The Tale of Devyani, King Yayati, and the Complex Web of Love and Duty

In ancient times, there was a beautiful and strong-willed princess named Devyani, the daughter of Shukracharya, the revered guru of the Asuras (demons). Devyani was admired for her intelligence and charm, but she also possessed a fierce sense of pride. She had a close friendship with Sarmishtha, the daughter of the Asura king Vrishaparva. However, one day, a misunderstanding between them turned their friendship into enmity.

During a heated argument, Sarmishtha, in a moment of rage, insulted Devyani and pushed her into a well. Unable to climb out, Devyani waited for someone to come by and rescue her.

### The Meeting with King Yayati

As fate would have it, King Yayati, a noble and powerful ruler, happened to pass by the well where Devyani was trapped. Hearing her cries for help, he looked into the well and saw her. Extending his hand, he helped her climb out. Devyani, overcome by gratitude, felt an instant connection to the kind and handsome king. She knew that according to her beliefs, accepting help from a man meant that he was now bound to her in some way.

With her heart set on Yayati, Devyani returned to her father, Shukracharya, and told him what had happened. Shukracharya, seeing his daughter’s deep feelings for Yayati, agreed to the match, and King Yayati was soon married to Devyani with her father’s blessings. 

As part of the arrangement, Sarmishtha, as punishment for her offense, was made Devyani’s maid, serving her day and night. Though Sarmishtha accepted her fate with dignity, she harbored a lingering sorrow over her fall from grace.

### A Secret Relationship with Sarmishtha

As time passed, Yayati and Devyani’s marriage faced struggles. Devyani’s proud and possessive nature often led to disagreements, and her need for Yayati’s constant attention strained their relationship. Meanwhile, Yayati noticed the quiet dignity and kindness of Sarmishtha, who served her mistress with grace despite their past conflict.

One day, Sarmishtha confided in Yayati about her sorrow and her fall from royalty. Seeing her pain, Yayati’s heart went out to her, and he soon developed feelings for her as well. Over time, Sarmishtha and Yayati began a secret relationship, and Sarmishtha bore him three sons. They kept their relationship hidden from Devyani, fearing her wrath and her father’s reaction.

### Devyani’s Discovery and Shukracharya’s Curse

Eventually, Devyani discovered the truth about Yayati and Sarmishtha’s relationship. She was devastated and furious at both her husband and Sarmishtha. Feeling deeply betrayed, she went to her father, Shukracharya, and told him of Yayati’s actions. The sage, enraged by the betrayal his daughter had suffered, cursed Yayati, condemning him to immediate old age, taking away his youth and vitality as punishment for his deceit.

Yayati, however, pleaded with Shukracharya for mercy, expressing his regret and explaining his inability to control his desires. Moved by his remorse, Shukracharya softened the curse slightly, allowing Yayati to temporarily exchange his old age with one of his sons, should any be willing to accept the burden.

### The Lesson in Contentment

Yayati went to his sons, asking each if they would take on his old age so that he might experience youth once again. After several refusals, his youngest son, Puru, agreed, willingly sacrificing his own youth to allow his father to regain his vitality. Yayati embraced his restored youth, indulging in worldly pleasures and enjoying the beauty of life once again.

However, after years of indulgence, Yayati realized that his desires were insatiable. No matter how much he experienced, his yearning for pleasure only grew. Finally, understanding the futility of chasing endless desires, Yayati returned to Puru, offering him back his youth and blessing him with the throne as a mark of his gratitude. Puru accepted, becoming one of the most respected kings in history.

Yayati then retired to the forest to live a life of simplicity and contemplation, having learned that true contentment and peace lie not in worldly pleasures but in self-control and inner tranquility.

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**Moral:** The story of Devyani, Yayati, and Sarmishtha highlights the consequences of pride, desire, and betrayal. It teaches us that unchecked desires can lead to suffering and that true happiness comes from inner peace and self-discipline rather than external pleasures. Furthermore, the tale underscores the power of forgiveness and sacrifice, as exemplified by Puru, whose selflessness brought honor to his family and kingdom.

**Title: Acharya Drona, the Great Teacher of the Princes of Hastinapur**

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In the ancient city of Hastinapur, the throne was occupied by King Bhishma, the great warrior and elder statesman, who had taken an oath to serve the Kuru dynasty with unwavering loyalty. King Bhishma was deeply devoted to the welfare of the young princes of Hastinapur, who would one day inherit the kingdom. Among these princes were the Pandavas and Kauravas, each destined for greatness yet in need of the best training in warfare and wisdom. Recognizing this, Bhishma sought out the legendary teacher, Acharya Drona, to guide and instruct the young princes in the art of weaponry and strategy.

### The Arrival of Drona

Acharya Drona was a revered teacher and a skilled archer, well-versed in all forms of martial arts. Though once a prince himself, he lived a humble life due to past misfortunes and was respected for his vast knowledge and disciplined approach to life. When Bhishma approached him to teach the royal princes of Hastinapur, Drona accepted the task with a sense of duty, aware that his teachings could shape the future of the Kuru dynasty.

Soon, Drona arrived in Hastinapur, where he was warmly welcomed by Bhishma and the entire royal family. He set up an ashram on the outskirts of the city, where he would instruct the princes in the skills of archery, swordsmanship, and other aspects of warfare. His students included the noble and righteous Pandavas—Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva—as well as the ambitious and competitive Kauravas, led by their eldest, Duryodhana.

### The Rigorous Training

Under Drona’s strict guidance, the princes endured rigorous training. Drona was a firm yet fair teacher, demanding complete focus, discipline, and dedication. Each prince had unique strengths—Bhima’s unmatched physical power, Yudhishthira’s wisdom and adherence to dharma, and Arjuna’s skill with the bow, which quickly earned Drona’s special admiration. Among all his students, Arjuna’s dedication was unparalleled; he practiced relentlessly, often through the night, driven by a desire to become the finest archer in the world.

Seeing Arjuna’s potential and commitment, Drona made him a promise: “As long as I am your teacher, you shall be the greatest archer in the land.” Arjuna’s trust in his teacher deepened, and he committed to surpassing every challenge Drona set before him.

### Eklavya’s Devotion and Sacrifice

One day, a young tribal boy named Eklavya approached Drona, expressing his desire to learn the art of archery. Drona, bound by his duty to the princes, refused to teach him, explaining that he was committed to the royal family alone. Undeterred, Eklavya built a clay statue of Drona and practiced tirelessly, treating the statue as his teacher.

Eklavya’s devotion bore fruit, and he soon became an exceptional archer, mastering the skills without formal instruction. When Drona later discovered Eklavya’s talent, he was both impressed and troubled, realizing that Eklavya’s skills could one day rival Arjuna’s. To honor his promise to Arjuna, Drona demanded an unusual *guru dakshina* (teacher’s fee) from Eklavya: his right thumb, the very source of his archery prowess. Without hesitation, Eklavya complied, sacrificing his own skill out of respect for Drona.

### The Test of Loyalty

Years passed, and under Drona’s guidance, the princes excelled in their martial training, gaining mastery over their respective skills. To assess their abilities, Drona arranged a grand tournament, showcasing their prowess before the royal family and citizens of Hastinapur. Each prince displayed his skills, but it was Arjuna’s performance that captivated the crowd, earning admiration for his precision and grace.

In a final test, Drona instructed his students to focus their aim on the eye of a bird perched on a tree. When Yudhishthira, Bhima, and others took aim, he asked each one what they could see. They described seeing the bird, the branches, and the tree. However, when it was Arjuna’s turn, he declared, “I see only the eye of the bird.” Pleased, Drona allowed Arjuna to shoot, and with flawless precision, he hit his target, affirming his status as Drona’s finest student.

### The Debt of Gratitude

After years of serving the royal family, Drona requested his guru dakshina from the princes. Surprisingly, he asked them to capture King Drupada, a childhood friend who had insulted him years earlier by refusing to acknowledge their friendship due to Drona’s poverty. To fulfill their teacher’s wish, Arjuna and the Pandavas led a campaign against Drupada, eventually capturing him and bringing him before Drona.

Drona, though avenged, released Drupada, dividing his kingdom but showing mercy. From that moment, Drupada became Drona’s rival, vowing to one day defeat him. Their enmity would later echo throughout the Mahabharata, affecting the destinies of both the Pandavas and Kauravas.

### Legacy of a Great Teacher

Under Drona’s mentorship, the princes of Hastinapur grew into skilled and formidable warriors, ready to uphold their dynasty. Drona’s teachings shaped the very fabric of their values and honor, becoming instrumental in the unfolding events of the great Kurukshetra War. Arjuna, in particular, carried Drona’s legacy, embodying his teacher’s values of skill, discipline, and respect for dharma.

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**Moral:** The story of Acharya Drona and the princes of Hastinapur highlights the profound impact a great teacher can have on his students. Through his wisdom, discipline, and guidance, Drona instilled virtues and skills that prepared them for life’s greatest challenges. His tale also reminds us of the sacrifices and difficult choices teachers often make to uphold promises and fulfill their responsibilities, shaping the destiny of those who come after them.