शर्मिष्ठा चापि तस्यैव भार्या या वृषपर्वजा देवयानी शुक्रसुता द्वौ पुत्रौ समजीजनत्
Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, was also his wife. Devayānī, daughter of Śukra, bore two sons.
यदुं च तुर्वसुं चैव देवपुत्रसमाव् उभौ शर्मिष्ठा च नृपाल् लेभे त्रीन् पुत्रान् देवसंनिभान्
She gave birth to Yadu and Turvasu, both equal to the sons of the gods; and Śarmiṣṭhā, the king’s wife, had three sons, resembling the gods.
द्रुह्युं चानुं च पूरुं च ययातेर् नृपसत्तमात् देवयान्याः सुतौ ब्रह्मन् सदृशौ शुक्ररूपतः
From the noble king Yayāti and Devayānī were born two sons, Druhyu and Anu, and Pūru, all resembling Śukra in form.
शर्मिष्ठायास् तु तनयाः शक्राग्निवरुणप्रभाः देवयानी कदाचित् तु पितरं प्राह दुःखिता
Śarmiṣṭhā’s sons shone with the brilliance of Indra, Agni, and Varuṇa. But once, Devayānī, distressed, spoke to her father.
मम त्व् अपत्यद्वितयम् अभाग्याया भृगूद्वह मम दास्याः सभाग्याया अपत्यत्रितयं पितः
O best of Bhṛgus, though I am unfortunate and have only two children, my servant, who is fortunate, has three children, father.
तद् एतद् अनुमृश्यायं दुःखम् अत्यन्तम् आगता मरिष्ये दानवगुरो ययातिकृतविप्रियात् मानभङ्गाद् वरं तात मरणं हि मनस्विनाम्
Reflecting on this, I am overcome by great sorrow; I shall die because of the wrong done by Yayāti, O preceptor of the Dānavas. For those of noble mind, death is better than dishonor.
तद् एतत् पुत्रिकावाक्यं श्रुत्वा शुक्रः प्रतापवान् कुपितो ऽभ्याययौ शीघ्रं ययातिम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
Hearing these words of his daughter, the mighty Śukra, enraged, swiftly approached Yayāti and spoke to him thus:
यद् इदं विप्रियं मे त्वं सुतायाः कृतवान् असि रूपोन्मत्तेन राजेन्द्र तस्माद् वृद्धो भविष्यसि
Because you have done this grievous wrong to my daughter, O king, driven by infatuation with beauty, therefore you shall become old.
न च भोक्तुं न च त्यक्तुं शक्नोति विषयातुरः स्पृहयन् मनसैवास्ते निःश्वासोच्छ्वासनष्टधीः
One tormented by desire is unable either to enjoy or to renounce; longing in his mind alone, he remains, his understanding lost in sighs and breaths.
वृद्धत्वम् एव मरणं जीवताम् अपि देहिनाम् तस्माच् छीघ्रं प्रयाहि त्वं जरां भूपातिदुर्धराम्
Old age is itself death for living beings, even while alive; therefore, quickly go and accept this old age, O king, most difficult to bear.
एतच् छ्रुत्वा ययातिस् तु शापं शुक्रस्य धीमतः कृताञ्जलिपुटो राजा ययातिः शुक्रम् अब्रवीत्
Hearing this curse from the wise Śukra, King Yayāti, with hands joined in reverence, spoke to Śukra:
नापराध्ये न संकुप्ये नैवाधर्मं प्रवर्तये अधर्मकारिणः पापाः शास्या एव महात्मनाम्
I do not offend, nor do I become angry, nor do I act unrighteously; only those who commit unrighteous deeds are to be punished by the great-souled.
धर्मम् एव चरन्तं वै कथं मां शप्तवान् असि देवयानी द्विजश्रेष्ठ वृथा मां वक्ति किंचन
How have you cursed me, who acts only in accordance with righteousness? O best of Brāhmaṇas, Devayānī speaks falsely against me.
तस्मान् न मम विप्रेन्द्र शापं दातुं त्वम् अर्हसि विद्वांसो ऽपि हि निर्दोषे यदि कुप्यन्ति मोहिताः तदा न दोषो मूर्खाणां द्वेषाग्निप्लुष्टचेतसाम्
Therefore, O best of Brāhmaṇas, you ought not to give me this curse; for even the learned, when deluded, may become angry at the innocent—then there is no fault in the ignorant, whose minds are burned by the fire of hatred.
ययातिवाक्याच् छुक्रो ऽपि सस्मार सुतया कृतम् असकृद् विप्रियं तस्य दिवा रात्रौ प्रचण्डया
At Yayāti’s words, Śukra too recalled the many wrongs done to his daughter, both by day and by night, with fierce intensity.
गतकोपो ऽहम् इत्य् उक्त्वा काव्यो राजानम् अब्रवीत्
Having said, 'I am no longer angry,' Kāvyā spoke to the king:
ज्ञातं मयानयाकारि विप्रियं न वदे ऽनृतम् शापस्येमं करिष्यामि शृणुष्वानुग्रहं नृप
I know now, by her actions, the wrong that was done; I do not speak untruth. I shall carry out this curse—listen, O king, to my favor.
यस्मै पुत्राय संदातुं जराम् इच्छसि मानद तस्य सा यात्व् इयं राजञ् जरा पुत्राय मद्वरात्
To whichever son you wish to transfer this old age, O giver of honor, let this old age, by my boon, go to that son, O king.
पुनर् ययातिः श्वशुरं शुक्रं प्राह विनीतवत्
Again Yayāti respectfully addressed his father-in-law Śukra:
यो गृह्णाति मया दत्तां जरां भक्तिसमन्वितः स राजा स्याद् दैत्यगुरो तद् एतद् अनुमन्यताम्
Whoever, with devotion, accepts from me this old age that I give, let him become king, O preceptor of the Daityas; let this be approved.
यो मद्वाक्यं नाभिनन्देत् सुतो दैत्यगुरो दृढम् तं शपेयम् अनुज्ञात्र दातव्यैव त्वया गुरो
If any son, O Daitya preceptor, firmly does not accept my words, then, with your permission, I may curse him; this must be granted by you, O teacher.
एवम् अस्त्व् इति राजानम् उवाच भृगुनन्दनः ततो ययातिः स्वं पुत्रम् आहूयेदं वचो ऽब्रवीत्
'So be it,' said the descendant of Bhṛgu to the king. Then Yayāti summoned his son and spoke these words:
यदो गृहाण मे शापाज् जरां जातां सुतो भवान् ज्येष्ठः सर्वार्थवित् प्रौढः पुत्राणां धुरि संस्थितः पुत्री तेनैव जनको यस् तदाज्ञावशे स्थितः
Yadu, take upon yourself the old age that has come to me by curse; you are the eldest, wise in all matters, mature, and established as the chief among the sons. Thus, the father is truly a father when the son abides by his command.
नेत्य् उवाच यदुस् तातं ययातिं भूरिदक्षिणम् ययातिश् च यदुं शप्त्वा तुर्वसुं कामम् अब्रवीत्
But Yadu replied 'No' to his father Yayāti, who was generous in gifts; and Yayāti, having cursed Yadu, then spoke to Turvasu as he wished.
नागृह्णात् तुर्वसुश् चापि पित्रा दत्तां जरां तदा तं शप्त्वा चाब्रवीद् द्रुह्युं गृहाणेमां जरां मम
Turvasu did not accept the old age given by his father at that time; then, having cursed him, he said to Druhyu: 'Take this old age from me.'
द्रुह्युश् च नैच्छत् तां दत्तां जरां रूपविनाशिनीम् अनुम् अप्य् अब्रवीद् राजा गृहाणेमां जरां मम
Druhyu also did not wish to accept that old age, which destroys beauty; then the king said to Anu: 'Take this old age from me.'
अनुर् नेति तदोवाच शप्त्वा तं पूरुम् अब्रवीत् अभिनन्द्य तदा पूरुर् जरां तां जगृहे पितुः
Anu replied, 'No,' and after cursing him, he spoke to Puru; then Puru gladly accepted that old age from his father.
सहस्रम् एकं वर्षाणां यावत् प्रीतो ऽभवत् पिता यौवने यानि भोग्यानि वस्तूनि विविधानि च
For one thousand years, as long as his father was pleased, all the various enjoyments of youth were his to enjoy.
पुत्रयौवनसंतुष्टो ययातिर् बुभुजे सुखम् ततस् तृप्तो ऽभवद् राजा सर्वभोगेषु नाहुषः ततो हर्षात् समाहूय पूरुं पुत्रम् अथाब्रवीत्
Yayati, satisfied with his son's youth, enjoyed happiness; then, having been fulfilled in all enjoyments, King Nahusha became content. Then, with joy, he summoned his son Puru and spoke to him.
तृप्तो ऽस्मि सर्वभोगेषु यौवनेन तवानघ गृहाण यौवनं पुत्र जरां मे देहि कश्मलाम्
I am satisfied with all enjoyments, O sinless one, through your youth. Take back your youth, my son, and give me back my tainted old age.