Rāma having said this, Lakshmana, the slayer of enemies, burning in his
native effulgence, said:—"O foremost of kings, this ancient account of
the ascetic Vasishtha and the king Nimi is highly surprising and
wonderful. But Nimi is a Kshatriya king and a hero—besides although
initiated he did not forgive the high-souled Vasishtha." Being thus
accosted Rāma, the Kshatriya-chief, said to the effulgent Lakshmana
conversant with all Sastras—"O hero, forgiveness is not to be seen in
all men. O Sauinitri, do thou hear attentively, the unbearable anger
which was forgiven by the king Yayāti resorting to the quality of
goodness. Yayāti, the enhancer or the prosperity of cities, was the son
of Nahusha. He had two beautiful wives, one of whom was Sarmishthā,
grand daughter of Aditi, the daughter of Brishaparva. She was the more
beloved of the two; his other spouse was Devajāni, grand daughter of
Usanas. She was not liked by her husband. Both of them gave birth to a
son each and both the sons were beautiful and attentive. Puru was born
of Sarmishtha and Yadu of Devajāni. Puru was the favourite son of the
king, both on account of his mother and of his personal graces. Thereat
Yadu, greatly sorry, said to his mother:—’Born in the race of the
illustrious Vargava of unwearied actions, thou art going through mental
afflictions and unbearable insults; therefore, O mother, let us both
enter into fire. Let the king spend many nights with Sarmishthā—the
daughter of a demon. Thou mayst withstand the insults but I shall never
brooke them. Permit me, I shall, in sooth, renounce my life.’ The son
having, weepingly and distressingly, said this, Devajāni was greatly
enraged and thought of her father. As soon as he was thought of by his
daughter Vargava speedily came there and beholding her senseless and
deprived from joy said ’Daughter, what is the matter?’ The effulgent
father having addressed his daughter repeatedly in this wise, Devajāni,
enraged, replied:—’O foremost of ascetics, I shall either enter into
fire, water, or drink poison—by no means I shall preserve this life of
mine. Thou dost not know of the miseries and insults I have been subject
to. Brahman, when a tree is neglected, those who live thereon are also
distressed. The king having disregarded me, forsooth thou hast also been
neglected.’ Hearing the words of his daughter, Vargava, enraged said to
the king Yayāti ’Thou art vicious-minded, O son of Nahusha; thou hast
dishonored me and therefore in thy youth thou shalt be subject to
decrepitude and infirmities of age.’ Having thus imprecated the curse
and consoled his sorrowful daughter the highly illustrious rishi Vargava
repaired to his own habitation. Having thus conferred solace unto his
daughter, that leading Brahman, effulgent as the sun, returned
therefrom."