ज्येष्ठांशहारी गुणकृदिह लोके परत्र च। श्रेयान्पुत्रो गुणोपेतः स पुत्रो नेतरो वृथा। वदन्ति धर्मं धर्मज्ञाः पितॄणां पुत्रकारणात्
A virtuous son who possesses qualities, who brings honor both in this world and the next, who takes the share of the eldest, he alone is truly a son, not another who is unworthy. The knowers of dharma declare this as the law concerning sons for the sake of the ancestors.
वेदोक्तं संभवं मह्यमनेन हृदयोद्भवम्। तस्य जातमिदं कृत्स्नमात्मा पुत्र इति श्रुतिः
The Veda declares that the son is born from myself, from my heart; all this that is born from him is myself—thus says the scripture.
यदुनाऽहमवज्ञातस्तथा तुर्वसुनापि च। द्रुह्युना चानुना चैव मय्यवज्ञ कृता भृशम्
I was disrespected by Yadu, and likewise by Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu; they all greatly dishonored me.
पूरुणा तु कृतं वाक्यं मानितं च विशेषतः। कनीयान्मम दायादो धृता येन जरा मम
But Puru obeyed my command and honored me especially; though he is the youngest, he is my heir, by whom my old age is supported.
मम कामः स च कृतः पूरुणा मित्ररूपिणा। शुक्रेण च वरोदत्तः काव्येनोशनसा स्वयम्
My wish was fulfilled by Puru, who acted as a friend, and by the boon granted by Shukra, the sage Usanas himself.
पुत्रो यस्त्वाऽनुवर्तेत स राजा पृथिवीपतिः। `यो वानुवर्ती पुत्राणां स पुत्रो दायभाग्भवेत्
The son who follows his father is the king, the lord of the earth; among sons, the one who is obedient is the true son and inherits the share.
यः पुत्रो गुणसंपन्नो मातापित्रोर्हितः सदा
A son endowed with virtues, who always acts for the good of his mother and father—
सर्वमर्हति कल्याणं कनीयानपि सत्तमः। `वेद धमार्थशास्त्रेषु मुनिभिः कथितं पुरा
—even if he is the youngest and most excellent, deserves all prosperity; this has been declared by sages in the Vedas and in the treatises on dharma and artha.
अर्हः पूरुरिदं राज्यं यः सुतः प्रियकृत्तव। वरदानेन शुक्रस्य न शक्यं वक्तुमुत्तरम्
Puru is worthy of this kingdom, for he is a son who has acted kindly toward me; no answer can be given against the boon granted by Shukra.
पौरजानपदैस्तुष्टैरित्युक्तो नाहुषस्तदा। अभ्यषिञ्चत्ततः पूरुं राज्ये स्वे सुतमात्मनः
Then Nahusha, addressed thus by the satisfied citizens and countrymen, consecrated his own son Puru as king over his own realm.
यदुं च तुर्वसुं चोभौ द्रुह्युं चैव सहानुजम्। अन्तेषु स विनिक्षिप्य नाहुषः स्वात्मजान्सुतान्
Yadu, Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu with their younger brothers—Nahusha assigned them to the outer regions, his own sons.
दत्त्वा च पूरवे राज्यं वनवासाय दीक्षितः। पुरात्स निर्ययौ राजा ब्राह्मणैस्तापसैः सह
Having given the kingdom to Puru, the king undertook the vow of forest life; he departed from the city, accompanied by Brahmanas and ascetics.
देवयान्या च सहितः शर्मिष्ठया च भारत। अकरोत्स वने राजा सभार्यस्तप उत्तमम्
O Bhārata, the king, together with Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā, performed supreme austerities in the forest with his wives.
यदोस्तु यादवा जातास्तुर्वसोर्यवनाः स्मृताः। द्रुह्योः सुतास्तु वै भोजा अनोस्तु म्लेच्छजातयः
From Yadu came the Yādavas; from Turvasu, those known as Yavanas; from Druhyu, indeed, the Bhojas; and from Anu, the tribes called Mlecchas.
पूरोस्तु पौरवो वंशो यत्र जातोऽसि पार्थिव। इदं वर्षसहस्राणि राज्यं कारयितुं वशी
From Pūru arose the Paurava lineage, O king, from which you were born; it is said that this dynasty ruled the kingdom for thousands of years.
एवं स नाहुषो राजा ययातिः पुत्रमीप्सितम्। राज्येऽभिषिच्य मुदितो वानप्रस्थोऽभवन्मुनिः
Thus, King Yayāti, son of Nahusha, joyfully installed his desired son on the throne and, entering the forest, became an ascetic sage.
उषित्वा च वने वासं ब्राह्मणैः संशितव्रतः। फलमूलाशनो दान्तस्ततः स्वर्गमितो गतः
Having dwelt in the forest, observing strict vows with the Brāhmaṇas, eating only fruits and roots, self-controlled, he then departed to heaven.
स गतः स्वर्निवासं तं निवसन्मुदितः सुखी। कालेन नातिमहता पुनः शक्रेण पातितः
He, having reached the celestial abode, lived there joyfully and happily, but after not a very long time, was cast down again by Śakra.
स्वर्गतश्च पुनर्ब्रह्मन्निवसन्देववेश्मनि। कालेन नातिमहता कथं शक्रेण पातितः
O Brāhmaṇa, having gone to heaven and residing in the house of the gods, after not a very long time, how was he cast down by Śakra?
निपतन्प्रच्युतः स्वर्गादप्राप्तो मेदिनीतलम्। स्थित आसीदन्तरिक्षे स तदेति श्रुतं मया
Falling, expelled from heaven, not reaching the earth, he remained suspended in the sky; this is what I have heard.
तत एव पुनश्चापि गतः स्वर्गमिति श्रुतम्। राज्ञा वसुमता सार्धमष्टकेन च वीर्यवान्
From there, it is said, he again attained heaven, together with King Vasumat and the valiant Ashtaka.
प्रतर्दनेन शिविना समेत्य किल संसदि। कर्मणा केन स दिवं पुनः प्राप्तो महीपतिः
Having assembled with Pratardana and Śivi in the assembly, by what deed did that king again reach heaven?
सर्वमेतदशेषेण श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। कथ्यमानं त्वया विप्र विप्रर्षिगणसंनिधौ
I wish to hear all this in full detail and truth, as you recount it, O Brāhmaṇa, in the presence of the assembly of sages.
देवराजसमो ह्यासीद्ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः। वर्धनः कुरुवंशस्य विभावसुसमद्युतिः
King Yayāti, equal to the lord of the gods, was the enhancer of the Kuru lineage, shining with the radiance of fire.
तस्य विस्तीर्णयशसः सत्यकीर्तेर्महात्मनः। चरितं श्रोतुमिच्छामि दिवि चेह च सर्वशः
I wish to hear the deeds of that great-souled one, whose fame was vast and whose renown was true, both in heaven and here, in their entirety.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि ययातेरुत्तरां कथाम्। दिवि चेह च पुण्यार्थां सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम्
Indeed, I will tell you the further story of Yayāti, both in heaven and here, which brings merit and destroys all sins.
ययातिर्नाहुषो राजा पूरुं पुत्रं कनीयसम्। राज्येऽभिषिच्य मुदितः प्रावव्राज वनं तदा
King Yayāti, son of Nahusha, joyfully installed his youngest son Pūru on the throne and then departed to the forest.
अन्त्युषे स विनिक्षिप्य पुत्रान्यदुपुरोगमान्। फलमूलाशनो राजा वने संन्यवसच्चिरम्
Having entrusted his elder sons to Pūru, the king lived for a long time in the forest, subsisting on fruits and roots.
शंसितात्मा जितक्रोधस्तर्पयन्पितृदेवताः। अग्नींश्च विधिवज्जुह्वन्वानप्रस्थविधानतः
With self restrained and anger conquered, he satisfied the ancestors and gods, offering oblations to the fires according to the rule of forest-dwelling ascetics.
अथितीन्पूजयामास वन्येन हविषा विभुः। शिलोञ्छवृत्तिमास्थाय शेषान्नकृतभोजनः
He honored guests with offerings from the forest, adopting the gleaner's way of life, eating only what remained after others.