PLATE TWO

The princess Sarmistha once approached King Yayati at the appropri-
ate time for conception. In a secluded place, she requested the King, the
husband of her friend Devayani, to enable her to have a son also. Aware
of the principles of religion, which state that a warrior or king must
fulfill the sexual desire of any woman who approaches him, King Yayati
agreed to Sarmistha’s request. Although he remembered that Devayant’s
father, Sukracarya, had warned him against the act, King Yayati con-
sidered this union the desire of the Supreme and had sex with Sarmistha.
When the proud Devayani understood from outside sources that Sar-
mistha was pregnant by her husband, she became frenzied with anger.
Thus she departed for her father’s house. King Yayati, who was very
lusty, followed his wife, caught her and tried to appease her by speaking
pleasing words and massaging her feet, but he could not satisfy her by
any means. When Sukracarya learned of the situation, he became ex-
tremely angry. He furiously addressed the King: “You untruthful fool,
lusting after women! You have done a great wrong. I therefore curse you
to be attacked and disfigured by old age and invalidity!” (pp. 35-38)
