When King Yayati, rejuvenated by the youth of his son Puru, regained his lost vigor, he reveled once more in the prime of life. Puru, now bearing the weight of his father’s old age, governed the kingdom with wisdom and steadiness. Yayati, thus endowed with youthful strength, lived for a thousand years, unconquered—a veritable tiger among kings, enjoying the fullness of his renewed vitality. During this time, Yayati spent many years with his wives, and again sought pleasure with the celestial nymph Vishvachi in the enchanting Chaitraratha forest. Yet, despite all his indulgence and enjoyment, the illustrious king found no true satisfaction in his desires. Realizing the insatiable nature of longing, he reflected deeply and uttered a profound truth: “Desire is never quenched by the enjoyment of desired objects; like fire fed with clarified butter, it only grows stronger.” He further contemplated, “Whatever rice, barley, gold, cattle, and women exist on earth—all that is not enough for one person. Knowing this, one should seek contentment.” He understood that only when one refrains from harming any being—by deed, thought, or word—does one attain Brahman. Moreover, when a person neither fears nor causes fear, and is free from desire and hatred, then too, Brahman is realized. Thus, reflecting on the futility of desire, the wise king steadied his mind and, with understanding, returned his youth to Puru, accepting back his own old age. At the end of his thousand-year reign, Yayati, though still not fully satisfied in his desires, restored Puru to the throne and spoke warmly to his son: “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 as king, Yayati, that tiger among men, turned his mind to virtue and great austerity, retiring to the heights of Bhṛgu mountain. There, after a long period of penance, he observed the rite of fasting with his wife and, in accordance with the law of time, departed this world, attaining heaven. Curious about the origins of this illustrious ancestor, Janamejaya asked the sage, “Yayāti, our ancestor, the tenth son of Prajāpati—how did he obtain the exceedingly rare daughter of Śukra? Tell me in detail, O sage rich in austerity, and recount the separate progenitors of the king’s lineage.” The sage replied, “Yayāti was a king, radiant as the lord of the gods. As before, Śukra and Vṛṣaparvan gave him their daughter. Now, O Janamejaya, I will recount fully the union of Devayānī and Yayāti, son of Nahusha, as you have asked. Once, a great conflict arose between the gods and the asuras, enveloping the three worlds—both moving and unmoving—in their struggle for sovereignty. The gods, desiring victory, chose the sage Aṅgiras as their priest for sacrifices, while the asuras chose Kāvya Uśanas (Śukra). These two brāhmaṇas, ever rivals, competed fiercely in their arts. In battle, the gods defeated the assembled dānavas, but Kāvya Uśanas, relying on his profound knowledge, revived the fallen asuras, who rose once more to challenge the gods. The asuras, in turn, slew the gods on the battlefield, but Bṛhaspati, wise though he was, could not revive them, for he did not possess the science known to the mighty Kāvya—the art of resurrection. Thus, the gods fell into great despair. Beset by fear, the gods approached Kaca, the eldest son of Bṛhaspati, and pleaded, “Support us, who seek your aid; grant us your utmost help. The knowledge we seek resides with the brāhmaṇa of immeasurable brilliance. Bring that knowledge swiftly from Śukra; you shall receive a share of the offerings. Near Vṛṣaparvan, O brāhmaṇa, you will find him. He protects the dānavas but not the non-dānavas. You alone, being young, can win over the sage. And his beloved daughter Devayānī—you alone can win her favor; no one else can. By virtue, generosity, sweetness, proper conduct, and self-control—if you please Devayānī, you will surely obtain that knowledge.” Accepting their request, Kaca, son of Bṛhaspati, departed, honored by the gods, and journeyed to the abode of Vṛṣaparvan. There, in the city of the lord of the Asuras, he approached Śukra and said, “I am known as Kaca, the grandson of the sage Aṅgiras, the direct son of Bṛhaspati. O revered one, please accept me as your disciple. I wish to observe strict celibacy under you, O supreme teacher; grant me permission to serve for a thousand years.” Śukra welcomed him warmly, replying, “Kaca, you are most welcome; I accept your words. I shall honor you, worthy of honor, as Bṛhaspati himself has been honored.” Thus, Kaca accepted the vow as prescribed, and under Śukra’s guidance, began his service, attending both to his teacher and to Devayānī. Ever eager to please her, Kaca delighted Devayānī, who had reached the bloom of youth, with singing, dancing, and music. He won her heart with offerings of flowers, fruits, and many services. Devayānī, too, served the young brāhmaṇa, joining him in song and play in private. For, as is known, women are drawn to a man who sings, gives gifts, speaks kindly, is handsome, and adorned with garlands.