Shloka 9
ययातिः शर्मिष्ठायाः ऋतुप्रार्थनां धर्मसंवादं च शृणोति
Yayāti and Śarmiṣṭhā: request in ṛtu and discourse on truth and dharma
देवयान्युवाच गुरुपुत्रस्य पुत्रो वै न त्वं पुत्रश्न मे पितु: । तस्मात् पूज्यश्च मान्यश्न ममापि त्वं द्विजोत्तम,देवयानी बोली--द्विजोत्तम! आप मेरे पिताके गुरुपुत्रके पुत्र हैं, मेरे पिताके नहीं; अतः मेरे लिये भी आप पूजनीय और माननीय हैं। कच! जब असुर आपको बार-बार मार डालते थे, तबसे लेकर आजतक आपके प्रति मेरा जो प्रेम रहा है, उसे आज याद कीजिये
Devayāny uvāca: guruputrasya putro vai na tvaṁ putro ’si me pituḥ | tasmāt pūjyaś ca mānyaś ca mamāpi tvaṁ dvijottama ||
Devayānī said: “O best of Brahmins, you are the son of my father’s teacher’s son—you are not my father’s son. Therefore, for me too you are worthy of reverence and honor.” (She implies that Kaca stands to her in a respected, quasi-elder relation, and thus should be treated with due regard, even as she appeals to his sense of propriety and gratitude in the unfolding relationship.)
कच उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic propriety: one’s conduct should reflect respect for relational status and lineage—especially ties connected to one’s teacher (guru). Devayānī frames Kaca as deserving honor because of his connection to her father’s guru-line, appealing to norms of reverence and social ethics.
Devayānī addresses Kaca and clarifies their relationship: he is not her father’s son, but the son of her father’s teacher’s son, and thus should be treated as venerable. This functions as a moral and social framing within their tense personal exchange in the Kaca–Devayānī episode.