Devayani Complains to Her Father Shukra
After her rescue, a furious Devayani summons her father, the sage Shukra, and refuses to re-enter the city. She recounts the exact words Sharmishtha used to insult her, framing the insult as an attack on her father's status as a "beggar" and "praise-singer."
After Yayati left, Devayani sent her maid Ghurnika with a message. “Quickly go to my father and tell him what has happened,” she said. “From now on, I refuse to enter Vrishaparva’s city.”
Ghurnika went swiftly to the asura’s palace and found Shukra, her senses flustered. “O immensely wise one! Devayani has been struck in the forest by Sharmishtha, Vrishaparva’s daughter.”
Hearing this, Shukra quickly set out for the forest with a heavy heart. He found his daughter, engulfed her in his arms, and said sorrowfully, “It is through their own faults that people reap happiness and sorrow. I am sure that you must have done something wrong, which has now been purged.”
Devayani replied, “Whether it is the purging of my fault or not, listen attentively to what Sharmishtha told me. I am telling you truthfully.” She then repeated the insult verbatim. “She said that you chanted praises to the daityas. She said that I was the daughter of someone who always begged, chanted the praises of others, and stretched out his hand for alms. And she was the daughter of one who was always praised, always granted, and stretched out his hand to give alms. O father! If I am really the daughter of one who chants praises of others, I must pay homage to Sharmishtha to obtain her favour.”
Shukra replied, “O Devayani! You are not the daughter of someone who always praises, asks for alms, and receives. You are the daughter of someone who is always praised, but never praises. Vrishaparva knows this. So do Shakra and the king who is Nahusha’s son. Know my strength to be as inconceivable and incomparable as the supreme brahman.”