Verse 18
The hand taken at the well· Verses 18–23
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हस्तग्राहोऽपरो मा भूद् गृहीतायास्त्वया हि मे ।एष ईशकृतो वीर सम्बन्धो नौ न पौरुषः ।यदिदं कूपमग्नाया भवतो दर्शनं मम
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18When she had gone home, Yayati, out after game, came by chance to that well wanting water, and there he saw her. 19She had nothing on her, and the king gave her his own upper cloth, and took her hand in his hand, and lifted her out, being full of pity. 20Usanas' daughter said to that hero, in a voice heavy with love: King, taker of the cities of your enemies, you have taken my hand in yours. 21Let no other man take the hand of one whose hand you have taken. This bond of ours, hero, was made by the Lord and not by any man's doing: that you should have seen me here, sunk in a well. 22No brahmin will be the taker of my hand, great-armed one, because of the curse of Kaca, the son of Brhaspati, whom I cursed long ago.
23Yayati saw that this was not what he had meant, and that fate had brought it upon him; but knowing his own mind had gone after her, he took up what she said.