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.
एवं स तुर्वसुं शप्त्वा ययातिः सुतमात्मनः। शर्मिष्ठायाः सुतं द्रुह्युमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having thus cursed Turvasu, Yayati spoke these words to his own son, Druhyu, the son of Sharmishtha.
द्रुह्यो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व वर्णरूपविनाशिनीम्। जरां वर्षसहस्रं मे यौवनं स्वं ददस्व च
Druhyu, you accept old age, which destroys color and form, for a thousand years; give me your youth.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु पुनर्दास्यामि यौवनम्। स्वं चादास्यामि भूयोऽहं 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 गजं न रथं नाश्वं जीर्णो भुङ्क्ते न च स्त्रियम्। वाग्भङ्गश्चास्य भवति तां जरां नाभिकामये
The old man enjoys neither elephant, nor chariot, nor horse, nor woman; his speech falters—such old age I do not desire.
यत्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि। तस्माद्द्रुह्यो प्रियः कामो न ते संपत्स्यते क्वचित्
Since you are born from my heart yet do not give me your youth, therefore, Druhyu, your beloved desire shall never be fulfilled.
यत्राश्वरथमुख्यानामश्वानां स्याद्गतं न च। हस्तिनां पीठकानां च गर्दभानां तथैव च
Where there are no horses among the foremost of horse-chariots, nor elephants with seats, nor donkeys likewise—
बस्तानां च गवां चैव शिबिकायास्तथैव च। उडुपप्लवसंतारो यत्र नित्यं भविष्यति
Nor goats, nor cows, nor palanquins, where always there will be crossing by boats and rafts—
अनो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह। एकं वर्षसहस्रं तु चरेयं यौवनेन ते
You, Anu, accept the affliction of old age; for one thousand years I will live with your youth.
जीर्णः शिशुवदादत्ते कालेऽन्नमशुचिर्यथा। न जुहोति च कालेऽग्निं तां जरां नाभिकामये
Just as an old man, like a child, eats food at the wrong time and in an impure way, and does not offer the sacred fire at the proper time—such old age I do not desire.
यत्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि। जरादोषस्त्वया प्रोक्तस्तस्मात्त्वं प्रतिलप्स्यसे
Since you, born from my heart, do not give me your youth, and you have spoken of the fault of old age, therefore you shall receive it.