न त्वं पुत्रश्च मे पितुः। तस्मात् पूज्यश्च मान्यश्च ममापि त्वं द्विजोत्तम॥ असुरैर्हन्यमाने च कच त्वयि पुनः पुनः। तदा प्रभृति या प्रीतिस्तां त्वमद्य स्मरस्व मे॥
Devayani said : O best of the twice born, you are the son of my preceptor's son, you are not the son of my father. Therefore, you are an object of my respect and worship. O Kacha, when the Asuras killed you again and again, you should recollect today the love I showed towards you.

सौहार्दे चानुरागे च वेत्थ मे भक्तिमुत्तमाम्। न मामर्हसि धर्मज्ञ त्यक्तुं भक्तामनागसम्॥
O virtuous man, remembering my love and affection for you and also my devoted regard for you, you should not abandon me without any faults.

कच उवाच अनियोज्ये नियोगे मां नियुनसि शुभव्रते। प्रसीद सुभु त्वं मह्यं गुरोर्गुरुतरा शुभे॥ यत्रोषितं विशालाक्षि त्वया चन्द्र निभानने। तत्राहमुषितो भद्रे कुक्षौ काव्यस्य भामिनि॥ भगिनी धर्मतो मे त्वं मैवं वोचः सुमध्यमे। सुखमसम्युषितो भद्रे न मन्युर्विद्यते मम॥
Kacha said: O lady of virtuous vows, do not urge me into such a sinful course. O lady of fair eyebrows, be graceful to me. O amiable lady, you are an object of greater regard than my preceptor. O large-eyed lady, O lady of handsome face, O amiable maiden, the place the body of the son of Kavi, (Shukra) where you live, is also my abode. You are truly my sister. O slender-waisted lady, O_amiable maiden, do not say so. We have most happily passed the days we have lived together. There is perfect good feeling now existing between us.

आपृच्छे त्वां गमिष्यामि शिवमाशंस मे पथि। अविरोधेन धर्मस्य स्मर्तव्योऽस्मि कथान्तरे। अप्रमत्तोत्थिता नित्यमाराधय गुरुं मम॥
I ask your leave to go away. Bless me so that good may come to my journey. Remember me in your conversations as one who has not transgressed virtue. Serve my preceptor with readiness and singleness of heart.

देवयान्युवाच यदि मां धर्मकामार्थे प्रत्याख्यास्यसि याचितः। ततः कच न ते विद्या सिद्धिमेषा गमिष्यति॥
Devayani said: If you refuse to make me your wife, solicited by me as I do, O Kacha, (indeed I say) your knowledge will bear no fruits.

कच उवाच गुरुपुत्रीति कृत्वाहं प्रत्याचक्षे न दोषतः। गुरुणा चाननुज्ञातः काममेवं शपस्व माम्॥
Kacha said: I refused to comply with your request, because you are my preceptor's daughter. (I did not refuse you) for any fault of yours. my preceptor also had not issued any command regarding this matter. Curse me if it pleases you.

आर्ष धर्मं ब्रुवाणोऽहं देवयानि यथा त्वया। शप्तो ना.ऽस्मि शापस्य कामतोऽद्य न धर्मतः॥ तस्माद् भवत्या यः कामो न तथा स भविष्यति। ऋषिपुत्रो न ते कश्चिजातु पाणिं ग्रहीष्यति॥
O Devayani, I have told you what should be the conduct of Rishis. I, therefore, do not deserve your curse. But notwithstanding all this you have cursed me out of desire and not from a sense of duty. Therefore, your desire shall not be fulfilled no Rishi's son will ever accept your hand.

फलिष्यति न ते विद्या यत् त्वं मामात्थ तत् तथा। अध्यापयिष्यामि त यं तस्य विद्या फलिष्यति॥
You have said that my knowledge would not bear fruits. Let it be so. But it shall bear fruits in him whom I shall teach it.

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठो देवयानी कचस्तदा। त्रिदशेशालयं शीघ्रं जगाम द्विजसत्तमः॥
Vaishampayana said : Having said this to Devayani, that best of Brahmanas, that foremost of the twice-born, Kacha hurriedly went away to the land of the celestials.

तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः। बृहस्पति सभाज्येदं कचं वचनमब्रुवन्॥
Seeing him arrived, the celestials with Indra at their head looked with delight towards Brihaspati and spoke to him thus.

देवा ऊचुः यत् त्वयास्मद्धितं कर्म कृतं वै परमाद्भुतम्। न ते यशः प्रणशिता भागभाक् च भविष्यसि॥
The Devas said : You have performed an act of great good for us; your achievements are wonderful, your fame will never die, you will be the sharer with us in the sacrificial offerings.