Mahabharata 1.78.37 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 78, Shloka 37
ययाति-देवयानी-शर्मिष्ठा विवादः — Śukra’s Curse and the Disclosure of Lineage
(उक्ताप्येवं भृशं क्रुद्धा मां गृह विजने वने । कूपे प्रक्षेपयामास प्रक्षिप्यैव गृहं ययौ ।।
uktāpy evaṁ bhṛśaṁ kruddhā māṁ gṛhe vijane vane | kūpe prakṣepayāmāsa prakṣipyaiva gṛhaṁ yayau ||
śukra uvāca | stuvato duhitā na tvaṁ yācataḥ pratigṛhṇataḥ | astotuḥ stūyamānasya duhitā devayāny asi ||
ମୁଁ ଏପରି କହିଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ଭୟଙ୍କର କ୍ରୋଧରେ ଶର୍ମିଷ୍ଠା ସେହି ନିର୍ଜନ ବନରେ ମୋତେ ଧରି କୂପରେ ଠେଲିଦେଲା; ଠେଲିଦେଇ ସେ ଘରକୁ ଚାଲିଗଲା। ତାପରେ ଶୁକ୍ର କହିଲେ—“ଦେବୟାନୀ! ତୁ ନ ସ୍ତୁତିକାରୀର କନ୍ୟା, ନ ଯାଚକର, ନ ଦାନଗ୍ରାହୀର। ତୁ ସେହି ପବିତ୍ର ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କ କନ୍ୟା, ଯିଏ ଲାଭ ପାଇଁ କାହାକୁ ସ୍ତୁତି କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ, ଏବଂ ଯାହାଙ୍କୁ ସମସ୍ତେ ସ୍ତୁତି କରନ୍ତି।”
शुक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śukra asserts an ethical ideal of brahminical self-respect: one should not live by flattery, begging, or dependence on gifts for status. True honor comes from integrity—being worthy of praise rather than seeking advantage by praising others.
Śarmiṣṭhā, furious, throws Devayānī into a well in a lonely forest and returns home. Afterward, Devayānī’s father Śukra addresses her, emphasizing her noble lineage and the dignity expected of her as the daughter of a revered brāhmaṇa.
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