Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire
श्रीशुक उवाच एकदा दानवेन्द्रस्य शर्मिष्ठा नाम कन्यका । सखीसहस्रसंयुक्ता गुरुपुत्र्या च भामिनी ॥ ६ ॥ देवयान्या पुरोद्याने पुष्पितद्रुमसङ्कुले । व्यचरत्कलगीतालिनलिनीपुलिनेऽबला ॥ ७ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca ekadā dānavendrasya śarmiṣṭhā nāma kanyakā sakhī-sahasra-saṁyuktā guru-putryā ca bhāminī
Śukadeva Gosvāmī nói: Một hôm, Śarmiṣṭhā, con gái vua Dānava Vṛṣaparvā—ngây thơ nhưng tính hay giận—cùng Devayānī, con gái của thầy Śukrācārya, và hàng ngàn bạn hữu dạo chơi trong vườn cung điện. Khu vườn đầy sen, cây trái hoa, cùng chim và ong hát tiếng du dương.
Śarmiṣṭhā is introduced here as the daughter of the king of the Dānavas, moving with her companions and associated in the narrative with Devayānī, the guru’s daughter.
This verse sets the scene for their interaction—two prominent young women (the guru’s daughter and the Dānava king’s daughter) whose relationship becomes pivotal to the Yayāti episode.
It foreshadows how pride and social identity can shape relationships and trigger major consequences—encouraging humility and careful conduct.