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.