त्रयोऽस्यां जनिताः पुत्रा राज्ञाऽनेन ययातिना। दुर्भगाया मम द्वौ तु पुत्रौ तात ब्रवीमि ते
Three sons have been born to her by this king, Yayati. But, O father, I tell you, only two sons are mine, unfortunate as I am.
धर्मज्ञ इति विख्यात एष राजा भृगूद्वह। अतिक्रान्तश्च मर्यादां काव्यैतत्कथयामि ते
This king is renowned as a knower of righteousness, O descendant of Bhrigu. Yet he has transgressed the bounds; O Kavi, I tell you this.
धर्मज्ञः सन्महाराज योऽधर्ममकृथाः प्रियम्। तस्माज्जरा त्वामचिराद्धर्षयिष्यति दुर्जया
O great king, though you know righteousness, you have done what is unrighteous out of desire; therefore, before long, the invincible old age will overpower you.
ऋतुं वै याचमानाया भगवन्नान्यचेतसा। दुहितुर्दानवेन्द्रस्य धर्म्यमेतत्कृतं मया
O venerable one, when she asked for her season with a single-minded heart, I acted righteously in granting this to the daughter of the lord of the Dānavas.
ऋतुं वै याचमानाया न ददाति पुमानृतुम्। भ्रूणहेत्युच्यते ब्रह्मन् स इह ब्रह्मवादिभिः
If a man does not grant the season to a woman who asks for it, O Brāhmaṇa, he is called a destroyer of the embryo by those learned in the Veda.
अभिकामां स्त्रियं यश्च गम्यां रहसि याचितः। नोपैति स च धर्मेषु भ्रूणहेत्युच्यते बुधैः
And if a woman, impassioned and eligible, requests a man in private and he does not approach her, the wise declare him to be a destroyer of the embryo in matters of righteousness.
यद्यद्वृणोति मां कश्चित्तत्तद्देयमिति व्रतम्। त्वया च सापि दत्ता मे नान्यं नाथमिहेच्छति
My vow is that whatever anyone asks of me, that I shall give; and she was given to me by you, and she desires no other protector here.
इत्येतानि समीक्ष्याहं कारणानि भृगूद्वह। अधर्मभयसंविग्नः शर्मिष्ठामुपजग्मिवान्। `मत्वैतन्मे धर्म इति कृतं ब्रह्मन्क्षमस्व माम्
Considering these reasons, O best of Bhṛgus, and troubled by fear of unrighteousness, I approached Śarmiṣṭhā, thinking, 'This is righteousness for me.' O Brāhmaṇa, forgive me for this act.
नन्वहं प्रत्यवेक्ष्यस्ते मदधीनोऽसि पार्थिव। मिथ्याचारस्य धर्मेषु चौर्यं भवति नाहुष
Surely, I acted after considering your will, for I am dependent on you, O king; in matters of righteousness, false conduct is said to be theft, O descendant of Nahusha.
क्रुद्धेनोशनसा शप्तो ययातिर्नाहुषस्तदा। पूर्वं वयः परित्यज्य जरां सद्योऽन्वपद्यत
Then Yayāti, son of Nahusha, was cursed by the angry Uśanas; immediately, forsaking his former youth, he was overtaken by old age.
अतृप्तो यौवनस्याहं देवयान्यां भृगूद्वह। प्रसादं कुरु मे ब्रह्मञ्जरेयं न विशेच्च माम्
O best of Bhṛgus, I am unsatisfied with youth in Devayānī; grant me your favor, O Brāhmaṇa, so that this old age may not afflict me.
नाहं मृषा ब्रवीम्येतज्जरां प्राप्तोऽसि भूमिप। जरां त्वेतां त्वमन्यस्मिन्संक्रामय यदीच्छसि
I do not speak falsely: you have been overtaken by old age, O king; if you wish, you may transfer this old age to another.
राज्यभाक्स भवेद्ब्रह्मन्पुण्यभाक्कीर्तिभाक्तथा। यो मे दद्याद्वयः पुत्रस्तद्भवाननुमन्यताम्
O Brāhmaṇa, he who would give me his youth—let that son be granted the kingdom, merit, and fame; let this be approved by you.
संक्रामयिष्यसि जरां येथेष्टं नहुषात्मज। मामनुध्याय भावेन न च पापमवाप्स्यसि
You may transfer your old age as you wish, O son of Nahusha; do so without hesitation, and you will not incur sin.
वयो दास्यति ते पुत्रो यः स राजा भविष्यति। आयुष्मान्कीर्तिमांश्चैव बह्वपत्यस्तथैव च
The son who gives you his youth will become king; he will be long-lived, renowned, and have many children.
जरां प्राप्य ययातिस्तु स्वपुरं प्राप्य चैव हि। पुत्रं ज्येष्ठं वरिष्ठं च यदुमित्यब्रवीद्वचः
Having been afflicted by old age, Yayāti returned to his own city and spoke these words to his eldest and most distinguished son, Yadu.
जरावली च मां तात पलितानि च पर्यगुः। काव्यस्योशनसः शापान्न च तृप्तोऽस्मि यौवने
Old age has overtaken me, dear son, and gray hairs have spread over me; by the curse of Kāvya Uśanas, I am not yet satisfied with youth.
त्वं यदो प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह। यौवनेन त्वदीयेन चरेयं विषयानहम्
Yadu, take upon yourself my sin along with my old age, so that I may enjoy the pleasures of the senses with your youth.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु पुनस्ते यौवनं त्वहम्। दत्त्वा स्वं प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानं जरया सह
But after a thousand full years, I will return your youth to you, having taken back my sin along with old age.
जरायां बहवो दोषाः पानभोजनकारिताः। तस्माज्जरां न ते राजन्ग्रहीष्य इति मे मतिः
There are many faults in old age, arising from eating and drinking; therefore, O king, it is my decision not to accept your old age.
सितश्मश्रुर्निरानन्दो जरया शिथिलीकृतः। वलीसङ्गतगात्रस्तु दुर्दर्शो दुर्बलः कृशः
With white beard, joyless, loosened by old age, his limbs gathered with wrinkles, he is hard to look upon, weak, and thin.
अशक्तः कार्यकरणे परिभूतः स यौवतैः। सहोपजीविभिश्चैव तां जरां नाभिकामये
Unable to perform his duties, scorned by the young and by those who live with him, I do not desire that old age.
सन्ति ते बहवः पुत्रा मत्तः प्रियतरा नृप। जरां ग्रहीतुं धर्मज्ञ तस्मादन्यं वृणीष्व वै
You have many sons, O king, dearer to you than I am; therefore, O knower of dharma, choose another to accept old age.
यत्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि। तस्मादराज्यभाक्तात प्रजा तव भविष्यति
Since you are born from my heart yet do not give me your youth, therefore, O unworthy of the kingdom, your offspring shall be yours.
प्रत्याख्यातस्तु राजा स तुर्वसुं प्रत्युवाच ह।' तुर्वसो प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह। यौवनेन चरेयं वै विषयांस्तव पुत्रक
Thus rejected, the king spoke to Turvasu: 'Turvasu, accept the affliction of old age; let me, with youth, enjoy your pleasures, my son.'
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु पुनर्दास्यामि यौवनम्। स्वं चैव प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानं जरया सह
When a thousand years are complete, I will return your youth, and I will again take upon myself the affliction of old age.
न कामये जरां तात कामभोगप्रणाशिनीम्। बलरूपान्तकरणीं बुद्धिप्राणप्रणाशिनीम्
I do not desire old age, father, which destroys the enjoyment of desires, brings an end to strength and beauty, and destroys intellect and life.
यत्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि। तस्मात्प्रजा समुच्छेदं तुर्वसो तव यास्यति
Since you are born from my heart yet do not give me your youth, therefore, Turvasu, your lineage shall come to an end.
संकीर्णाचारधर्मेषु प्रतिलोमचरेषु च। पिशिताशिषु चान्त्येषु मूढ राजा भविष्यसि
You shall be a king among those of mixed and reversed conduct and dharma, among flesh-eaters and the lowest, O deluded one.
गुरुदारप्रसक्तेषु तिर्यग्योनिगतेषु च। पशुधर्मेषु पापेषु म्लेच्छेषु त्वं भविष्यसि
You will be among those attached to their teacher's wives, among those born in animal wombs, among those of animal nature, among sinners and mlecchas.