Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 6
Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire
श्रीशुक उवाच एकदा दानवेन्द्रस्य शर्मिष्ठा नाम कन्यका । सखीसहस्रसंयुक्ता गुरुपुत्र्या च भामिनी ॥ ६ ॥ देवयान्या पुरोद्याने पुष्पितद्रुमसङ्कुले । व्यचरत्कलगीतालिनलिनीपुलिनेऽबला ॥ ७ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca ekadā dānavendrasya śarmiṣṭhā nāma kanyakā sakhī-sahasra-saṁyuktā guru-putryā ca bhāminī
Śukadeva Gosvāmī sprach: Eines Tages wandelte Śarmiṣṭhā, die Tochter des Dānava-Königs Vṛṣaparvā—unschuldig, doch von jähzornigem Wesen—mit Devayānī, der Tochter Śukrācāryas, und Tausenden von Freundinnen im Palastgarten. Der Garten war voller Lotosblumen, blühender und fruchttragender Bäume sowie süß singender Vögel und summender Bienen.
FAQs
Śarmiṣṭhā is introduced here as the daughter of the king of the Dānavas, moving with her companions and associated in the narrative with Devayānī, the guru’s daughter.
This verse sets the scene for their interaction—two prominent young women (the guru’s daughter and the Dānava king’s daughter) whose relationship becomes pivotal to the Yayāti episode.
It foreshadows how pride and social identity can shape relationships and trigger major consequences—encouraging humility and careful conduct.