“Hearing this, Kacha said, ’I have refused thy request only because thou art the daughter of my preceptor, and not because thou hast any fault.  Nor hath my preceptor in this respect issued any command.  Curse me if it please thee.  I have told thee what the behaviour should be of a Rishi.  I do not deserve thy curse, O Devayani.  But yet thou hast cursed me!  Thou hast acted under the influence of passion and not from a sense of duty.  Therefore, thy desire will not be fulfilled.  No Rishi’s son shall ever accept thy hand in marriage.  Thou hast said that my knowledge shall not bear fruit.  Let it be so.  But in respect of him it shall bear fruit to whom I may impart it.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’That first of Brahmanas, Kacha, having said so unto Devayani speedily wended his way unto the abode of the chief of the celestials.  Beholding him arrived, the celestials with Indra ahead, having first worshipped him, spoke unto him as follows, ’Thou hast indeed, performed an act of great benefit for us.  Wonderful hath been thy achievement!  Thy fame shall never die!  Thou shall be a sharer with us in sacrificial offerings.’”

SECTION LXXVIII

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana said, ’The dwellers in heaven became exceedingly glad in welcoming Kacha who had mastered the wonderful science.  And, O bull of Bharata’s race, the celestials then learnt that science from Kacha and considered their object already achieved.  And assembling together, they spoke unto him of a hundred sacrifices, saying, ’The time hath come for showing prowess.  Slay thy foes, O Purandara!’ And thus addressed, Maghavat, then accompanied by the celestials, set out, saying, ’So be it.’  But on his way he saw a number of damsels.  These maidens were sporting in a lake in the gardens of the Gandharva Chitraratha.  Changing himself into wind, he soon mixed up the garments of those maidens which they had laid on the bank.  A little while after, the maidens, getting up from the water, approached their garments that had, indeed, got mixed up with one another.  And it so happened that from the intermingled heap, the garments of Devayani were appropriated by Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, from ignorance that it was not hers.  And, O king, thereupon, between them, Devayani and Sarmishtha, then ensued a dispute.  And Devayani said, ’O daughter of the Asura (chief), why dost thou take my attire, being, as thou art, my disciple?  As thou art destitute of good behaviour, nothing good can happen to thee!’ Sarmishtha, however, quickly replied, ’Thy father occupying a lower seat, always adoreth with downcast looks, like a hired chanter of praises, my father, whether he sitteth at his ease or reclineth at full length!  Thou art the daughter of one that chanteth the praises of others, of one that accepteth alms.  I am the daughter of one who is adored, of one who bestoweth alms instead of ever accepting them!  Beggar-woman as thou art, thou art free to strike thy breast, to use ill words, to vow enmity to me, to give way to thy wrath.  Acceptress of alms, thou weepest tears of anger in vain!  If so minded, I can harm thee, but thou canst not.  Thou desirest to quarrel.  But know thou that I do not reckon thee as my equal!’