Devayani and Yayati
Devayani and Yayati
Retold by P. R. Ramachander
Devayani was the daughter of Sage Shukra who was the guru of all Asuras and
Oorjaswathi. She was cursed by Kacha (see Kacha-Devayani) that she would not
marry another Deva. At that time the Asura king was Vrushaparva and Sage Shukra
was also living in his palace. The king had a daughter called Sarmishta.
Sarmishta and Devayani were very close friends. One day they went to the forest
for playing along with several slaves. While they were bathing in the river
Indra happened to see them and wanted to play a prank with them. He transformed
himself to wind and swept away the cloths of Sarmishta and Devayani. Seeing
this, both of them rushed out of the river and tried to get back their cloths.
Sarmishta only got a dress of Devayani and was trying to wear it. Devayani
caught hold of that dress and tried to pull it out. Sarmishta got very angry and
shouted that Devayani’s father was a vagabond and was living at the charity of
her father. She and her slaves snatched the dress from Devayani’s hand and
pushed her in to a well and left for their homes. At that time a king called
Yayati came to the forest for hunting. He felt thirsty and came near the well to
drink some water. There he saw Devayani and rescued her. The king left to his
kingdom but Devayani did not return home.
Shukra and his wife Oorjaswathi got very worried to see that Devayani has not
returned. They send a friend of Devayani called Goornika to search and bring her
back. Goornika easily found out Devayani but Devayani refused to came back to
her father. She said she did not want to live with her father who was living in
the charity of Vrushaparva. Goornika went and told about all this to Shukra and
his wife. Both of them came to the forest to meet and take back, Devayani. Then
Devayani told Shukra and about the happenings n the forest. Shukra became
infuriated and informed Vrushaparva that he and his family are leaving his
kingdom. Vrushaparva realizing fully well that Shukra was the power behind the
Asuras, sought his pardon. Then Devayani told the king that if he sends 100
slaves to serve her including the princess Sarmishta, they would come back.
Some time later Devayani met Yayati in a forest where he had come for hunting.
She told him that ever since He saved her from the well, she has chosen him as
her husband. But realizing that Sage Shukra was the father of Devayani, Yayati
told her that he was willing to marry her but only with the permission of her
father. Devayani send word to her parents, who came to the forest. They
willingly gave in marriage Devayani to Yayati. While Devayani went to Yayati’s
kingdom, Sarmishta also accompanied her as her slave. Sage Shukra called his son
in law and warned him not even to touch Sarmishta.
After some time a son was born to Yayati and Devayani and they named him as Yadu.
It was at this time that Sarmishta met Yayati secretly and requested for a son
by him. He was scared and refused .But using her wits she made the king Yayati
for agreeing for her proposal and son called Druhyu was born to them. Devayani
came to know about the birth of a child to Sarmishta but did not know that
Yayati was the child’s father. Years rolled by Devayani begot another child
called Thurvasu and Sarmishta begot two sons called Anudruhyu and Pooru.
Once when Devayani and the king came to the palace garden, Sarmishta’s three
sons had also come there. Devayani could see striking similarity of the children
of Sarmishta with King Yayati. She called them and asked them, the name of their
father. They told without hesitation that it was king Yayati.
Angered very much, Devayani returned back to sage Shukra’s and told him about
all the happenings. Shukra got infuriated and cursed that Yayati should become
an old man. By this time Yayati reached there and craved for his pardon. Shukra
then told him that Yayati can exchange his old man status for 100 years, if any
one willingly exchanges it for his youth. Yayati came back and called each of
his sons and requested them to exchange their youth with him. Only Pooru agreed.
Yayati then lived for 100 years as king. After him Pooru became the king.