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.
प्रजाश्च यौवनप्राप्ता विनशिष्यन्त्यनो तव। अग्निप्रस्कन्दनपरस्त्वं चाप्येवं भविष्यसि
Your offspring, having attained youth, will perish before you; and you, who have neglected the sacred fire, will also meet the same fate.
प्रत्याख्यातश्चतुर्भिश्च शप्त्वा तान्यदुपूर्वकान्। पूरोः सकाशमगमन्मत्त्वा पूरुमलङ्घनम्
Rejected by the four and having cursed them in turn, he went to Puru, intending to test Puru's worthiness.
पूरो त्वं मे प्रियः पुत्रस्त्वं वरीयान्भविष्यसि। जरा वली च मांतात पलितानि च पर्यगुः
Puru, you are my beloved son; you shall become greater. Old age, wrinkles, and gray hairs have surrounded me, my child.
काव्यस्योशनसः शापान्न च तृप्तोऽस्मि यौवने। पूरो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह। कंचित्कालं चरेयं वै विषयान्वयसातव
Because of the curse of Kavi, son of Ushanas, I am not satisfied with youth. Puru, you take upon yourself the sin along with old age, so that I may enjoy pleasures for a certain time according to my desire.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु पुनर्दास्यामि यौवनम्। स्वं चैव प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानं जरया सह
When a thousand years are complete, I will return youth to you, and I will take back my own sin along with old age.
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच पूरुः पितरमज्जसा। यदात्थ मां महाराज तत्करिष्यामि ते वचः
Thus addressed, Puru replied earnestly to his father: 'Whatever you say to me, O great king, I will do as you command.'
गुरोर्वै वचनं पुण्यं स्वर्ग्यमायुष्करं नृणाम्। गुरुप्रसादात्त्रैलोक्यमन्वशासच्छतक्रतुः
The words of a guru are sacred, bring heaven, and grant long life to men; by the guru's favor, even Indra ruled the three worlds.
गुरोरनुमतं प्राप्य सर्वान्कामानमाप्नुयात्। यावदिच्छसि तावच्च धारयिष्यामि ते जराम्
By obtaining the guru's consent, one attains all desires; for as long as you wish, I will bear your old age.
प्रतिपत्स्यामि ते राजन्पाप्मानं जरया सह। गृहाण यौवनं मत्तश्चर कामान्यथेप्सितान्
I will take upon myself your sin along with old age, O king; receive youth from me and enjoy pleasures as you desire.
जरयाहं प्रतिच्छन्नो वयोरूपधरस्तव। यौवनं भवते दत्त्वा चरिष्यामि यथात्थमाम्
Covered by old age, I will assume your form and age; having given you youth, I will live as you wish.