Among the sons of Ayu, Nahusha stood out as wise and truly valiant. Born to Svarbhanu’s daughter, Nahusha became lord of the earth, ruling a vast kingdom with righteousness. He protected not only his subjects but also the ancestors, gods, sages, brahmins, gandharvas, serpents, and rakshasas. Nahusha ensured the safety of brahmins, kshatriyas, and the people, and after slaying bands of robbers, he made the sages free from fear. In his might, Nahusha compelled others—even the dwellers of heaven—to carry him on their backs like cattle. Overpowering them, he made himself Indra, king of the gods. Yet, swollen with pride from his energy, austerity, valor, and strength, Nahusha was cursed and instantly transformed into a serpent. He had six sons: Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, Mayati, and Dhruva, all known for their gentle speech. Yati, embracing yoga, became a sage united with Brahman. Yayati, Nahusha’s son, became a sovereign of true valor. He ruled the earth, performing many great sacrifices. With utmost devotion, Yayati worshipped the ancestors and gods with purity, and he cared for all his subjects, remaining unconquered. His sons, mighty archers endowed with all virtues, were born from Devayani and Sharmishtha. From Devayani came Yadu and Turvasu; from Sharmishtha came Druhyu, Anu, and Puru. Yayati ruled his subjects with righteousness for many years, but eventually, he encountered the dreadful old age that destroys beauty. Overcome by old age, the king spoke to his sons—Yadu, Puru, Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu—while still youthful, enjoying desires with young women, he wished to continue delighting in pleasures and asked his sons to make this possible for him. His eldest son by Devayani replied, questioning the use of youth for either of them. Yayati then requested that his old age be accepted by one of them, so he could enjoy the pleasures of youth. He explained that his desire had been diminished by the curse of the sage Usanas and his long sacrifices, and he was afflicted. He wished that one of his sons would rule the kingdom with his aged body, while he, possessing a youthful form, could fulfill his desires. None of his sons agreed to accept his old age, except Puru, the youngest and true to his word. Puru told his father, “O King, you may roam with a new and youthful body, enjoying youth; I will take on old age and remain in the kingdom by your command.” Thus addressed, Yayati, by the power of his austerity, transferred his old age to his great-souled son. Yayati, endowed with Puru’s youth, enjoyed youthfulness, while Puru, with Yayati’s age, governed the kingdom. For a thousand years, Yayati, unconquered and a tiger among kings, possessed the vigor of youth. He spent a long time with his wives and again enjoyed himself with Vishvachi in the Chaitraratha forest. Yet, despite all his enjoyment, Yayati did not attain satisfaction in his desires. Realizing this, he recited a verse: “Desire is never quenched by the enjoyment of desired objects; like fire fed with clarified butter, it only grows stronger. Whatever rice, barley, gold, cattle, and women exist on earth—all that is not enough for one person; knowing this, one should seek contentment. When one does not commit sin toward any being, by deed, mind, or speech, then one attains Brahman. When a person does not fear, nor causes fear in others, and neither desires nor hates, then one attains Brahman.” Reflecting on the insignificance of desires, the wise king steadied his mind with understanding and accepted old age back from his son. At the end of a thousand years, Yayati gave back youth and installed Puru as king. Though still unsatisfied in desires, he spoke to Puru: “Through you I have an heir; you are the perpetuator of my line, my son. The lineage will be known in the world as the Paurava line because of you.” Having installed Puru in the kingdom, Yayati performed virtuous deeds and practiced great austerity on the Bhṛgu mountain. After a long time, in accordance with the law of time, Yayati departed this world. Having performed the rite of fasting with his wife, he attained heaven. Janamejaya then asked: “Yayāti, our ancestor, the tenth son of Prajāpati—how did he obtain the exceedingly rare daughter of Śukra? I wish to hear this in detail, O sage rich in austerity, and also the separate progenitors of the king’s lineage.” The sage replied: “Yayāti was a king, radiant as the lord of the gods. Śukra and Vṛṣaparvan gave him their daughter, just as before. Now I shall recount to you, O Janamejaya, the union of Devayānī and Yayāti, son of Nahusha. There arose a great conflict between the gods and the asuras throughout the three worlds, moving and unmoving, for the sake of sovereignty. Desiring victory, the gods chose the sage Aṅgiras as their priest for sacrifices, while the others chose Kāvya Uśanas. Those two brāhmaṇas, ever rivals, competed intensely. In that battle, the gods defeated the assembled dānavas.