स्वर्भानवी सुतानेतानायोः पुत्रान्प्रचक्षते। आयुषो नहुषः पुत्रो धीमान्सत्यपराक्रमः
These are said to be the sons of Svarbhanu's daughter; among the sons of Ayu, Nahusha was wise and truly valiant.
राज्यं शशास सुमहद्धर्मेण पृथिवीपते। पितॄन्देवानृषीन्विप्रान्गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसान्
Nahusha, lord of the earth, ruled a vast kingdom with righteousness; he protected ancestors, gods, sages, brahmins, gandharvas, serpents, and rakshasas.
नहुषः पालयामास ब्रह्मक्षत्रमथो विशः। स हत्वा दस्युसंघातानृषीन्करमदापयत्
Nahusha protected the brahmins, kshatriyas, and the people; having slain bands of robbers, he made the sages free from fear.
पशुवच्चैव तान्पृष्ठे वाहयामास वीर्यवान्। कारयामास चेन्द्रत्वमभिभूय दिवौकसः
He made them carry him on their backs like cattle, the mighty one; and, overpowering the dwellers of heaven, he made himself Indra.
तेजसा तपसा चैव विक्रमेणौजसा तथा। `विश्लिष्टो नहुषः शप्तः सद्यो ह्यजगरोऽभवत्'। यतिं ययातिं संयातिमायातिमयतिं ध्रुवम्
By his energy, austerity, valor, and strength, Nahusha became swollen with pride; cursed, he was instantly transformed into a serpent. He had sons: Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, Mayati, and Dhruva.
नहुषो जनयामास षट् सुतान्प्रियवादिनः। यतिस्तु योगमास्थाय ब्रह्मीभूतोऽभवन्मुनिः
Nahusha begot six sons who spoke kindly; Yati, embracing yoga, became a sage united with Brahman.
ययातिर्नाहुषः सम्राडासीत्सत्यपराक्रमः। स पालयामास महीमीजे च बहुभिर्मखैः
Yayati, son of Nahusha, was a sovereign of true valor; he ruled the earth and performed many great sacrifices.
अतिभक्त्या पितॄनर्चन्देवांश्च प्रयतः सदा। अन्वगृह्णात्प्रजाः सर्वा ययातिरपराजितः
With utmost devotion, he always worshipped the ancestors and gods with purity; unconquered Yayati cared for all his subjects.
तस्य पुत्रा महेष्वासाः सर्वैः समुदिता गुणैः। देवयान्यां महाराज शर्मिष्ठायां च जज्ञिरे
His sons were mighty archers, endowed with all virtues; O great king, they were born from Devayani and from Sharmishtha.
देवयान्यामजायेतां यदुस्तुर्वसुरेव च। द्रुह्युश्चानुश्च पूरुश्च शर्मिष्ठायां च जज्ञिरे
From Devayani were born Yadu and Turvasu; from Sharmishtha were born Druhyu, Anu, and Puru.
स शाश्वतीः समा राजन्प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्। जरामार्च्छन्महाघोरां नाहुषो रूपनाशिनीम्
O king, ruling his subjects with righteousness for many years, Nahusha's son Yayati encountered the dreadful old age that destroys beauty.
जराऽभिभूतः पुत्रान्स राजा वचनमब्रवीत्। यदुं पूरुं तुर्वसुं च द्रुह्युं चानुं च भारत
Overcome by old age, the king spoke to his sons—Yadu, Puru, Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu—O Bharata.
यौवनेन चरन्कामान्युवा युवतिभिः सह। बिहर्तुमहमिच्छामि साह्यं कुरुत पुत्रकाः
While still youthful, enjoying desires with young women, I wish to continue to delight in pleasures; my sons, make this possible for me.
तं पुत्रो दैवयानेयः पूर्वजो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। किं कार्यं भवतः कार्यमस्माकं यौवनेन ते
Then his eldest son by Devayani spoke: What is the use for you, and for us, of your youth?
ययातिरब्रवीत्तं वै जरा मे प्रतिगृह्यताम्। यौवनेन त्वदीयेन चरेयं विषयानहम्
Yayati said: Let my old age be accepted by you; with your youth, I will enjoy the pleasures of the senses.
यजतो दीर्घसत्रैर्मे शापाच्चोशनसो मुनेः। कामार्थः परिहीणोऽयं तप्येयं तेन पुत्रकाः
Because of my long sacrifices and the curse of the sage Usanas, my desire has been diminished; therefore, my sons, I am afflicted.
मामकेन शरीरेण राज्यमेकः प्रशास्तु वः। अहं तन्वाऽभिनवया युवा काममवाप्नुयाम्
Let one of you rule the kingdom with my body, while I, possessing a new and youthful form, may fulfill my desires.
ते न तस्य प्रत्यगृह्णन्यदुप्रभृतयो जराम्। तमब्रवीत्ततः पूरुः कनीयान्सत्यविक्रमः
None of them accepted his old age; then Puru, the youngest and true to his word, spoke to him.
राजंश्चराभिनवया तन्वा यौवनगोचरः। अहं जरां समादाय राज्ये स्थास्यामि तेज्ञया
"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."
एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिस्तपोवीर्यसमाश्रयात्। संचारयामास जरां तदा पुत्रे महात्मनि
Thus addressed, the royal sage, by the power of his austerity, transferred his old age at that time to his great-souled son.
पौरवेणाथ वयसा राजा यौवनमास्थितः। यायातेनापि वयसा राज्यं पूरुरकारयत्
Then the king, endowed with Puru's youth, enjoyed youthfulness, and Puru, with Yayati's age, governed the kingdom.
ततो वर्षसहस्राणि ययातिरपराजितः। स्थितः स नृपशार्दूलः शार्दूलसमविक्रमः
Thereafter, for a thousand years, Yayati, unconquered and tiger among kings, remained, possessing the vigor of a tiger.
ययातिरपि पत्नीभ्यां दीर्घकालं विहृत्य च। विश्वाच्या सहितो रेमे पुनश्चैत्ररथे वने
Yayati, after spending a long time with his wives, enjoyed himself with Vishvachi again in the Chaitraratha forest.
नाध्यगच्छत्तदा तृप्तिं कामानां स महायशाः। अवेत्य मनसा राजन्निमां गाथां तदा जगौ
Yet, that illustrious one did not attain satisfaction in desires; realizing this in his mind, O King, he then recited this verse.
न जातु कामः कामानामुपभोगेन शाम्यति। इविषा कृष्णवर्त्मेव भूय एवाभिवर्धते
Desire is never quenched by the enjoyment of desired objects; like fire fed with clarified butter, it only grows stronger.
यत्पृथिव्यां व्रीहियवं हिरण्यं पशवः स्त्रियः। नालमेकस्य तत्सर्वमिति मत्वा शमं व्रजेत्
Whatever rice, barley, gold, cattle, and women exist on earth—all that is not enough for one person; knowing this, one should seek contentment.
यदा न कुरुते पापं सर्वभूतेषु कर्हिचित्। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा
When one does not commit sin toward any being, by deed, mind, or speech, then one attains Brahman.
न बिभेति यदा चायं यदा चास्मान्न बिभ्यति। यदा नेच्छति न द्वेष्टि ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा
When a person does not fear, nor causes fear in others, and neither desires nor hates, then one attains Brahman.
इत्यवेक्ष्य महाप्राज्ञः कामानां फल्गुतां नृप। समाधाय मनो बुद्ध्या प्रत्यगृह्णाज्जरां सुतात्
Thus reflecting on the insignificance of desires, the wise king, having steadied his mind with understanding, accepted old age back from his son.
ततो वर्षसहस्रान्ते ययातिरपराजितः।' दत्वा च यौवनं राजा पूरुं राज्येऽभिषिच्य च। अतृप्त एव कामानां पूरुं पुत्रमुवाच ह
Then, at the end of a thousand years, the unconquered Yayati, after giving back youth and installing Puru as king, though still unsatisfied in desires, spoke to his son Puru.