Mahabharata – 117

by 

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                   Aadivamsavatarana Parva

The beautiful Devyani the daughter of great Sukracharya was married to the great king Yayati. It was with Devayani that the royal son of Nahusha Yayati spent many years in joy & happiness. And when her season came, the fair Devayani conceived. And she brought forth a boy. He was the  first child of Yayati & Devyani.

And  after a long time,when Vrishaparva's daughter Sarmishtha attained her puberty she saw that her season had come.She became anxious & thought that --My season has arrived. But I have not yet chosen a husband. Oh, what should I do? How shall I materialize  my wishes? Devayani has already become a mother. My youth is ill fated & appears to pass away in vain. But no. I shall choose a husband in the way  Devyani has chosen her husband. This is, indeed, the solution.The king Yayati should give me a son surely. Will not he grant me a private interview?'

While Sarmistha was there,the king travelling from his palace gradually came to that very woods of Asoka,where Sarmistha was.She was over head & years in contemplating on her predicament.Seeing Sarmistha the king stood there in silence.And  then Sarmistha of sweet smiles seeing the king before her with nobody to witness what might happen, approached him and said with joined palms, ------ 'Oh king, no one can see the ladies that dwell in the inner apartments of Soma,Indra,Vishnu,Yama,Varuna, and of yours! You know,that I am both handsome and well-born.I solicit you,Oh king! My season has arrived. See that it goes not in vain.'

Yayati answered --- Well I know that  you are born of a noble line & you have a royal nature. You are also gifted with beauty. I do not,indeed, see even the trace of any fault in your feature.But Sukracharya commanded me,while I married Devayani,that never should I respond to Vrishaparva's daughter’s  entreaties.

Sarmishtha then said ------- It has been said,Oh king!,That it is not sinful to tell a lie when we crack  jokes.It is not sinful to tell a lie when one entertains a woman.It is not sinful to tell a lie on the occasion of wedding.One can legitimately tell a lie when one’s life is at stake & when one’s everything is being looted.Lying is excusable on these five occasions.

But it is a crime to give false witness at the court. Besides when there is a dispute between two parties one must not tell a lie.

Sarmishta’s speech is very significant. It legitimatizes cohabiting with a woman when she seeks it. At the same time it points out that truth need not be told every where.In other words no rule is absolute & universal. But telling lies at the court or during dispute is an offence. This is a fragment of jurisprudence.

 Yayati replied --- A king should ever be the role model with his people.The king who speaks an untruth certainly meets his doom. His subjects follow the king & revel in falsehood & are doomed as well. As for myself,I dare not speak an untruth even if the greatest loss threatens me!'

Sarmishtha answered,'Oh king!, --- One may look upon her friend's husband as her own.One's friend's marriage is the same as one's own. You have been chosen by my friend as her husband.Therefore you are as much my husband.

Yayati then said --- I give whatever people ask from me.I have taken that vow.Tell me what you want. I will act accordingly.

Sarmishta said --- Oh king!Please rescue me from sin & help generating righteousness or dharma.I want to become a mother with your aid.I wish to lead a pious & righteous life thereby.

Oh king! Whatever a wife, an employee & a son earns is not their own. Their earnings belong to their master.

This is a significant legitimation of what should constitute property. The master should own the property that his employees,wife & children earn.

But at the same time it goes without saying that the master should be honest,truthful & he must have the readiness to give away his wealth to others.

Sarmistha observed --- I am the maid of Devyani. Devyani is subordinate to you. Hence you should oblige both of us. So you had better serve me.

Hearing this the king was convinced as to what he should do.So he responded to the prayers of Sarmistha to keep up dharma or righteousness. The king satisfied Sarmishta. And as its consequence he also had lot of enjoyment. Then they bade farewell to each other. The king went back to his palace.

  This episode throws a light on Yayati’s character. He believes that the king is the role model of his people. So the king should be always truthful & honest. We can take a cue from this & rewrite the principle of management. The manager is a role model in an organisation. In other words, character is very important in management science, political science & economics. But it is a pity that none of the above sciences pay heed to this truth. True that Yayati appreciated the youth & beauty of Sarmistha. But he would not transgress the laws of ethics. And of course Yayati was faced with a dilemma. He must try to satisfy every seeker. But he would not deviate from the path of righteousness.

According to the episteme of the Mahabharata society, to beget a child was the goal of every marriage. Carnal pleasures are only the epiphenomenon of this union.

Desire for children is recurrent in the women of the Mahabharata. And it has resulted in curious episodes in the Mahabharata with great consequences.