Shloka 28
Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire
तथेत्यवस्थिते प्राह देवयानी मनोगतम् । पित्रा दत्ता यतो यास्ये सानुगा यातु मामनु ॥ २८ ॥
tathety avasthite prāha devayānī manogatam pitrā dattā yato yāsye sānugā yātu mām anu
शुक्राचार्यांची विनंती ऐकून वृषपर्वा ‘तथास्तु’ म्हणाला व देवयानीचे शब्द ऐकण्यास थांबला. तेव्हा देवयानी म्हणाली—“पित्याच्या आज्ञेने मी ज्या वेळी विवाहासाठी जाईन, त्या वेळी माझी सखी शर्मिष्ठा तिच्या सख्यांसह दासी म्हणून माझ्यामागे यावी.”
FAQs
It states that Devayānī, having been given in marriage by her father, asks that Śarmiṣṭhā (with her attendants) should follow her wherever she goes—indicating a condition tied to her marital arrangement.
Within the narrative, Devayānī expresses her personal wish to have Śarmiṣṭhā remain subordinate and accompany her, reflecting the social tensions and prior conflict between them.
It highlights how unresolved pride and rivalry can shape relationships and conditions; a modern takeaway is to seek reconciliation and fairness rather than letting past conflict dictate future arrangements.