Devayani


In Hindu mythology, Devayani was a daughter of Shukracharya, Daitya guru and his wife Jayanti, daughter of Indra. She was married to Yayati, and gave birth to two sons — Yadu and Turvasu. Before her marriage, she once fell in love with Brihaspati's son, Kacha. However, Kacha later refused to marry her.

Scuffle with Sharmiștha

was the daughter of Vrisaparva, the Danava king, for whom Shukracharya was an adviser. One day Sharmishtha, daughter of the Danava king Vrishparva and Devayani, daughter of the Daitya sage Shukracharya, go with Sharmishtha's retinue to bathe in a forest pool not far from their home. After bathing, Sharmishtha confuses Devayani's sari with hers and puts it on instead. Devayani returns, scolds Sharmishtha for her mistake and belittles her with the jibe that she is the daughter of Shukracharya as Vrishparva's and their Kingdom lives on his blessings. This slur on herself and her father Vrishparva infuriates Sharmishtha with the help of her servants throws the naked Devayani into a well and leaves the forest with her retinue. Later Yayati, son of Nahusha, comes to the well for water and helps Devayani to climb out of it. When Devyani comes back to her father, she narrates the whole story and demands that Sharmishtha along with other asura girls serve her as maid, which Vrishparva has to agree for he doesn't want to offend Shukracharya.

Marriage

Some days later Devayani goes to a picnic in the forest along with her Sharmișțha and other servants. There Yayati comes for hunting and they meet again. This time she brings him to her father and tells him that they would like to marry. Shukracharya gives his consent and tells Yayati that he should take care of Sharmista too as she was a princess but shouldn't have nuptial relation with her. Yayati marries Devayani and looks after her well.
Yayati sired two sons, Yadu and Thurvasu with Devyani. Unknown to her he had married Sharmista and had three sons with her, Dhruhyu, Anu and Puru. When Devayani learns of this she leaves him and returns to her father's place. Shukracharya curses him with premature old age. However, on Yayati's insistence he agrees to reduce the curse on condition that Yayati can swap his old age with the youth of any of his young sons. Yayati swaps his youth with his 5th son Puru.