Shloka 28

ययाति-देवयानी-शर्मिष्ठा विवादः — Śukra’s Curse and the Disclosure of Lineage

Devanagari script

शर्मिष्ठया महाभाग दुद्ित्रा वृषपर्वण: । श्र॒त्वा दुहितरं काव्यस्तत्र शर्मिछ्ठया हताम्‌

Transliteration

śarmiṣṭhayā mahābhāga duhitā vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ | śrutvā duhitaram kāvyas tatra śarmiṣṭhayā hatām ||

Translation

వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను— మహాభాగ! అక్కడ శర్మిష్ఠ వృషపర్వుని కుమార్తెను కొట్టివేసిందని కావ్యుడు (శుక్రాచార్యుడు) విని అత్యంతంగా వ్యథితుడై, ఆ అన్యాయాన్ని మనసులో నిలిపుకున్నాడు।

Word by Word

शर्मिष्ठयाby Śarmiṣṭhā

महाभागO fortunate one

दुहित्राby (his) daughter

वृषपर्वणःof Vṛṣaparvan

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

दुहितरम्(his) daughter

काव्यःKāvya (Śukra)

तत्रthere

शर्मिष्ठयाby Śarmiṣṭhā

हताम्killed/slain

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Śarmiṣṭhā

Vṛṣaparvan

Kāvya (Śukrācārya)

Vṛṣaparvan’s daughter (Devayānī, implied)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that acts driven by pride and anger—especially against those under protection (a friend, a companion, or a dependent)—do not remain private; they draw the attention of moral authorities (elders/teachers) and can trigger far-reaching consequences. Restraint and accountability are implied ethical imperatives.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Kāvya (Śukrācārya), upon hearing that Vṛṣaparvan’s daughter (Devayānī) had been grievously harmed by Śarmiṣṭhā, becomes aware of the incident—setting up the ensuing response and repercussions in the Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā episode.