Tales froM Indian Mythology

Author(s): A S Raman
Publisher: Kutub Popular

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Devayani and Sarmishta hand and dragged her out of the well. Bowing to him in gratitude, she said, "You have given me a fresh lease of life. May I know who you are?" "I am Yayati,” he replied. "They address me as 'Your Majesty! I happen to be the Emperor of Bharat."
"O Emperor Yayati! Do not tell me that you have not heard of Sukracharya, and I am his daughter. In your desperate attempt to help me out, you have committed a serious offence. Can you guess what it is ?”
"Prostrations to you, revered child of a great sage! My mind is too dazed to comprehend what you say. But I beseech you to be merciful and to pardon me for my offence, whatever. it may be, and however serious."
"You have held my right hand. Do you know what that means? You know nothing. I wonder who made you emperor. Perhaps you always have wise brahman counsellors around you. Listen, whoever clasps a virgin's right hand becomes her lord. So I am afraid you will have to marry me under any circumstances. I do not know how many wives you already have. Never mind, I can tackle them."
"O noble lady! You are a brahman and I am a mere kshatriya. How can we marry?”
"Yayati, you cannot flatter me with edifying epithets, such as 'noble' and 'revered'. Do you realize that, if you do not marry me, I shall go to Hell? And, if you marry me, perhaps, you will go to Hell; but even there you will have the privilege of being looked after by Devayani. So do not reject me. I assure you, I consider you worthy of me."
"A woman's purity must be preserved at any cost."