PLATE ONE
One day Vṛṣaparvā's daughter Śarmiṣṭhā, who was innocent but angry by nature, was walking in the palace garden with Śukrācārya's daughter Devayānī and thousands of other friends. The garden was full of lotuses, sweetly singing birds and bumblebees, and trees laden with flowers and fruits. When the young, lotus-eyed girls came to the bank of a reservoir of water, they wanted to enjoy by bathing. Thus they left their clothing on the bank and began sporting, throwing water on one another. While sporting in the water, the girls suddenly saw Lord Śiva passing by, seated on the back of his bull with his wife, Pārvatī. Ashamed because they were naked, the girls quickly got out of the water and covered themselves with their garments. Śarmiṣṭhā unknowingly put Devayānī's dress on her own body, thus angering Devayānī, who then spoke as follows: "Oh, just see the activities of this servant-maid, Śarmiṣṭhā! Disregarding all etiquette, she has put on my dress, just like a dog snatching clarified butter meant for use in a sacrifice!" ( pp. 19-21 )