mukhaṁ puṁsaḥ parasya ye
yair idaṁ tapasā sṛṣṭaṁ
mukhaṁ puṁsaḥ parasya ye
dhāryate yair iha jyotiḥ
śivaḥ panthāḥ pradarśitaḥ
yān vandanty upatiṣṭhante
loka-nāthāḥ sureśvarāḥ
bhagavān api viśvātmā
pāvanaḥ śrī-niketanaḥ
vayaṁ tatrāpi bhṛgavaḥ
śiṣyo 'syā naḥ pitāsuraḥ
asmad-dhāryaṁ dhṛtavatī
śūdro vedam ivāsatī
The brāhmaṇas have created the universe by their austerities. They are the face of the Supreme Lord, possess Brahman and show the auspicious path. The devatās, lords of the world, and even the Supreme Lord, the purifier, the soul of the universe, the abode of Lakṣmī, glorify and honor the brāhmaṇas. Among the brāhmaṇas, we are the descendents of Bhṛgu, and her demonic father is our disciple. This unchaste woman puts on the clothing of a brāhmaṇa, just as a śūdra tries to study the Vedas.
In three verses she describes the impropriety. Sages like Dakṣa possess Brahman (jyotiḥ). Just being a brāhmaṇa is worthy of such respect. And we are the descendents of Bhṛgu among the brāhmaṇas. Her father is our disciple.
|| 9.18.15 ||
evaṁ kṣipantīṁ śarmiṣṭhā
guru-putrīm abhāṣata
ruṣā śvasanty uraṅgīva
dharṣitā daṣṭa-dacchadā
When thus rebuked, Śarmiṣṭhā, breathing like a trampled serpent and biting her lower lip with her teeth, spoke in anger to the daughter of Śukrācārya.
|| 9.18.16 ||
ātma-vṛttam avijñāya
katthase bahu bhikṣuki
kiṁ na pratīkṣase 'smākaṁ
gṛhān balibhujo yathā
O beggar! You boast profusely without understanding your position. Do you brāhmaṇas not wait at our house like crows?
Bali-bhujaḥ means crows.
|| 9.18.17 ||
evaṁ-vidhaiḥ suparuṣaiḥ
kṣiptvācārya-sutāṁ satīm
śarmiṣṭhā prākṣipat kūpe
vāsaś cādāya manyunā
After scolding Devayānī, the daughter of Śukrācārya, with such harsh words, she took away Devayānī's garments and threw Devayānī into a well.
|| 9.18.18 ||
tasyāṁ gatāyāṁ sva-gṛhaṁ
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