Yayati and Devayani

Chapter 17, 18, 19

Sukadeva Goswami listed the descendants of Pururava, beginning with the five sons of Ayu, the eldest son of Pururava. The dynasties of four of them, beginning with Ksatravrddha, are described first. In this dynasty comes Dhanvantari, the inaugurator of medical sciences. The final of Ayu’s sons is Nahusa, and it is in this lineage that Yayati appeared. After Nahusa was cursed to become a python, Yayati became the king. Sukadeva Goswami then explained his interesting story.

Once, when Devayani and Sarmistha were bathing, Lord Siva happened to pass by. They quickly dressed themselves, but Sarmistha accidently put Devayani’s clothes on. Devayani, who was from a brahmana family, heavily rebuked Sarmistha, her maidservant, for putting on her clothes. In retaliation, Sarmistha threw Devayani into a well. When King Yayati passed by and saw Devayani stranded, he saved her, and ended up marrying her, though it was unconventional according to tradition for a ksatriya king to marry a brahmana.

After informing her father, Sukracarya, about the events, Devayani insisted that Sarmistha become her maidservant due to her nefarious acts. Vrsaparva, the father of Sarmistha, readily agreed, not wanting to displease his spiritual master (Sukracarya) further. The marriage took place, and Sukracarya left Yayati with one final warning – that he should never unite with Sarmistha.

Unable to resist her, Yayati later impregnated Sarmistha, causing Devayani to become furious. Sukracarya angrily cursed Yayati to become old and invalid, but left him with a boon that would enable him to exchange his old age with a younger person. Yayati’s four older sons refused to do it, but his youngest son, Puru, readily agreed. After a thousand years of enjoyment, Yayati became disgusted and composed the story of a he-goat and she-goat, which accurately depicted his entangled predicament. He awarded Puru with his youth again, renounced his opulence, accepted sannyasa and attained perfection. Devayani followed suit and immersed herself in devotional service.