Adhyaya 80
Yayāti, Yadu’s Refusal, and the Merit of the Mother–Father Tīrtha
Prompted by Pippala’s question, Sukarma recounts the turmoil in King Yayāti’s household after he brings Kāmakanyā home. Devayānī, inflamed by jealousy, angrily curses her own sons, and her rivalry with Śarmiṣṭhā grows sharper. Kāmajā learns of their hostile intent and reports it to the king. In fury, Yayāti commands Yadu to execute Śarmiṣṭhā and Devayānī. Yadu refuses, declaring that killing one’s mother is a grievous sin and that they are without fault; the narrative’s counsel affirms that mothers—and likewise women protected by dharma—must not be slain. Angered by this disobedience, Yayāti curses Yadu and departs; the chapter ends by re-centering life on austerity, truth, and meditation on Viṣṇu, and by linking the episode to the sanctity and merit of the Mother–Father tīrtha.
Shlokas
Verse 1
पिप्पल उवाच । कामकन्यां यदा राजा उपयेमे द्विजोत्तम । किं चक्राते तदा ते द्वे पूर्वभार्ये सुपुण्यके
Pippala said: “O best of the twice-born, when the king married Kāmakanyā, what did those two former wives—most virtuous women—do at that time?”
Verse 2
देवयानी महाभागा शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी । तयोश्चरित्रं तत्सर्वं कथयस्व ममाग्रतः
Devayānī, the greatly fortunate one, and Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan—tell me here, before me, in full, the entire account of their story.
Verse 3
सुकर्मोवाच । यदानीता कामकन्या स्वगृहं तेन भूभुजा । अत्यर्थं स्पर्धते सा तु देवयानी मनस्विनी
Sukarma said: When that king brought Kāmakanyā to his own house, the high-minded Devayānī became exceedingly jealous and filled with rivalry.
Verse 4
तस्यार्थे तु सुतौ शप्तौ क्रोधेनाकुलितात्मना । शर्मिष्ठां च समाहूय शब्दं चक्रे यशस्विनी
For his sake, her mind shaken by anger, she cursed her two sons; then, summoning Śarmiṣṭhā, the illustrious lady raised her voice and spoke.
Verse 5
रूपेण तेजसा दानैः सत्यपुण्यव्रतैस्तथा । शर्मिष्ठा देवयानी च स्पर्धेते स्म तया सह
In beauty, in radiance, in gifts of charity, and likewise in vows of truth and merit, Śarmiṣṭhā and Devayānī used to compete with her.
Verse 6
दुष्टभावं तयोश्चापि साऽज्ञासीत्कामजा तदा । राज्ञे सर्वं तया विप्र कथितं तत्क्षणादिह
Then Kāmajā too came to know the wicked intent of those two. O brāhmaṇa, she immediately reported everything here to the king.
Verse 7
अथ क्रुद्धो महाराजः समाहूयाब्रवीद्यदुम् । शर्मिष्ठा वध्यतां गत्वा शुक्रपुत्री तथा पुनः
Then the great king, enraged, summoned Yadu and said: “Go—let Śarmiṣṭhā be put to death; and likewise again (let it be done) to Śukra’s daughter.”
Verse 8
सुप्रियं कुरु मे वत्स यदि श्रेयो हि मन्यसे । एवमाकर्ण्य तत्तस्य पितुर्वाक्यं यदुस्तदा
“Do what is most pleasing to me, my son, if you truly consider it for your own good.” Having thus heard his father’s words, Yadu then (responded/acted).
Verse 9
प्रत्युवाच नृपेंद्रं तं पितरं प्रति मानद । नाहं तु घातये तात मातरौ दोषवर्जिते
The honor-bestowing one replied to that lord of kings—addressing his father: “Father, I will not have my mother and father killed, for they are free from fault.”
Verse 10
मातृघाते महादोषः कथितो वेदपंडितैः । तस्माद्घातं महाराज एतयोर्न करोम्यहम्
The learned scholars of the Vedas have declared that killing one’s mother is a very great sin. Therefore, O great king, I will not commit the killing of these two.
Verse 11
दोषाणां तु सहस्रेण माता लिप्ता यदा भवेत् । भगिनी च महाराज दुहिता च तथा पुनः
But when a mother is tainted by a thousand faults, O great king, so too are a sister and likewise a daughter tainted.
Verse 12
पुत्रैर्वा भ्रातृभिश्चैव नैव वध्या भवेत्कदा । एवं ज्ञात्वा महाराज मातरौ नैव घातये
Whether by sons or by brothers, she should never be slain at any time. Knowing this, O great king, do not kill the two mothers.
Verse 13
यदोर्वाक्यं तदा श्रुत्वा राजा क्रुद्धो बभूव ह । शशाप तं सुतं पश्चाद्ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः
Hearing Yadu’s words at that time, the king became enraged. Thereafter Yayāti, lord of the earth, cursed that son of his.
Verse 14
यस्मादाज्ञाहता त्वद्य त्वया पापि समोपि हि । मातुरंशं भजस्व त्वं मच्छापकलुषीकृतः
Since today you have been struck down by my command—though you are a sinner and my equal as well—go now and partake of your mother’s share, for you have been tainted by my curse.
Verse 15
एवमुक्त्वा यदुं पुत्रं ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः । पुत्रं शप्त्वा महाराजस्तया सार्द्धं महायशाः
Having spoken thus to his son Yadu, Yayāti—the lord of the earth—then pronounced a curse upon his son; and that illustrious great king went away together with her.
Verse 16
रमते सुखभोगेन विष्णोर्ध्यानेन तत्परः । अश्रुबिंदुमतीसा च तेन सार्द्धं सुलोचना
Absorbed in meditation on Viṣṇu and devoted to Him, he delighted in the enjoyment of happiness; and the fair‑eyed lady Aśrubindumatī too, together with him, rejoiced.
Verse 17
बुभुजे चारुसर्वांगी पुण्यान्भोगान्मनोनुगान् । एवं कालो गतस्तस्य ययातेस्तु महात्मनः
The lovely, well‑proportioned lady enjoyed meritorious pleasures that were pleasing to the mind. Thus time passed on for that great‑souled Yayāti.
Verse 18
अक्षया निर्जराः सर्वा अपरास्तु प्रजास्तथा । सर्वे लोका महाभाग विष्णुध्यानपरायणाः
All the gods are imperishable, and so too are the other beings. In every world, O noble one, all are devoted to meditation upon Viṣṇu.
Verse 19
तपसा सत्यभावेन विष्णोर्ध्यानेन पिप्पल । सर्वे लोका महाभाग सुखिनः साधुसेवकाः
Through austerity, a truthful disposition, and meditation on Viṣṇu, O Pippala—O fortunate one—all worlds become happy, devoted to the service of the virtuous.
Verse 80
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने मातापितृतीर्थवर्णने ययातिचरित्रेऽशीतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the eightieth chapter in the Bhūmi‑khaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Purāṇa, within the narrative of Vena, describing the sacred tīrtha of Mother and Father, and recounting the story of Yayāti.