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Yayati, Devayani and Sharmistha

Once, several maidens were bathing in a lake in the gardens of the Gandharva Chitrarath. A strong wind mixed up the garments the maidens had left on the bank. When the maidens emerged from the water, they found their clothes all jumbled up. In the confusion, Sarmishtha, the daughter of Asura King Vrishaparvan, took Guru Sukracharya’s daughter Devayani’s garments, unaware they weren’t hers. This mix-up led to a heated dispute between Devayani and Sarmishtha. In the process, Sharmishta insulted Devyani, telling her she is a Princess and Devyani is only the daughter of her father’s dependent. Angry and humiliated, Devayani pulled at her clothes, and in response, Sarmishtha threw her into a well and went home, believing Devayani was dead.

Soon after, King Yayati, the son of Nahusha, arrived at the spot while out hunting. Thirsty and tired, he saw the dry well and, looking inside, noticed a maiden of celestial beauty. Addressing her with soothing words, he asked, ‘Who are you and how did you fall into this well?’ Learning that she was a Brahmana’s daughter, King Yayati extended his hand and pulled her out of the well. He returned to his capital, having ensured her safety.
Devayani, distressed and grieving, told her maid to rush and inform her father of everything that has happened. I will not return to Vrishaparvan’s city. Following her instructions, the maid hurried to the mansion of the Asura Guru and conveyed the news to Sukra, who, concerned, immediately set out to find his daughter. Finding her in the woods, he embraced her and enquired about the incident. Devayani replied, ‘Sharmishtha insulted you, claiming you are merely a hired chanter of praises and a receiver of alms, while her father is the giver and the adored’. Sukra responded, ‘You are not the daughter of a hired adorer or one who accepts alms. You are the daughter of one who is adored by all, including Vrishaparvan, Indra, and King Yayati. With these reassuring words, Sukra tried to calm his daughter, who was distressed and angry.

Sukra became enraged. Approaching Vrishaparvan, he barked, ‘O king, because you killed the Brahmana Kacha and mistreated my daughter, I shall leave you and your relatives!’ I can no longer stay with you!

Vrishaparvan replied, ‘O son of Bhrigu, never have I doubted your virtue or truthfulness. Be kind to me! If you leave us, we shall then descend into the ocean depths. Vrishaparvan said, you are the absolute master of all the wealth of the Asura chiefs in this world—their elephants, cattle, and horses, and even myself!’ Sukra replied, ‘If it is true, then gratify Devayani. Vrishaparvan then approached Devayani and told her, ‘O Devayani, whatever you desire, I will give you, no matter how difficult it may be to grant.’ Devayani responded, ‘I desire Sarmishtha with a thousand maids to wait on me! She must also follow me wherever my father may give me away. Commanded by her father, Sarmishtha, accompanied by a thousand maidens, soon approached Devayani and said, ‘With my thousand maids, I am your waiting-maid! I will follow you wherever your father may give you away.’

Devayani, with Sarmishtha and a thousand maids, later visited those woods for leisure. Just then, King Yayati, again came there, tired and thirsty from hunting. The king saw Devayani and Sarmishtha, along with the other maidens. Yayati, seeing this, said ‘Why is this companion of yours, the daughter of the Asura chief, your waiting-maid?’ Devayani replied, ‘everything results from fate and asked the King about himself. The monarch replied, I am known as Yayati, a king’s son and a king myself. Then Devyani requested the King to marry her.

Yayati replied, I do not deserve you. You are the daughter of Sukra, far superior to me. Your father cannot give you even to a great king.’ Devayani responded, ‘My hand has never been touched by any man except you. Therefore, I accept you as my lord. Yayati said, I cannot wed you unless your father bestows you to me.’ Devayani quickly sent a maidservant to her father, who represented everything as it had happened. Sukra came and saw Yayati. Upon seeing him, Yayati worshipped and adored him, standing with joined palms in expectation of his commands. Sukra said, ‘my daughter has accepted you as her lord. I bestow her on you. Therefore, O son of Nahusha, accept her as your wife.’

Yayati said, ‘I ask for the boon that by doing so, the sin of begetting a half-breed might not touch me.’ Sukra assured him, ‘I shall absolve you from the sin. Maintain your wife virtuously and happiness be yours in her company. However, her maiden, Vrishaparvan’s daughter, Sarmishtha, should never be summoned to your bed.’ Yayati then married Devayani, and with Sarmishtha and two thousand maidens, returned to his capital.

Upon returning to his capital, Yayati entered his private chambers and established his bride, Devayani, there. Following Devayani’s guidance, the monarch assigned Vrishaparvan’s daughter, Sharmishtha, a mansion specially constructed near the artificial Ashoka woods in his gardens and ensured she had everything she needed, from food to garments. However, it was Devayani with whom the royal son of Nahusha spent many blissful years, enjoying each other’s company. When her time came, the beautiful Devayani conceived and bore a fine son.

Many years later, Sarmishtha reached puberty and saw that her season had arrived. Anxious, she thought to herself, ‘My season has come, but I haven’t chosen a husband yet. What should I do? How can I fulfil my wishes? Devayani has become a mother, while my youth is slipping away in vain. Should I also choose the man Devayani has chosen? This is my resolve: that monarch should give me a son. While Sarmishtha was deep in thought, the king wandered into the Ashoka woods and saw Sarmishtha standing there alone. Seeing the king, Sarmishtha approached him with joined palms and said, ‘O son of Nahusha, I am both beautiful and well-born. I solicit you; my season has arrived. Do not let it go in vain. Yayati replied, ‘I know well the honour of your birth. You are also beautiful, and I see no flaw in your features. However, Sukra commanded me, at the time of marriage to Devayani, never to summon you to my bed. Sarmishtha responded, ‘It is said, O king, that it is not sinful to lie on five occasions: in jest, in dealing with women, during marriage, when in danger of immediate death, and to save one’s wealth. Yayati said, ‘A king should always be a model of truthfulness for his people. A monarch who speaks untruths surely faces destruction. As for myself, I dare not speak an untruth even under the greatest threat.’ Sharmishtha replied, ‘O king, a friend’s husband can be regarded as one’s own. One’s friend’s marriage is the same as one’s own. My friend chose you as her husband, so you are my husband too.’ Yayati then said, ‘It is my vow to always grant what one asks of me. Tell me what I am to do.’ Sharmishtha replied, protect my virtue and let me become a mother of your child. I am indeed Devayani’s slave. You are her master and lord. Therefore, O king, you are my master and lord, too. I solicit you! Please, fulfil my wishes.’ Persuaded by Sarmishtha’s words, the monarch honoured her by protecting her virtue, and they spent some time together.

In due course, Sharmishtha conceived and gave birth to a son who shone with the splendour of a celestial child and had eyes like lotus petals. When Devayani heard of the birth of Sarmishtha’s child, she became jealous and harboured unpleasant thoughts about her. Approaching her, Devayani said, what sin have you committed by succumbing to lust?’ Sarmishtha replied, ‘A virtuous Rishi, well-versed in the Vedas, came to me. He granted my wishes based on considerations of virtue. I tell you truly, this child is his!’ Devayani answered, ‘If that is the case, it is all right’. Yayati also fathered two sons with Devayani, named Yadu and Turvasu. Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, bore three sons with the royal sage, named Drahyu, Anu, and Puru.

One day, Devayani, accompanied by Yayati, went into a secluded part of the woods in the king’s extensive park. There, she saw three children of celestial beauty playing. Surprised, she asked, ‘Whose children are they resembling like the children of the celestials? In splendour and beauty, they seem like you. Without waiting for the king’s reply, Devayani asked the children themselves, oh children, what is your lineage? Who is your father? Pointing at the king, the children called Sharmishtha their mother. The children then approached the king to clasp his knees, but the king dared not caress them in Devayani’s presence. Overcome with grief, the boys left to find their mother. The king was abashed by their conduct, but Devayani, marking the children’s affection for the king, learned the truth and said to Sharmishtha, ‘How dare you harm me, being dependent on me? Sharmishtha said, ‘everything I told you about the Rishi is true. I acted rightly and in accordance with virtue, and therefore, I do not fear you. When you chose the king for your husband, I too chose him as mine. According to custom, a friend’s husband is one’s own husband’. Devayani, hearing these words, exclaimed to the king, ‘You have wronged me! I shall not stay here any longer.’ With tearful eyes, she quickly rose to go to her father. Alarmed, the king followed her, trying to appease her wrath. But Devayani, eyes red with anger, would not desist. Without speaking a word to the king, she reached her father, Sukra. Yayati also saluted and worshipped Sukra immediately after. Devayani said, ‘O father, vice has vanquished virtue. Sharmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, has wronged me again. The king Yayati has blessed her with three sons, whereas I, unlucky, have only two. This king has deviated from the path of righteousness.’

Sukra, hearing all this, said, ‘O King, since you have pursued vice despite knowing the precepts of religion, invincible decrepitude shall paralyze you!’ Yayati answered, the daughter of the Asura king solicited me to fulfil her season. I did it from a sense of virtue, not for other motives. Those knowledgeable in the Vedas label a man who rejects a woman during her season as an embryo slayer. I acted to avoid sin.’ Sukra replied, ‘You should have awaited my command. Having acted falsely in your duty, you are guilty of the sin of theft.’ Yayati, cursed by the angry Sukra, was then stripped of his youth and immediately overcome by decrepitude. Yayati said, ‘O son of Bhrigu, I have not yet satiated myself with youth or with Devayani.’ Be gracious and spare me from decrepitude,’ Sukra replied, ‘I never speak untruths. You are now attacked by old age. But if you wish, you can transfer this decrepitude to another.’

Yayati said, ‘O Brahmana, let my son who gives me his youth enjoy my kingdom, achieving both virtue and fame.’ Sukra replied, ‘O son of Nahusha, think of me and transfer your decrepitude to whomever you choose. The son who gives you his youth shall become your successor, enjoy a long life, wide fame, and many progenies.

From the story of Yayati, Devayani, and Sharmishtha, we can draw several important life lessons:

Respect and Kindness: The initial conflict between Devayani and Sharmishtha began with a simple mistake and escalated because of harsh words and insults. This teaches the importance of treating others with respect and kindness, even in difficult situations.

Humility is essential: Sharmishtha’s humility and willingness to serve Devayani ultimately led to her own happiness and fulfilment.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Despite the initial conflict, Devayani eventually accepts Sharmishtha’s service. This highlights the power of forgiveness and the importance of moving past conflicts to build harmonious relationships.

Honouring Commitments: Yayati’s adherence to Sukra’s command to not summon Sharmishtha to his bed, despite being tempted, demonstrates the importance of honouring one’s commitments and promises.

Consequences of Actions: Yayati’s eventual yielding to Sharmishtha and the subsequent curse from Sukra illustrate that actions have consequences, and one must be prepared to face them.

Value of Truthfulness: Yayati’s reluctance to lie and his desire to remain truthful, even under pressure, emphasize the significance of integrity and honesty in one’s actions and decisions.

Duty and Responsibility: Sukra’s expectation that Yayati should have awaited his command before acting shows the importance of duty and responsibility in maintaining order and respect within relationships and society.

Role of Fate and Free Will: The characters’ belief in fate and their actions based on personal choices reflect the interplay between destiny and free will. While fate plays a role in their lives, their choices significantly shape their outcomes.

Parental Guidance and influence: Sukra’s protective nature towards Devayani and his influence over her decisions underline the importance of parental guidance and the impact it has on a child’s life.

Balancing Desires and Virtue: Yayati’s desire to fulfil his duties to both Devayani and Sharmishtha while maintaining virtue shows the challenge of balancing personal desires with moral and ethical obligations.

Dealing with Jealousy and Envy: Devayani’s jealousy upon learning about Sharmishtha’s children highlights the destructive nature of envy and the need to address such feelings constructively.

Understanding and Compassion: Yayati’s attempt to comfort and understand Devayani after discovering her in the well shows the importance of empathy and compassion in relationships.

By reflecting on these lessons, we can gain insights into how to navigate complex relationships, make ethical decisions, and lead a life guided by principles of respect, honesty, and responsibility.

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Story of Kacha and Devayani

In ancient times, the celestials and the Asuras frequently fought for the sovereignty of the three worlds. Gods, desiring victory, installed Brihaspati, the son of Angiras, as their priest to conduct their sacrifices, while their opponents, the Asuras, installed the learned Sukracharya as their priest. The rivalry between these two Brahmanas was intense. Sukracharya, through his knowledge, revived the Danavas slain by the gods. These revived Danavas would then rejoin the battle against the gods. The Asuras also killed many celestials on the battlefield. Brihaspati, however, could not revive the slain gods because he did not know the Sanjivani (re-vivification) science that Sukra knew so well. Consequently, the gods were in great sorrow.

In their anxiety, the gods approached Kacha, the eldest son of Brihaspati, and requested him to gain Sukra’s knowledge. They advised Kacha to seek Sukra in the court of Vrishaparvan and to earn the favour of Sukra and his daughter Devayani. Kacha agreed and soon went to the capital of the chief of the Asuras, where he sought Sukra and requested to be accepted as his disciple.

Sukra welcomed Kacha and treated him with regard, recognizing that by doing so, he would respect Brihaspati as well. Kacha took a vow to practice the Brahmacharya mode of life for a thousand years and served both his preceptor Sukra and his daughter Devayani with dedication. Through his singing, dancing, and playing of instruments, Kacha soon won Devayani’s heart. Five hundred years into his vow, the Danavas, realizing Kacha’s intentions, became angry and decided to kill him. They slew Kacha, hacked his body into pieces, and fed his remains to jackals and wolves. When the kine returned without Kacha, Devayani expressed her sorrow to her father, Sukra.

Sukra, using his knowledge, summoned Kacha back to life. Kacha reappeared and explained how the Asuras had killed him. Despite being killed multiple times, Sukra revived Kacha each time. The Asuras eventually decided to burn Kacha’s remains and mix his ashes with Sukra’s wine. When Devayani once again expressed her grief, Sukra summoned Kacha, who was now inside Sukra’s stomach. Kacha, fearing the consequences for his preceptor, requested Sukra to be graceful and treat him like his own son.

Sukra, realizing that Kacha’s revival would require his own death, imparted the knowledge of Sanjivani to Kacha before asking him to rip open his stomach to emerge alive. Kacha did so and then used the gained knowledge to revive Sukra. Grateful for his preceptor’s teachings, Kacha revered Sukra as both a father and a mother.

Sukra, recognizing the consequences of drinking wine and having consumed Kacha’s ashes in a state of unconsciousness, declared that any Brahmana who drank wine would be considered as having committed the sin of slaying a Brahmana and would be despised in both this and the other worlds. He set this rule to preserve the dignity of Brahmanas.

After the period of his vow had expired, Kacha, having got his preceptor’s leave, was about to return to the abode of the celestials. Devayani, addressing him, said, ‘O grandson of the Rishi Angiras, in conduct and birth, in learning, asceticism, and humility, you shine most brightly. As my father honoured and regarded the celebrated Rishi Angiras, so is your father regarded and worshipped by me. Recollect my conduct towards you during the period of your vow. Your vow is now over. It behoves you to fix your affections on me and accept my hand in wedding.

Kacha replied, ‘You are,  an object of regard and worship to me even as your father. You are dearer than life to the high-souled Sukracharya. As the daughter of my preceptor, you are ever worthy of my worship! As my preceptor Sukra, your father, is ever deserving of my regards, so are you. O Devayani! therefore, it does not befit you to say so.’ Hearing this, Devayani replied, ‘You, too, are the son of my father’s preceptor’s son. Therefore, you deserve of my regards and worship. O Kacha, when you were slain so many times by the Asuras, recollect today the affection I showed for you. Remembering my friendship and affection for you, and indeed my devotion, it does not behove you to abandon me with no fault. I am truly devoted to you.’

Hearing all this, Kacha said, do not urge me into such a sinful course and be gracious to me. Beautiful one, you are to me an object of greater regard than my preceptor. The place where you had resided, viz., the body of Kavya, has also been my abode. You are truly my sister. Amiable one, happily have we passed the days that we have been together. There is a perfect and good understanding between us. I ask your leave to return to my abode. Therefore, bless me so that my journey may be safe. You must remember me, when you recall me in connection with topics of conversation, as one who has not transgressed virtue. Always attend to my preceptor with readiness and singleness of heart.’

To all this, Devayani answered, ‘If, solicited by me, you indeed refuse to make me your wife. Therefore, O’ Kacha, this your knowledge shall not bear fruit.’ Hearing this, Kacha said, ‘I have refused your request only because you are the daughter of my preceptor, and not because you have any fault. Nor has my preceptor in this respect issued any command. Curse me if it pleases you. I have told you what the behaviour should be of a Rishi. I do not deserve your curse, O Devayani. But yet you have cursed me! You have acted under the influence of passion and not from a sense of duty. Therefore, your desire will not be fulfilled. No Rishi’s son shall ever accept your hand in marriage. You have said that my knowledge shall not bear fruit. Let it be so. But in respect of him, it shall bear fruit to whom I may impart it.’

Kacha, having said so to Devayani, speedily went his way to the abode of the chief of the celestials. Seeing him arrived, the celestials with Indra ahead, having first worshipped him, spoke unto him as follows, ‘You have indeed performed an act of great benefit for us. Wonderful has been your achievement! Your fame shall never die! You shall be a sharer with us in sacrificial offerings.

This story of Kacha and Devayani offers several important life lessons:

The pursuit of knowledge: Kacha’s dedication to learning, even in the face of mortal danger, demonstrates the value of education and the lengths one might go to acquire important knowledge.

Loyalty and duty: Kacha remains loyal to his mission and his duty to the celestials, despite developing a close relationship with Devayani and Sukra.

The importance of ethical boundaries: Kacha refuses Devayani’s advances because she is his teacher’s daughter, showing respect for ethical boundaries in relationships.

The danger of anger and impulsiveness: Devayani’s curse, born out of anger and rejection, backfires on her, teaching the importance of controlling one’s emotions.

The power of forgiveness and revival: Sukra’s ability to revive Kacha multiple times shows the power of forgiveness and giving second chances.

The consequences of addiction: Sukra’s experience leads him to forbid wine consumption among Brahmanas, highlighting the negative consequences of addiction.

Respect for teachers: The story emphasizes the importance of respecting and honouring one’s teachers and their families.

The value of perseverance: Despite being killed multiple times, Kacha persists in his mission, demonstrating the importance of perseverance in achieving one’s goals.

The importance of clear communication: The misunderstanding between Kacha and Devayani shows the need for clear communication in relationships.

The power of knowledge: The entire conflict revolves around the power of the knowledge to revive the dead, showing how valuable and transformative knowledge can be.

The complexity of relationships: The story illustrates how relationships can be complicated by duty, gratitude, and differing expectations.

The importance of maintaining integrity: Kacha maintains his integrity by refusing to betray his principles, even when faced with a curse.

In essence, the story teaches about the virtues of respect, sacrifice, ethical behaviour, perseverance, duty, integrity, and the lasting impact of true knowledge and dedication.

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