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Tales from Indian Mythology out me. But you know I cannot live without my daughter. What shall we do?” .
"Can we persuade Devayani to pardon Sarmishta?"
"You are not likely to succeed where I have failed. So it. is no use appealing for Devayani's mercy."
"Permit me to request her to suggest how best I can punish Sarmishta."
"Perhaps she herself would like to punish Sarmishta."
"Nothing would please me more than to get rid of my daughter, if she is the cause of our estrangement. Please postpone your decision to abandon me till we all make another approach to your worthy daughter. Of course, Sarmishta will be with us too, and she shall accept whatever terms Devayani will condescend to offer."
"I agree. The sooner we start, the better."
"Straightway. I must ask the charioteer and Sarmishta to get ready. I am grateful to you for your generous gesture to give my daughter a chance to make amends."
Vrishaparva, accompanied by Sukracharya and Sarmishta, drove fast to the banyan tree in the jungle, Devayani's temporary abode, and found her asleep. They waited till she woke up. And when she did, she looked triumphantly at Sarmishta whose face fell. “You thought,” said Devayani, turning to Sarmishta, "I was dead.” Intervening, Vrishaparva poignantly declared, "From today Sarmishta is dead, as far as I am concerned. No father will be proud of such a daughter. Devayani, you may inflict on her any punishment you like."
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