Mahabharata
Saṃbhava-parva (devayānī-śarmiṣṭhā-kalaha) (The Quarrel of Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā)1.73.1–13
440 / 15823
Mahabharata · 1.73.1–13
Devanāgarī

वैशंपायन उवाच
कृतविद्ये कचे प्राप्ते हृष्टरूपा दिवौकसः ॥
कचाद् अधीत्य तां विद्यां कृतार्था भरतर्षभ ॥
सर्व एव समागम्य शतक्रतुम् अथाब्रुवन् ॥
कालस् ते विक्रमस्याद्य जहि शत्रून् पुरंदर ॥
एवम् उक्तस् तु सहितैस् त्रिदशैर् मघवांस् तदा ॥
तथेत्य् उक्त्वोपचक्राम सो ऽपश्यत वने स्त्रियः ॥
क्रीडन्तीनां तु कन्यानां वने चैत्ररथोपमे ॥
वायुभूतः स वस्त्राणि सर्वाण्य् एव व्यमिश्रयत् ॥
ततो जलात् समुत्तीर्य कन्यास् ताः सहितास् तदा ॥
वस्त्राणि जगृहुस् तानि यथासन्नान्य् अनेकशः ॥
तत्र वासो देवयान्याः शर्मिष्ठा जगृहे तदा ॥
व्यतिमिश्रम् अजानन्ती दुहिता वृषपर्वणः ॥
ततस् तयोर् मिथस् तत्र विरोधः समजायत ॥
देवयान्याश् च राजेन्द्र शर्मिष्ठायाश् च तत्कृते ॥
देवयान्य् उवाच
कस्माद् गृह्णासि मे वस्त्रं शिष्या भूत्वा ममासुरि ॥
समुदाचारहीनाया न ते श्रेयो भविष्यति ॥
शर्मिष्ठोवाच
आसीनं च शयानं च पिता ते पितरं मम ॥
स्तौति वन्दति चाभीक्ष्णं नीचैः स्थित्वा विनीतवत् ॥
याचतस् त्वं हि दुहिता स्तुवतः प्रतिगृह्णतः ॥
सुताहं स्तूयमानस्य ददतो ऽप्रतिगृह्णतः ॥
अनायुधा सायुधाया रिक्ता क्षुभ्यसि भिक्षुकि ॥
लप्स्यसे प्रतियोद्धारं न हि त्वां गणयाम्य् अहम् ॥
वैशंपायन उवाच
समुच्छ्रयं देवयानीं गतां सक्तां च वाससि ॥
शर्मिष्ठा प्राक्षिपत् कूपे ततः स्वपुरम् आव्रजत् ॥
हतेयम् इति विज्ञाय शर्मिष्ठा पापनिश्चया ॥
अनवेक्ष्य ययौ वेश्म क्रोधवेगपरायणा ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
kṛtavidye kace prāpte hṛṣṭarūpā divaukasaḥ ||
kacād adhītya tāṃ vidyāṃ kṛtārthā bharatarṣabha ||
sarva eva samāgamya śatakratum athābruvan ||
kālas te vikramasyādya jahi śatrūn puraṃdara ||
evam uktas tu sahitais tridaśair maghavāṃs tadā ||
tathety uktvopacakrāma so 'paśyata vane striyaḥ ||
krīḍantīnāṃ tu kanyānāṃ vane caitrarathopame ||
vāyubhūtaḥ sa vastrāṇi sarvāṇy eva vyamiśrayat ||
tato jalāt samuttīrya kanyās tāḥ sahitās tadā ||
vastrāṇi jagṛhus tāni yathāsannāny anekaśaḥ ||
tatra vāso devayānyāḥ śarmiṣṭhā jagṛhe tadā ||
vyatimiśram ajānantī duhitā vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ ||
tatas tayor mithas tatra virodhaḥ samajāyata ||
devayānyāś ca rājendra śarmiṣṭhāyāś ca tatkṛte ||
devayāny uvāca
kasmād gṛhṇāsi me vastraṃ śiṣyā bhūtvā mamāsuri ||
samudācārahīnāyā na te śreyo bhaviṣyati ||
śarmiṣṭhovāca
āsīnaṃ ca śayānaṃ ca pitā te pitaraṃ mama ||
stauti vandati cābhīkṣṇaṃ nīcaiḥ sthitvā vinītavat ||
yācatas tvaṃ hi duhitā stuvataḥ pratigṛhṇataḥ ||
sutāhaṃ stūyamānasya dadato 'pratigṛhṇataḥ ||
anāyudhā sāyudhāyā riktā kṣubhyasi bhikṣuki ||
lapsyase pratiyoddhāraṃ na hi tvāṃ gaṇayāmy aham ||
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
samucchrayaṃ devayānīṃ gatāṃ saktāṃ ca vāsasi ||
śarmiṣṭhā prākṣipat kūpe tataḥ svapuram āvrajat ||
hateyam iti vijñāya śarmiṣṭhā pāpaniścayā ||
anavekṣya yayau veśma krodhavegaparāyaṇā ||

Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
वैशंपायनः उवाच कचे कृतविद्ये प्राप्ते दिवौकसः हृष्टरूपाः कचात् तां विद्यां अधीत्य कृतार्थाःvaiśaṃpāyanaḥ uvāca kace kṛtavidye prāpte divaukasaḥ hṛṣṭarūpāḥ kacāt tāṃ vidyāṃ adhītya kṛtārthāḥVaishampayana said: [when] Kacha, having mastered the science, returned, the celestials rejoiced, and having learned that science from Kacha, they attained [their] purpose
सर्वे समागम्य शतक्रतुं अब्रुवन् पुरंदर अद्य ते विक्रमस्य कालः शत्रून् जहिsarve samāgamya śatakratuṃ abruvan puraṃdara adya te vikramasya kālaḥ śatrūn jahiall, having gathered, said to Shatakratu [Indra]: O Purandara, now is the time for your valor; slay the enemies
एवं उक्तः मघवान् तथा इति उक्त्वा उपचक्राम सः वने स्त्रियः अपश्यतevaṃ uktaḥ maghavān tathā iti uktvā upacakrāma saḥ vane striyaḥ apaśyata[thus] addressed, Maghavan, having said "so be it", set forth and saw women in a forest
चैत्ररथोपमे वने क्रीडन्तीनां कन्यानां वायुभूतः सः सर्वाणि वस्त्राणि व्यमिश्रयत्caitrarathopame vane krīḍantīnāṃ kanyānāṃ vāyubhūtaḥ saḥ sarvāṇi vastrāṇi vyamiśrayat[while] maidens were playing in a forest like [the garden] of Chaitraratha, he, turning into wind, mixed together all [their] garments
ततः ताः कन्याः जलात् समुत्तीर्य सहिताः यथासन्नानि तानि वस्त्राणि अनेकशः जगृहुःtataḥ tāḥ kanyāḥ jalāt samuttīrya sahitāḥ yathāsannāni tāni vastrāṇi anekaśaḥ jagṛhuḥthen those maidens, having come out of the water together, in disorder snatched up those garments that were nearest
तत्र वृषपर्वणः दुहिता शर्मिष्ठा व्यतिमिश्रं अजानन्ती देवयान्याः वासः जगृहेtatra vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ duhitā śarmiṣṭhā vyatimiśraṃ ajānantī devayānyāḥ vāsaḥ jagṛhethere the daughter of Vrishaparvan, Sharmishtha, not knowing [that the garments] were mixed up, took Devayani's garment
तत्कृते तत्र तयोः देवयान्याः शर्मिष्ठायाः च मिथः विरोधः समजायतtatkṛte tatra tayoḥ devayānyāḥ śarmiṣṭhāyāḥ ca mithaḥ virodhaḥ samajāyatabecause of this, a mutual quarrel arose there between the two — Devayani and Sharmishtha
देवयानी उवाच असुरि मम शिष्या भूत्वा कस्मात् मे वस्त्रं गृह्णासि समुदाचारहीनायाः ते श्रेयः न भविष्यतिdevayānī uvāca asuri mama śiṣyā bhūtvā kasmāt me vastraṃ gṛhṇāsi samudācārahīnāyāḥ te śreyaḥ na bhaviṣyatiDevayani said: O asuri (demoness), being my pupil (that is, beneath me), why do you take my garment? [To you], lacking good conduct, no good fortune will come
शर्मिष्ठा उवाच पिता ते आसीनं शयानं च मम पितरं नीचैः स्थित्वा विनीतवत् अभीक्ष्णं स्तौति वन्दतिśarmiṣṭhā uvāca pitā te āsīnaṃ śayānaṃ ca mama pitaraṃ nīcaiḥ sthitvā vinītavat abhīkṣṇaṃ stauti vandatiSharmishtha said: your father, standing lower and humbly, constantly praises and extols my father, [as he] sits and lies [— that is, waits upon him]
त्वं याचतः स्तुवतः प्रतिगृह्णतः दुहिता अहं स्तूयमानस्य ददतः अप्रतिगृह्णतः सुताtvaṃ yācataḥ stuvataḥ pratigṛhṇataḥ duhitā ahaṃ stūyamānasya dadataḥ apratigṛhṇataḥ sutāyou are the daughter of one who begs, praises, [and] accepts [alms]; I am the daughter of one who is praised, gives, [and] does not accept [alms]
भिक्षुकि अनायुधा रिक्ता सायुधायाः [मम] क्षुभ्यसि प्रतियोद्धारं लप्स्यसे अहं त्वां न गणयामिbhikṣuki anāyudhā riktā sāyudhāyāḥ [mama] kṣubhyasi pratiyoddhāraṃ lapsyase ahaṃ tvāṃ na gaṇayāmiO beggar-woman, unarmed, destitute, you rage against [me who am] armed; [thus] you will get an opponent [to match you]; I count you as nothing
वैशंपायनः उवाच शर्मिष्ठा समुच्छ्रयं गतां वाससि सक्तां देवयानीं कूपे प्राक्षिपत् ततः स्वपुरं आव्रजत्vaiśaṃpāyanaḥ uvāca śarmiṣṭhā samucchrayaṃ gatāṃ vāsasi saktāṃ devayānīṃ kūpe prākṣipat tataḥ svapuraṃ āvrajatVaishampayana said: Sharmishtha pushed the now-arrogant Devayani, who clung to her garment, into the well, then went off to her own city
पापनिश्चया शर्मिष्ठा इयं हता इति विज्ञाय क्रोधवेगपरायणा अनवेक्ष्य वेश्म ययौpāpaniścayā śarmiṣṭhā iyaṃ hatā iti vijñāya krodhavegaparāyaṇā anavekṣya veśma yayauSharmishtha, evil-minded, having concluded "this one is dead", under the sway of a fit of anger, without looking back, went home
वैशंपायनvaiśaṃpāyanaoriginal form "vaiśaṃpāyana", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
हृष्टरूपाhṛṣṭarūpāoriginal form "hṛṣṭarūpā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कचाद्kacādoriginal form "kacād", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कृतार्थाkṛtārthāoriginal form "kṛtārthā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
भरतर्षभbharatarṣabhaoriginal form "bharatarṣabha", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सर्वsarvaoriginal form "sarva", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
एवevaoriginal form "eva", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
शतक्रतुम्śatakratumoriginal form "śatakratum", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
अथाब्रुवन्athābruvanoriginal form "athābruvan", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कालस्kālasoriginal form "kālas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
विक्रमस्याद्यvikramasyādyaoriginal form "vikramasyādya", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
एवम्evamoriginal form "evam", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
उक्तस्uktasoriginal form "uktas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तुtuoriginal form "tu", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सहितैस्sahitaisoriginal form "sahitais", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
त्रिदशैर्tridaśairoriginal form "tridaśair", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
मघवांस्maghavāṃsoriginal form "maghavāṃs", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तदाtadāoriginal form "tadā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तथेत्य्tathetyoriginal form "tathety", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
उक्त्वोपचक्रामuktvopacakrāmaoriginal form "uktvopacakrāma", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सोsooriginal form "so", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ऽपश्यत'paśyataoriginal form "'paśyata", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तुtuoriginal form "tu", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
saoriginal form "sa", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सर्वाण्य्sarvāṇyoriginal form "sarvāṇy", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
एवevaoriginal form "eva", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ततोtatooriginal form "tato", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कन्यास्kanyāsoriginal form "kanyās", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सहितास्sahitāsoriginal form "sahitās", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तदाtadāoriginal form "tadā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
जगृहुस्jagṛhusoriginal form "jagṛhus", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
यथासन्नान्य्yathāsannānyoriginal form "yathāsannāny", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
वासोvāsooriginal form "vāso", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तदाtadāoriginal form "tadā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
व्यतिमिश्रम्vyatimiśramoriginal form "vyatimiśram", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ततस्tatasoriginal form "tatas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
तयोर्tayororiginal form "tayor", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
मिथस्mithasoriginal form "mithas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
देवयान्याश्devayānyāśoriginal form "devayānyāś", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
राजेन्द्रrājendraoriginal form "rājendra", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
शर्मिष्ठायाश्śarmiṣṭhāyāśoriginal form "śarmiṣṭhāyāś", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
देवयान्य्devayānyoriginal form "devayāny", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
कस्माद्kasmādoriginal form "kasmād", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ममासुरिmamāsurioriginal form "mamāsuri", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
समुदाचारहीनायाsamudācārahīnāyāoriginal form "samudācārahīnāyā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
श्रेयोśreyooriginal form "śreyo", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
शर्मिष्ठोवाचśarmiṣṭhovācaoriginal form "śarmiṣṭhovāca", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
caoriginal form "ca", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
caoriginal form "ca", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
चाभीक्ष्णंcābhīkṣṇaṃoriginal form "cābhīkṣṇaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
याचतस्yācatasoriginal form "yācatas", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
हिhioriginal form "hi", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सुताहंsutāhaṃoriginal form "sutāhaṃ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ददतोdadatooriginal form "dadato", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
ऽप्रतिगृह्णतः'pratigṛhṇataḥoriginal form "'pratigṛhṇataḥ", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
सायुधायाsāyudhāyāoriginal form "sāyudhāyā", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
हिhioriginal form "hi", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
गणयाम्य्gaṇayāmyoriginal form "gaṇayāmy", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
अहम्ahamoriginal form "aham", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
वैशंपायनvaiśaṃpāyanaoriginal form "vaiśaṃpāyana", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
caoriginal form "ca", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
स्वपुरम्svapuramoriginal form "svapuram", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
हतेयम्hateyamoriginal form "hateyam", added to complete the word-by-word coverage
Translation

Vaishampayana said: When Kacha, having mastered the science, returned, the celestials rejoiced, and having learned that science from Kacha, they attained their purpose. All of them, gathering together, said to Shatakratu, the lord of a hundred sacrifices: 'O Purandara, now is the time for your valor; slay the enemies.' Thus addressed, Maghavan said, 'So be it,' and set forth, and he saw women in a forest. While the maidens were playing in a forest like the garden of Chaitraratha, he, turning into wind, mixed together all their garments. Then those maidens, coming up out of the water together, snatched up the garments in disorder, whichever were nearest. There the daughter of Vrishaparvan, Sharmishtha, not knowing that the garments were mixed up, took Devayani's garment. Because of this a mutual quarrel arose there between the two, Devayani and Sharmishtha. Devayani said: 'O asuri, why do you, having been my pupil, take my garment? Beneath me as you are, no good fortune will come to you, lacking good conduct as you do.' Sharmishtha said: 'Your father, standing lower and humbly, constantly praises and extols my father as he sits and lies — that is, he waits upon him. You are the daughter of one who begs, who praises, who accepts alms; I am the daughter of one who is praised, who gives, who does not accept alms. O beggar-woman, unarmed and destitute, you rage against me, who am armed; so you shall get an opponent to match you — I count you as nothing.' Vaishampayana said: 'Sharmishtha pushed Devayani — who had grown arrogant and clung to her garment — into the well, and then went off to her own city. Sharmishtha, evil-minded, concluding "this one is dead," under the sway of a fit of anger, went home without looking back.'

Version

6900d5f5e58c · published Jul 12, 2026, 3:49:50 PM UTC

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