Sharmistha, daughter of Vrisha Parva, was the childhood
friend of Devyani. The story of Sharmitha, Devayani (daughter of Shukracharya)
and Yayati is found in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. It is also mentioned
in the Bhagavata Purana. She is also the mother great King Puru.
Once, a quarrel broke out between Devayani and Sharmistha. It
turned into a physical fight and Devayani fell into a well. King Yayati who happened
to pass by pulled her out.
Devayani was extremely angry and was pacified only when Sharmistha
agreed to be her servant.
Soon, Devayani was married to King Yayati. Sharmistha also
went to Yayati’s palace as the servant of Devayani.
Yayati fell in love with Sharmistha. They had an affair, and
she gave birth to three sons – Anu, Druhya and Puru.
When Devayani came to know about this, she was terribly
annoyed and went to stay with her father. Sage Shukracharya cursed Yayati that
he would lose his youth forthwith.
But the youngest son of Yayati, Puru, exchanged his youth
with that of his father.
Sharmistha by her pleasant personality won the heart of
Yayati. He too loved her and made her his queen along with Devayani.