When King Yayāti, afflicted by old age before his time, yearned for the pleasures of youth, he turned to his noble son Puru. “Let me enjoy sensual pleasures for a little while with your vigor,” he requested. “When a thousand years are complete, I will return your youth and take back old age with its affliction.” Puru, ever dutiful, replied straightforwardly to his father, “As you say, great king, so I will do your bidding. I will take upon myself old age with its affliction; receive youth from me and enjoy pleasures as you desire. Covered by old age, I will bear your form and age; having given you my youth, I will live as you wish.” Delighted by his son’s selflessness, Yayāti blessed him: “Puru, I am pleased with you, my child. I grant you this boon: your progeny will be prosperous in all desires and wealth.” Thus addressed, the royal sage Yayāti, remembering the great vow of Kāvya (Shukra), transferred the burden of old age to his noble son. Endowed now with Puru’s youth, Yayāti, son of Nahusha, delighted in his renewed vigor and enjoyed his beloved pleasures. He lived as he wished, with enthusiasm and happiness, always at the right time, and never straying from righteousness. He satisfied the gods with sacrifices, his ancestors with offerings, the distressed with acts of compassion, and the best of the twice-born with generous gifts. He honored guests with food and drink, protected his people, showed kindness, and subdued those who threatened order, such as Shudras and robbers. By righteousness, Yayāti delighted all his subjects, ruling as if he were another Indra on earth. This king, lion-like in stride, youthful and engaged in pleasures, experienced supreme happiness, never violating righteousness. In time, having attained his auspicious desires, the king found himself both satisfied and weary, and he remembered that the thousand years would soon end. Knowing the time had come, Yayāti reflected upon the divisions of time and addressed his son Puru: “Desire is never quenched by the enjoyment of objects; like fire fed with ghee, it only grows all the more. Whatever rice, barley, gold, cattle, or women exist on earth—all of that is not enough for one man; considering this, one should seek contentment. O subduer of foes, with joy, vigor, and as I wished, I have enjoyed the pleasures of youth, my son, together with you. Puru, I am pleased; blessings to you! Accept this, your own youth, and also accept this kingdom, for you are my beloved son.” With these words, King Yayāti, son of Nahusha, accepted old age once more, and Puru received back his own youth. When the king wished to anoint his younger son Puru as heir, the classes of the realm, led by the Brahmins, questioned him: “O lord, how will you give the kingdom to Puru, the son of Devayani and grandson of Shukra, bypassing your eldest son Yadu? Your eldest son is Yadu, then comes Turvasu; Druhyu is the son of Sharmishtha, then Anu, and Puru as well. How does the younger deserve the kingdom, passing over the eldest? We make this clear to you: uphold your own duty.” Yayāti addressed them all: “Let all the classes, with the Brahmins at their head, hear my words: I will never give the kingdom to the eldest. My eldest, Yadu, did not obey my command; he acted against his father, and such a son is not considered a true son among the virtuous. He who acts according to the words of his mother and father, who is beneficial and follows the right path—that son is truly a son and behaves as a son should toward his parents. I was disrespected by Yadu, and likewise by Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu; thus, I was greatly dishonored. Puru fulfilled my command and especially honored me; though younger, he is my heir, for he bore my old age. My wish was accomplished by Puru, who is in the form of a son; and a boon was granted to me by Shukra, the sage Kāvya Ushanas, himself. He who follows his father is the son who should be king and lord of the earth; let all of you agree—let Puru be anointed as king. A son endowed with virtues, who always acts for the benefit of his mother and father, deserves all auspiciousness; even if he is the youngest, he is master. This kingdom belongs to the worthy eldest; he who is dear to you and does what pleases you. By granting a boon to Śukra, it is not possible to speak otherwise.” Thus, with the citizens and subjects satisfied, Nahusha anointed Puru as king. Having given the kingdom to his deserving son, the king took up the vows of forest-dwelling and departed from the city, accompanied by Brahmins and ascetics. From Yadu descended the Yādavas, from Turvasu the Yavanas, from Druhyu the Bhojas, and from Anu the Mleccha tribes. From Puru came the Paurava lineage, in which you, O king, were born. After a thousand years, the kingdom came to the Kuru dynasty. In this way, King Nahusha’s son Yayāti joyfully installed his chosen son in the kingdom and became a forest-dwelling sage. Living in the forest with Brahmins, subsisting on fruits and roots, self-controlled, he departed from this world, having attained heaven. He went to dwell in heaven, joyful and happy; but after not much time, he was cast down again by Śakra. Helpless, he fell from heaven, not reaching earth, and remained in the intermediate space—thus have I heard.