Shloka 18
ययातेर्वानप्रस्थतपःस्वर्गारोहणम् | Yayāti’s Vānaprastha Austerities and Ascent to Heaven
ययातिरु्वाच विद्धयौशनसि भद्र॑ ते न त्वामहोंडस्मि भाविनि । अविवाह्दा हि राजानो देवयानि पितुस्तव,ययाति बोले--शुक्रनन्दिनी देवयानी! आपका भला हो। भाविनि! मैं आपके योग्य नहीं हूँ। क्षत्रियलोग आपके पितासे कन्यादान लेनेके अधिकारी नहीं हैं
Yayātir uvāca—viddhi, Auśanasi, bhadraṁ te; na tvām ahaṁ ’smi bhāvini. Avivāhyā hi rājāno Devayāni pituḥ tava.
ヤヤーティは言った。「知っておくがよい、ウシャナス（シュクラ）の娘デーヴァヤーニーよ。幸いが汝にあれ。気高き御方よ、我は汝にふさわしい相手ではない。王たる者は、デーヴァヤーニーよ、汝の父によってそのように嫁がされる形で婚姻を受けるべきではないのだ。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Personal desire is restrained by dharma: Yayāti emphasizes that marriage must follow accepted ethical and social norms, and that status and proper procedure matter in upholding propriety.
Yayāti addresses Devayānī respectfully but declines her as a match, citing that kings should not be married off by her father (Śukra) in a way he deems improper, thus presenting a dharma-based hesitation.