Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/213

Rh "And Devayani then said, "This O father, is the son of Nahusba. He took hold of my hand, when I was in distress. I bow to thee. Bestow me upon him. I shall not wed any other person in the world !' Sukra exclaimed,-'O thou of splendid courage, thou hast, indeed, been accepted as her lord by this my dear daughter 1 I bestow her on thee! Therefore, son of Nahusha, accept her as thy wile!'

"Yayati then said.--'I solicit the boon, O Brabmana, that by so doing. the sin of begetting a mixed caste might not touch me!' Sukra, however, assured him by saying --'I shall absolve thee from the sin. Ask thou the boon that thou desirest! Fear not to wed her. I grant thee absolution ! Maintain virtuously thy wife-the slender-waisted Devayani! Transports of happiness be thine in her company. This other maiden, Vrishapatvan's daughter, Sarmishta should ever be regarged by thee. But thou shalt not suin mon her to thy bed !" **

Vaisampayana continued.-"Thus addressed by Sukra, Yayati then walked round the Braimana. And the king then went through the auspicious ceremony of marriage according to the rites of the scriptures. And having received from Sukra this rich treasure of the excellent Devayani with Sarmishta and those two thousand maidens, and duly honoured also by Sukra himselt and the Asuras, the best of monarchs then, commanded by the high-souled Bhargava, returned to his capital with a joyous heart."

So ends the eighty-first section in the Sambhava Parva of the Adi Parva.

Vaisampayana said, ---"Yayati then, on returning to his capital which was like unto the city of Indra, entered his inner apartments and established there his bride Devayani. And the monarch, directed by Deva. yani, established Vaisha parvan's daughter Sarnishta in a mansion especially erected near the artificial woods of Asokas in his gardens. And the king surrounded Vrisha parvan's daughter Sarmishtha with a thousand maids and honoured her by making every arrangement for her food and garments. But it was with Devayani that the royal son of Naliusha sported like a celestial for many years in joy and bliss. And when her season came, the fair Devayani conceived. And she brought forth as her first child a fine boy. And when a thousand years had passed away, Veishaparvan's daughter Sarmishtha having attained to puberty saw that her season, had come. She became anxious and