When Yayati, the renowned king and son of Nahusha, was cursed for neglecting the sacred fire, he was told that his own offspring would perish before him, and he too would meet a similar fate. After being rejected by his four elder sons and cursing them in turn, Yayati turned to his youngest son, Puru, seeking to test his worthiness. Approaching Puru with affection, Yayati said, “You are my beloved son, and you shall become greater than the others. Old age, wrinkles, and gray hairs have overtaken me, my child. Because of the curse of Kavi, son of Ushanas, I am not satisfied with youth. Puru, if you will take upon yourself my sin along with my old age, I may enjoy pleasures for a certain time as I desire. When a thousand years are complete, I will return youth to you, and reclaim my own sin and old age.” Hearing these words, Puru replied sincerely, “O great king, whatever you command, I will do. The words of a guru are sacred, bring heaven, and grant long life; by the guru’s favor, even Indra ruled the three worlds. By accepting the guru’s wishes, one attains all desires. For as long as you wish, I will bear your old age. I will take upon myself your sin and old age, O king; receive youth from me and enjoy pleasures as you desire. Covered by old age, I will assume your form and age; having given you youth, I will live as you wish.” Yayati was deeply pleased with Puru’s devotion. He blessed him, saying, “Since I am pleased, I grant you this: your progeny will flourish in the kingdom, endowed with every desire.” With that, Yayati, remembering the curse of Kavi, transferred his old age and its burdens to the great-souled Puru. Now, Yayati, restored to youth by Puru’s sacrifice, became a handsome prince once more, filled with delight, and enjoyed beloved pleasures. He lived with enthusiasm, at the right time, and with happiness, always within the bounds of dharma. He satisfied the gods through sacrifices, honored his ancestors with offerings, gave gifts to the poor, and rewarded the best of the twice-born. He treated guests with food and drink, protected his people, showed compassion to the lowly, and restrained wrongdoers. Yayati ruled his subjects with righteousness, winning their affection like another Indra, the king of the gods. As a young king, lion-like in valor and master of his realm, Yayati moved freely within the bounds of righteousness, enjoying supreme happiness without opposition. Having attained all his desires, he was both satisfied and weary. He remembered the time that would end after a thousand years. Knowing the reckoning of time, Yayati, strong in vigor, counted the moments and hours as the thousand years passed. He enjoyed himself with Vishvachi, shining in the Nandana grove, and spent time in Alaka and on the northern peak of Meru. When the righteous king saw that his time was fulfilled, he spoke to his son Puru: “O subduer of foes, I have enjoyed pleasures as I wished, with all my energy, and at the proper time, through my youth, for your sake. Desire is never quenched by enjoyment; like a fire fed with clarified butter, it only grows stronger. All the rice, barley, gold, cattle, and women on earth are not enough for even one man. Therefore, one should abandon craving. That craving, hard to abandon by the foolish, which does not age even as the body ages, is the fatal disease—happiness comes to one who gives it up. For a full thousand years, my mind was attached to pleasures, yet every day my craving only increased. Therefore, giving this up, I will set my mind on Brahman, free from duality and possessiveness, and live with the deer.” With great satisfaction, Yayati blessed Puru, saying, “May good befall you! Take back your youth and accept this kingdom. Enjoy youth as long as you wish, and rule with long life, for you are my beloved son.” Then Yayati accepted old age once more, and Puru, self-controlled, regained his youth. When the time came to anoint Puru, the youngest son, as king, the Brahmins and other orders questioned Yayati: “O lord, how is it that, passing over Yadu, the eldest son of Devayani and grandson of Shukra, you give the kingdom to Puru? Yadu was born first, then Turvasu; from Sharmishtha came Druhyu, then Anu, and finally Puru. How can the youngest deserve the kingdom, passing over the elders? Please consider this—uphold righteousness.” Yayati addressed all the orders, with the Brahmanas at their head: “The kingdom must never, under any circumstance, be given to the eldest. My eldest son, Yadu, did not obey my command; a son who acts contrary to his father is not regarded as a true son by the virtuous. A son who follows the words of his mother and father, who is devoted and acts for their welfare, is truly a son and behaves as a son should toward his parents. ‘Puti’ is the name of hell; hell is known as suffering. Therefore, for protection from hell, people desire a son here and hereafter. A son who resembles himself, who honors father, gods, and sages, and who is a source of many virtues, he alone is called the eldest son. A mute, blind, deaf, or leprous son, one who does not follow his own duty, a thief, or a sinful son—even if he is the eldest—is not called the eldest.” Thus, by virtue and devotion, Puru received his father’s youth and the kingdom, and Yayati, having realized the futility of desire, set his mind on higher pursuits.