Shloka 1
ययातिः शर्मिष्ठायाः ऋतुप्रार्थनां धर्मसंवादं च शृणोति
Yayāti and Śarmiṣṭhā: request in ṛtu and discourse on truth and dharma
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके २ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ७४ श्लोक हैं) ऑपन--माज बछ। अकाल सप्तसप्ततितमो<ध्याय: देवयानीका कचसे पाणिग्रहणके लिये अनुरोध, कचकी अस्वीकृति तथा दोनोंका एक-दूसरेको शाप देना वैशम्पायन उवाच समावृतद्रतं तं तु विसृष्टं गुरुणा तदा । प्रस्थितं त्रिदशावासं देवयान्यब्रवीदिदम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जब कचका व्रत समाप्त हो गया और गुरुने उन्हें जानेकी आज्ञा दे दी, तब वे देवलोकको प्रस्थित हुए। उस समय देवयानीने उनसे इस प्रकार कहा --“महर्षि अंगिराके पौत्र! आप सदाचार, उत्तम कुल, विद्या, तपस्या तथा इन्द्रियसंयम आदिसे बड़ी शोभा पा रहे हैं
Vaiśampāyana uvāca |
Samāvṛtavrataṃ taṃ tu visṛṣṭaṃ guruṇā tadā |
Prasthitaṃ tridaśāvāsaṃ devayāny abravīd idam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When Kaca had completed his vowed observance and was then dismissed by his teacher, he set out for the abode of the gods. At that moment Devayānī spoke to him as follows—thus beginning her appeal in the context of gratitude, propriety, and the limits of teacher–student bonds.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical tension: disciplined learning under a guru culminates in release, yet personal desire (Devayānī’s impending request) must be weighed against dharma—especially the boundaries created by the teacher–student relationship and the obligations formed through instruction and benefaction.
Kaca has finished his prescribed observance and, with his teacher’s permission, is leaving for heaven. As he departs, Devayānī stops him and begins to speak—setting up her request for marriage and the ensuing conflict that will lead to refusal and mutual curses.