greatly anxious. Why dost thou weep in affliction? How, indeed, hadst thou fallen into this well covered with creepers and long grass ? And, O slender-waisted girl, answer me truly whose daughter thou
art !
Devayani then answered,-'I am the daughter of Sukra who brings back into life the Asuras slain by the gods. He doth not know what hath befallen me. This is my right hand, O King, with nails bright as burnished copper. Thou art well-born ; I ask thee, to take and raise me up! I know thou art of good behaviour, of great prowess, and of wide fame! It behoveth thee, therefore, to raise me from this well I"
Vaisampayana continued, -"King Yayati, learning that she was a Brahmana's daughter, raised her from that well by catching hold of her right hand. And the monarch promptly raising her from the pit and squinting to her tapering thighs, sweetly and courteously returned to his capital."
"When the son of Nahusha had gone away, Devayani of faultless feature, afflicted with grief, then spoke unto her maid, Ghurnika by name, who met her then. And she said-'O Ghurnika, go thou quickly and speak to my father without loss of time of everything as it hath happened! I shall not now enter the city of Vrishaparvan!"
Vaisampayana continued,-"Ghurunika, thus commanded, tepaired quickly to the mansion of the Asura cbief, where she saw Kavya and spoke unto him with her perception dimmed by anger. And she said, -'I tell thee, O great Brahmana, that Devayani hath been ill-used, O fortunate one, in the forest by Sarmishta, the daughter of Vrisha parvan, And Kavya, hearing that his daughter had been ill-used by Sarmishta speedily went out with a heavy heart, seeking her in the woods. And when he found her in the woods, he clasped her with affection and spoke unto her with voice choked with grief,-'O daughter, the weal or woe that befalleth people is always due to their own faults. Thou hast therefore some fault, I ween, which hath been expiated thus !' Hearing this Devayani replied, Be it a penalty or not, listen to me with attention ! O, hear that all Sarmishta, the daughter of Vrisha parvan, bath said unto me I Really hath she said that thou art only the hired chanter of the praises of the Asura king 1 Even thus hath she-that Sarmishta. Vrishaparvan's daughter,--spoken to me, with red eyes, these piercing and cruel words :—'Thou art the daughter of one that ever chanteth for hire the praises of others, of one that asketh for charities, of one that accepteth alms; whereas I am the daughter of one that receiveth adorations, of one that giveth, of one that never accepteth anything as gift I' These have been the words repeatedly spoken unto me by the proud Sarmishta, the daughter of Vrisha parvan, with
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