Chapter 6 Devayani’s Vivah
ONE beautiful afternoon, after playing sports in the woods, In order to bathe in the calm waters of a sylvan pool, Devayani and the daughters of Vrishaparva, the king of the asuras, left their garlands on the bank before they dove in.
Their clothing were clumped together by a strong breeze, and when they went to pick them up again, mistakes inevitably happened. The king’s daughter, princess Sarmishtha, just so happened to dress up as Devayani. The latter was incensed and said, somewhat in joke, about how it was improper for the daughter of a disciple to be dressed like the master’s daughter.
Despite the fact that she stated these things half-jokingly, the princess Sarmishtha grew irate and bragged: “Do you not realise that every day, your father respectfully bows to my royal father? Are you not a beggar’s daughter who relies on my father’s generosity? You disregard the fact that I belong to the noble race that gives with pride, whereas you do, and you dare to address me in such a manner ”
As Sarmishtha spoke, she grew more and angrier, until eventually, in a fit of rage, she smacked Devayani on the cheek and shoved her into a dry well. The asura maidens went back to the palace believing Devayani had perished.
Devayani was in a terrible situation since she was unable to clamber up the steep walls of the well, but she had not been killed by the fall into it. By good accident, Bharata race emperor Yayati arrived here in quest of water to quench his thirst while out hunting in the jungle. A lovely young woman was astonished to be found sleeping in the well when he peered into the well and noticed something brilliant there.
He queried: “Who are you, lovely maiden with red nails and brilliant earrings? Identify your father. What ancestry do you have? How exactly did you go into the well?” She answered: “I am Sukracharya’s daughter. He is unaware that I have been stuck in the well. Raise me up “She then extended her hands. Yayati took hold of her hand and dragged her away from the well.
Devayani didn’t want to go back to the asura king’s kingdom. She kept thinking about Sarmishtha’s behaviour and decided it wasn’t safe to go there. She said to Yayati: “You must wed the woman you have held by her right hand. You seem to me to be completely deserving of being my spouse.”
Yayati answered: “Dear soul, you are a brahmana maiden and I am a kshatriya. How can we get married? How can Sukracharya’s daughter, who is deserving of being the world’s preceptor, agree to marry a kshatriya like me? Respected woman, go home.” After saying these things, Yayati returned to his capital.
According to old custom, a brahmana female might marry a kshatriya, but it was wrong for a kshatriya maiden to do so. The preservation of women’s race-status equality was crucial. As a result, pratiloma, or the practise of marrying men from lower castes, was outlawed by the sastras while anuloma, or the practise of marrying men from higher castes, was legal.
Devayani didn’t want to go back home. She remained under the shade of a tree in the forest, buried in sadness. Sukracharya cherished Devayani beyond everything else.
He dispatched a lady in search of his daughter after waiting for a long time in vain for her return from playing with her friends.
After a long search, the messenger finally found her sitting dejectedly next to the tree, her eyes red with rage and sorrow. She then enquired as to what had occurred.
Devayani sent her back to Sukracharya after saying, “Friend, go right now and tell my father that I will not set foot in the capital of Vrishaparva.”
Sukracharya raced to her after being very distraught at his daughter’s tragic situation.
He stroked her and said: “Men choose their own happiness and misery via their own deeds, whether good or evil. We are in no way impacted by the virtues or vices of others.” He made an effort to comfort her by offering these wise remarks.
She responded with regret and rage: “Father, don’t worry about my virtues or flaws; they are ultimately of my own doing. But tell me, was Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparva, correct when she dubbed me the daughter of a mendicant who lived on handouts obtained via flattery and called you nothing more than a minstrel singing monarchs’ glories? She smacked me and hurled me into a neighbouring hole after becoming annoyed by my conceited behaviour. I am not allowed to stay anywhere in her father’s domain.” Devayani then started to cry.
Sukracharya proudly raised himself up: “Devayani, you are not the offspring of a court minstrel, he replied with pride. Your father does not subsist on compliments. You are descended from a revered person throughout the globe. This is something that Indra, the ruler of the gods, is aware of, and Vrishaparva is aware of his owe to me. But no honourable man boasts about his own accomplishments, so I won’t go on about myself. Rise up; your family will succeed thanks to your unrivalled brilliance as a woman. Be tolerant. Let’s return home.”
In this context, Bhagavan Vyasa gives the following advice to mankind as a whole in the words of Sukracharya to his daughter: “Whoever patiently tolerates his neighbours’ abuse conquers the world. He who controls his rage and breaks a rebellious horse in this manner is a true charioteer, as opposed to someone who simply holds the reins and lets the horse go as it pleases. A true hero is someone who controls their rage as a snake controls its slough. The person who achieves his goal will not be affected by the worst suffering perpetrated by others. The ritualist who faithfully makes the sacrifices required by scripture for a hundred years is inferior to the person who never gets furious. Friends, brothers, wives, kids, servants, integrity, and the truth desert a man who gives in to wrath. The intelligent will not pay attention to what lads and girls say.”
Devayani humbled her father by saying: “I am a little girl, but perhaps not too young to learn from the tremendous truth you have taught me. However, it is improper to coexist with those who lack common decency or decorum. The sensible will avoid hanging around with those who disparage their family. The rude are truly the chandalas outside the caste system, regardless of how wealthy they may be. They shouldn’t associate with the righteous. My thoughts is fire with the rage that Vrishaparva’s daughter’s insults have sparked. The wounds caused by weapons may mend over time, scalds may gradually heal, but the wounds caused by words continue to hurt for as long as a person is alive.”
Sukracharya visited Vrishaparva and, after sternly addressing him, said: “O king, even if one’s crimes might not immediately result in retribution, they are certain to eventually kill the very seed of wealth. Brihaspati’s son Kacha was a brahmacharin who had mastered his senses and had never sinned. He was faithful in his service to me and never wavered from the righteous course. Your staff made an attempt to murder him. It boring me. My daughter, whose sense of honour is strong, had to hear your daughter speak indecently. Plus, your daughter shoved her down a well. She is no longer permitted to remain in your realm. I am unable to live here without her. I am leaving your realm as a result.”
The asura king was deeply upset by these statements and he said: “I am not aware of the accusations brought to my door. If you leave me, I’ll perish in the flames.”
Replying, Sukracharya “Since she is the only thing I have and is more important to me than life itself, I am more concerned about my daughter’s happiness than the fate of you and your asuras. If you can make her happy, that’s great.
I leave if not.”
Vrishaparva and his entourage proceeded to the tree where Devayani was standing and prostrated themselves at her feet.
When Sarmishtha informed Devayani that she was a beggar’s daughter, Devayani responded angrily, “Sarmishtha shall become my handmaiden and attend to me in the house into which my father delivers me in marriage.”
In agreement, Vrishaparva instructed his aides to bring his daughter Sarmishtha.
Sarmishtha apologetically acknowledged her error and bowed. She uttered: “Please let it go whatever my buddy Devayani wants. For a mistake I made, my father shall not lose his preceptor. I’ll be her companion.” After being calmed down, Devayani and her father went back to their home.
Devayani also ran across Yayati on another time. She urged him to accept her as his wife once more because he had already grabbed her right hand. Yayati objected once more, saying that as a kshatriya, he was unable to legally wed a brahmana.
Finally, they both visited Sukracharya and obtained his approval for their nuptials.
This is an example of a pratiloma marriage, which was used only under special circumstances. Undoubtedly, the sastras outline what is good and ban what is evil, but once a marriage has been consummated, it cannot be annulled.
Yayati and Devayani were joyful for several days. As her attendant, Sarmishtha remained at her side. One day, Sarmishtha secretly saw Yayati and begged her fervently to become his wife as well. Without telling Devayani, he granted her request and wed her.
But when Devayani learned about it, she was understandably furious. She protested to her father, and in his fury, Sukracharya cursed Yayati with an early death.
Sukracharya, who had not forgotten Devayani’s rescue from the well, finally gave in to Yayati’s pleading for forgiveness after he was unexpectedly struck by old age at the height of his masculinity.
He stated: “O king, you no longer possess the splendour of youth. The curse is irrevocable, but if you can convince someone to trade his youth for your age, the trade will go through.” He then said Yayati farewell after blessing him.
Keep Mahabharat Book at Home and Read Daily – DO NOT FALL TO FAKE PROPAGANDA and Allow Enemies to Weaken our Dharma and Bharat
This historical epic Mahabharat is known as fifth Veda. It is a common misconception spread by mlecchas; muslims and christian missionaries, and secular Hindus that reading Mahabharat or keeping it at home will likely lead to arguments and fighting. All of this misinformation was spread by illiterate mlecchas and anti-Hindus, and it is completely incorrect. It is done to mentally weaken Hindus so that they avoid reading Mahabharat. Because Mahabharat invokes bravery, pride and sense of confidence in Hindus.
Keep a copy of Mahabharat at home and read it online at the HariBhakt website. Mahabharat is rightly called the fifth Veda for Kaliyuga people because it is a tool and guidance to invoke confidence and bravery in Sanatan Dharmi Hindus.
You can read complete Mahabharat by following Chapter links given below. You can check Glossary of Mahabharat here.
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