novelraw Arc 5 - Sambhava - Chapter 9 - Devayānī weds King Yayāti
Arc 5 - Sambhava - Chapter 9 - Devayānī weds King Yayāti
Vaiśampāyana said:
After some time had passed, O king, Devayānī, daughter of Śukra, returned to the forest for leisure and enjoyment. Accompanied by Śarmiṣṭhā and a thousand maidens, she came again to that same woodland grove.
Together, they wandered freely, laughing and playing. They drank the honey from blossoms, tasted wild fruits, and delighted in the peace of the forest. Surrounded by her companions and waited on with care, Devayānī was supremely content.
Just then, King Yayāti, son of Nahuṣa, came once more to that spot. He had been hunting and was wearied and thirsty. As he approached, he saw the gathering of young women, all adorned with ornaments and visibly relaxed, their movements slow and languid from the sweetness of the flower-honey they had enjoyed.
Among them, Devayānī stood out—serene and radiant. She reclined at ease beneath the trees, her beauty unmistakable. At her feet knelt Śarmiṣṭhā, who gently massaged them in silent attendance.
Yayāti paused, astonished by what he saw, then stepped forward and addressed them:
“O graceful ones, who are you?
What are your names and lineages?
These many maidens seem to serve only you.”
Devayānī looked up and answered the king with composure:
“Know, O ruler of men, that I am Devayānī,
Daughter of Śukra, the spiritual guide of the Asuras.
This is Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of King Vṛṣaparvan.
She follows me as my waiting-woman,
Wherever I go.”
Yayāti, observing the noble appearance and bearing of Śarmiṣṭhā, turned to Devayānī with curiosity:
“Tell me, O fair one, why is this maiden—
She of noble features and the fairest complexion—
The daughter of an Asura king—
Serving as thy waiting-maid?”
Devayānī replied with calm wisdom:
“O best of kings, all things arise from Fate.
This too is the result of Fate—
Therefore, wonder not at it.
But you, noble stranger—your speech is measured,
Your dress and form reflect royalty.
Tell me—who are you, and whose son?”
The king answered simply:
“While I lived as a Brahmachārin,
The entire Veda entered my ears.
I am Yayāti—born of a royal house,
A king’s son, and a king myself.”
Devayānī then asked with interest:
“What brings you here, O king?
Have you come to gather lotuses, or to fish, or hunt?”
Yayāti replied:
“I came in pursuit of deer.
Now, I am tired and thirsty, and sought water in this grove.
But if you permit, I shall take my leave at once.”
But Devayānī, stepping forward, spoke with quiet resolve:
“With my two thousand maidens and my servant Śarmiṣṭhā,
I wait only for your word.
O king—prosperity to you.
Be thou my friend—and my lord.”
Vaiśampāyana said:
King Yayāti, gazing with wonder upon Śarmiṣṭhā—noble in bearing, yet kneeling in service—turned to Devayānī and asked:
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“Tell me, O graceful one,
Why is this maiden of fair brows,
The daughter of the mighty Asura king,
Thy waiting-maid?
She seems born to rule, not serve.”
Devayānī smiled gently, her eyes calm with inner knowledge, and replied:
“O king, all things come from Fate.
This too is the hand of Destiny.
Wonder not at what the gods have woven.
Thy bearing speaks of royalty—
Thy speech flows like the Veda's stream.
Tell me, noble one—who art thou?
Whence dost thou come, and whose son art thou?”
Yayāti bowed slightly and answered:
“While I lived in restraint and study,
The Vedas entered my soul like fire.
I am Yayāti, born of King Nahuṣa—
A prince by birth, a king by dharma.”
Devayānī, her curiosity deepened, asked:
“What brings thee to this shaded grove?
To gather lotuses? To fish, or to hunt?”
And the king replied:
“Deer led me here through tangled paths.
I am weary, and thirst has parched my throat.
I sought only water—but now I await thy leave to go.”
But Devayānī, daughter of Śukra, stood tall among the maidens, her voice both bold and serene:
“With my two thousand companions
And Śarmiṣṭhā who serves at my feet,
I wait not for command but for destiny.
O king, be thou my friend and lord.
Let our paths be bound by fate.
Prosperity to thee—
Take me as thine.”
Vaiśampāyana said:
Hearing Devayānī’s bold and tender invitation, King Yayāti hesitated. Though drawn to her beauty and dignity, he was mindful of dharma and social order. He spoke gently, with reverence:
“O beautiful one,
I do not deserve thee.
Thou art the daughter of Śukra,
Foremost among the wise.
I am but a Kṣatriya king—
Thy father could not rightly give thee even to one greater than I.”
But Devayānī was unwavering. Her gaze did not falter as she replied:
“In ages past, Brāhmaṇas have wed Kṣatriyas,
And Kṣatriyas have married Brāhmaṇas.
Thou art the son of a Ṛṣi—and a Ṛṣi thyself.
O son of Nahuṣa—take my hand.”
Still, Yayāti answered with thoughtful restraint:
“O fairest of women, the four varṇas—
Though born from one source—
Differ in purity and path.
The Brāhmaṇa is above all in sanctity and dharma.”
But Devayānī, firm in her decision, said with quiet intensity:
“This hand of mine has never before
Been touched by any man but thee.
Therefore, I accept thee as my lord.
None other shall take this hand
That has once been held by thee—
A Ṛṣi, born of sacred lineage.”
Yayāti, still cautious, replied with a parable drawn from fear and reverence:
“The wise say a Brāhmaṇa,
When enraged,
Is more dangerous than a venomous snake,
Or a blazing fire.
A serpent may kill one—
A sword may slay a single man—
But an angry Brāhmaṇa
Can destroy whole kingdoms.”
Devayānī, startled by his comparison, asked:
“Why speak thus, O lord of men?
Why should a Brāhmaṇa be likened
To a deadly snake or burning flame?”
Yayāti answered:
“Because the wrath of a Brāhmaṇa,
Fed by tapas and truth,
Burns more fiercely than fire,
And spreads beyond the reach of reason.
I cannot wed thee without thy father’s consent.”
Then Devayānī, her voice both pleading and proud, said:
“O king, thou art the one I have chosen.
I understand thy reluctance—
You do not ask for me.
But if my father gives me to thee,
Then accept me without fear.
I am already thine in heart.”
Vaiśampāyana said:
After her final words to Yayāti, Devayānī wasted no time. She called for a maidservant and sent her swiftly to her father with news of all that had occurred.
The maid reached Śukra’s dwelling and faithfully relayed every detail—the king’s presence, the proposal, the vow.
On hearing this, Bhārgava—Śukra—immediately set out. Upon arriving at the grove, he saw Yayāti waiting with humility and respect.
The son of Nahuṣa, seeing the great sage approach, bowed low and worshipped him with reverence. With palms joined, he stood silently, awaiting the Brāhmaṇa’s word.
Then Devayānī, stepping beside Yayāti, spoke clearly to her father:
“O father, this is the son of Nahuṣa,
The noble king Yayāti.
When I was in distress, it was he
Who took hold of my hand.
I have chosen him, and to none else will I belong.
I bow to thee. Bestow me upon him,
For I shall marry no other in this world.”
Śukra looked upon her and then at the king, and said with gravity and grace:
“O Yayāti, son of a noble line,
Thou hast been chosen by this dear daughter of mine.
And by touching her hand in her hour of need,
Thou hast already accepted her in spirit.
Therefore, I give her to thee.
Take her as thy wife—
In dharma, in truth, in honor.”
Vaiśampāyana said:
Hearing Śukra’s formal consent, Yayāti bowed again with respect, but hesitated before speaking further. His voice was humble, yet firm with concern:
“O Brāhmaṇa, I ask one boon—
That in marrying thy daughter,
I may not incur the sin
Of producing offspring that breach the bounds of caste.
Let no taint of sankara fall upon me.”
Śukra, understanding his unease, responded with calm assurance:
“Be free of fear, O son of Nahuṣa.
I shall absolve thee of that sin.
Take Devayānī as thy rightful wife,
And maintain her in virtue,
As the śāstras prescribe.
May joy and sweet union be thine
In the company of my slender-waisted daughter.
But hear this as well—
Sarmishṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan,
Though present in thy house,
Shall never share thy bed.
She is to be honored,
But not desired.
This is my command—hold it sacred.”
Vaiśampāyana said:
Thus instructed by Śukra, King Yayāti respectfully circled the great Brāhmaṇa, performing the ritual pradakṣiṇā as prescribed.
With reverence in every step,
He honored the sage who had given him both daughter and dharma.
Then, under Śukra’s guidance, Yayāti performed the auspicious marriage rites. The sacred mantras were chanted, offerings made, and vows exchanged according to the law of the scriptures.
The fire bore witness, the gods were invoked,
And Devayānī became his queen in truth and dharma.
Having thus received from Śukra a priceless gift—
Devayānī, radiant and wise—
Along with Śarmiṣṭhā and two thousand maidens as attendants,
Yayāti was honored greatly by the sage and the Asuras.
Blessed and charged with responsibility,
The best of kings set forth on his return.
His heart was light with joy,
His thoughts adorned with hope,
As he journeyed back to his capital—
Bearing with him both beauty and fate.
Vaiśampāyana said:
After returning to his capital—a city as splendid as Indra’s own—King Yayāti entered the royal palace and established his bride, Devayānī, in the inner chambers with great honor.
By Devayānī’s direction, he also arranged a separate dwelling for Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan. Her mansion was built near the artificial grove of Aśoka trees in the royal gardens—peaceful and secluded. There, the king appointed a thousand maidens to serve her, and made sure that all her needs—food, clothing, comfort—were met with royal care.
Yet it was with Devayānī alone
That Yayāti spent his days in delight—
Like a god in heaven,
Immersed in love and joy.
Years passed in happiness.
When the time was right, Devayānī conceived,
And gave birth to a fine son—
Her first child, born in joy and auspiciousness.
But time, ever turning, brought change.