Tales froM Indian Mythology

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

Page 95

Devayani and Sarmishta
The next day, early in the morning, he hurried to the palace where Vrishaparva received him with the customary honour and ceremony. "Great and gracious guru,” began the asura king, "I can predict, a resounding victory awaits me in the grim battle ahead. For yours is the first face I greet today."
"Good. But are you sure that you did not see your daughter before me? She forebodes evil. Avoid her.” Vrishaparva was stupefied at Sukracharya's outburst. "I do not understand you,” he said in all humility. "I hope she still enjoys your blessings.”
"Blessings! What is their worth? Why does she need them, as long as she shares your glory? Vrishaparva, whenever I visited you unaccompanied by Devayani, you used to make anxious enquiries about her. But today you seem to have forgotten all about her.”
"Pardon me my remissness, O Light of the Three Worlds! I am sure she is all right."
"Of course, she is not. She has banished herself from your realm. She is now in the wilderness, and naturally I cannot leave her alone. So I have decided to join her. You do not need the services of a beggarly brahman. You have your own power and prowess which can shake the Three Worlds to their foundations."
"My own power and prowess! Are they not your gifts? Without you, where are they? If you abandon me, I shall have no alternative but death, and at my own hands at that. But please tell me what has happened.”
"Ask Sarmishta, and if she is not a liar, she will confess what she has done to Devayani. You say you cannot live with
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