Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/288

254 "Sharmishta said, 'O thou of sweet smiles, all that I told thee of a Rishi is perfectly true. I have acted rightly and according to the precepts of virtue. Therefore I do not fear thee. When thou hadst chosen the king for thy husband I too chose him for mine. O thou beautiful one, a friend's husband is, according to usage, one's own husband also. Thou art the daughter of a Brahmana and, therefore, deservest my worship and regard. But dost thou not know that this royal sage is held by me in greater esteem still?

Vaisampayana said, " then, hearing those words of hers, exclaimed, O king, thus:—'Thou hast wronged me, O monarch! I shall not live here any longer.' And saying this she quickly rose, with tearful eyes, to go to her father. And the king was grieved to see her thus. And alarmed greatly, he followed her footsteps endeavouring to appease her wrath. But with eyes red in anger would not desist. Speaking not a word to the king, with eyes bathed in tears, she soon reached the side of her father Usana the son of Kavi. And beholding her father, she stood before him after due salutation. And Yayati also, immediately after, saluted and worshipped Bhargava.

"And said, 'O father, virtue hath been vanquished by vice. The low have risen, the high have fallen. I have been transgressed by Sharmishta the daughter of Vrishaparva. Three sons have been begotten in her by this king Yayati. But, O father, luckless as I am, I have got only two sons! O son of Bhriga, this king is renowned for his knowledge of the precepts of religion. But, O Kavya, I tell thee that he hath deviated from the path of rectitude.'

"Sukra, hearing all this, said, 'O monarch, since thou hast made vice thy loved pursuit though fully acquainted with the precepts of religion, therefore shall invincible decrepitude paralyse thee.' Yayati answered, 'Adorable one, I was solicited by the daughter of the Danava king to fructify her season. I did it from a sense of virtue and not from other motives. That male person, who being solicited by a woman in season doth not grant her wishes, is called, O Brahmana, by those cognisant of the Veda as a slayer of the embryo. He who, soli-