The Story of Yayati and Devayani: A Tale of Desire, Duty, and Detachment

From the Lineage of the Moon: The Rise of King Yayati

After the reign of the famed king Nahusha from the lunar dynasty, his son Yayati ascended the throne. With great governance skills, he entrusted the four directions of his empire to his capable brothers and ruled with wisdom and fairness.

At the same time, Sharmishtha, daughter of the Asura king Vrishaparva, and Devayani, daughter of the Asura guru Shukracharya, shared a deep and affectionate friendship. One day, while they were enjoying themselves in a forest grove with hundreds of companions, they spotted a beautiful lake. In excitement, both the girls along with their friends removed their clothes and entered the water to play joyfully.

Just then, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati happened to pass by on Nandi. Alarmed by their sudden arrival, the young maidens rushed out of the water and dressed hurriedly. In the confusion, Sharmishtha accidentally wore Devayani’s clothes. Enraged, Devayani, declaring her superior birth as the daughter of Shukracharya, insulted Sharmishtha. Humiliated, Sharmishtha pushed Devayani into a dry well and left.

Later, King Yayati, who was out hunting, passed by that way and heard Devayani’s cries for help. He rescued her by lowering his cloth and lifting her out of the well. Touched by his kindness, Devayani expressed her desire to marry him. She explained how, due to a curse from sage Kacha, no Brahmin would marry her, and thus she saw Yayati as her destined husband. Yayati accepted her proposal.

When Devayani returned to her father and explained the incident with Sharmishtha, Shukracharya was furious and prepared to leave the kingdom. Afraid of losing the support of his powerful guru, King Vrishaparva pleaded with him to stay. Shukracharya agreed on one condition: that Sharmishtha, along with her thousand maidens, would become a servant to Devayani, and no matter where Devayani went after marriage, Sharmishtha would serve her loyally.

Sharmishtha accepted this fate for the sake of her father’s kingdom. Shukracharya then arranged Devayani’s marriage with King Yayati and sent Sharmishtha with her as her servant. However, he warned Yayati not to have any personal relations with Sharmishtha under any circumstances.

The Fall into Desire and the Wrath of a Sage

Time passed, and Devayani became pregnant. Observing this, Sharmishtha too desired motherhood and approached Yayati. Considering it a natural desire and a righteous act, Yayati fathered children with her, breaking his promise. Devayani bore Yadu and Turvasu, while Sharmishtha bore Druhyu, Anu, and Puru.

Eventually, Devayani discovered the truth. Feeling betrayed, she left Yayati and returned to her father. Furious, Shukracharya cursed Yayati with premature old age. Yayati pleaded for forgiveness, and Shukracharya relented: the curse would be lifted if someone willingly exchanged their youth with Yayati’s old age.

Yayati returned to his palace and requested his sons to give up their youth. One by one, they refused. Only the youngest, Puru, accepted his father's request out of love and duty.

The Realization and Renunciation

With youth regained, Yayati indulged in pleasures for a thousand years. Yet, satisfaction eluded him. He realized that sensual desires grow stronger the more they are fulfilled. True happiness lay in detachment and equanimity.

With this awakening, Yayati returned Puru’s youth and crowned him the rightful king. He then renounced worldly life and retreated to the forest to seek self-realization. Inspired by him, Devayani too walked the path of spiritual liberation. Together, they attained union with the Supreme.