Yayati
Vrishaparva was a famous demon king and Sharmishtha was his daughter. She and Devyani, the daughter of Shukracharya the preceptor of the demons, were the best of friends. Indra, the king of the demi-Gods was always on the lookout for an opportunity to create discord among the demons and had an eye on this friendship for some time.
Once, the two friends went to bathe in a river leaving their clothes on the bank. Indra, who had been following them, interchanged their garments. Sharmishtha came back first and inadvertently wore Devyani's clothes. When Devyani came from the river and saw Sharmishtha dressed in her clothes she was furious. "You are my inferior because my father is you father's teacher. Yet you dared to wear my clothes," she said. Sharmishtha was taken aback by this onslaught, but retaliated in kind. "It is you who is my inferior. My father is the king and your father lives on his charity," she retorted. A scuffle ensued in which Sharmishtha pushed Devyani down a well and went off in a huff.
It so happened that King Yayati passed that way. Yayati was a king of the lunar dynasty, a descendent of Pururava. He was out on a hunt, and stopped at the well for a drink. He saw Devyani struggling in the water and pulled her out. It was love at first sight and the two got married immediately.
Meanwhile Shukracharya learnt of the mistreatment meted out to his daughter. He stormed into King Vrishaparva's court and threatened to leave the demons forever. The demons would be doomed without Shukracharya and hence Vrishaparva pleaded with his teacher requesting him to calm down. Shukracharya asked him to pacify Devyani and only then would he consent to remain.
Devyani said, "Sharmishtha has to be made to realise the she is inferior to me and hence she has to serve me as my maid servant." Vrishaparva had no choice. He convinced his reluctant daughter to abide by Devyani's condition and then requested Shukracharya to continue being the preceptor of the demons. Shukracharya agreed but he knew that this was not the end of the matter.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and he knew Sharmishtha would be thirsting for revenge. He approached Yayati and warned him, "You are now Devyani's husband and if you have any sexual relations with Sharmishtha, who is now Devyani's maid, I will personally punish you." Shukracharya's fears were not unfounded. Sharmishtha would lose no opportunity to accost Yayati alone, flirt with him and make passes to him. Ultimately she succeeded in seducing him, but before yielding to his passion she insisted they get married in secret. Hence Yayati lived with two wives.
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