पौरवो वंश इत्येष ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यति ततः स नृपशार्दूलः पूरुं राज्ये ऽभिषिच्य च
The lineage of Puru will attain fame in the world; then, that tiger among kings consecrated Puru in the kingdom.
कालेन महता पश्चात् कालधर्मम् उपेयिवान् पूरुवंशं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुध्वमृषिसत्तमाः यत्र ते भारता जाता भरतान्वयवर्धनाः
After a long time, he reached the destined end; I will recount the lineage of Puru—listen, O best of sages—where the Bharatas were born, enhancers of the Bharata line.
किमर्थं पौरवो वंशः श्रेष्ठत्वं प्राप भूतले ज्येष्ठस्यापि यदोर्वंशः किमर्थं हीयते श्रिया
For what reason did the lineage of Puru attain supremacy on earth, while the lineage of Yadu, though eldest, declined in prosperity?
अन्यद्ययातिचरितं सूत विस्तरतो वद यस्मात्तत्पुण्यमायुष्यम् अभिनन्द्यं सुरैरपि
O Suta, narrate in detail another account of Yayati's deeds, which is virtuous, life-giving, and praised even by the gods.
एतदेव पुरा पृष्टः शतानीकेन शौनकः पुण्यं पवित्रमायुष्यं ययातिचरितं महत्
This very question was formerly asked by Shatanika to Shaunaka: the great account of Yayati, virtuous, pure, and life-giving.
ययातिः पूर्वजो ऽस्माकं दशमो यः प्रजापतेः कथं स शुक्रतनयां लेभे परमदुर्लभाम्
Yayati, the eldest among us, was the tenth descendant of Prajapati; how did he obtain the exceedingly rare daughter of Shukra?
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण तपोधन आनुपूर्व्याच्च मे शंस पूरोर्वंशधरान्नृपान्
O possessor of austerity, I wish to hear this from you in detail. Please recount to me, in order, the kings who held the lineage of Pururavas.
ययातिरासीद्राजर्षिर् देवराजसमद्युतिः तं शुक्रवृषपर्वाणौ वव्राते वै यथा पुरा
Yayati was a royal sage, his splendor equal to the king of the gods. In former times, Śukra and Vṛṣaparvan gave him their daughters, as it was.
तत्ते ऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि पृच्छतो राजसत्तम देवयान्याश्च संयोगं ययातेर्नाहुषस्य च
Now, as you ask, O best of kings, I shall tell you of Yayati, son of Nahusha, and his union with Devayānī.
सुराणामसुराणां च समजायत वै मिथः ऐश्वर्यं प्रति संघर्षस् त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे
There arose a mutual conflict between the gods and the asuras throughout the three worlds, with all their moving and unmoving beings, for the sake of sovereignty.
जिगीषया ततो देवा वव्रुराङ्गिरसं मुनिम् पौरोहित्ये च यज्ञार्थे काव्यं तूशनसं परे
Desiring victory, the gods chose the sage of the Aṅgiras lineage as their priest for sacrifice, while the others chose Kāvya Uśanas.
ब्राह्मणौ ताव् उभौ नित्यम् अन्योन्यं स्पर्धिनौ भृशम् तत्र देवा निजघ्नुर्यान् दानवान् युधि संगतान्
Those two Brāhmaṇas, constantly and fiercely rivaling each other, were present there. In that battle, the gods slew the assembled Dānavas.
तान्पुनर् जीवयामास काव्यो विद्याबलाश्रयात् ततस्ते पुनरुत्थाय योधयांचक्रिरे सुरान्
But Kāvya, relying on the power of his knowledge, revived them again. Then, rising up once more, they fought the gods.
असुरास्तु निजघ्नुर्यान् सुरान्समरमूर्धनि न तान्संजीवयामास बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः
But when the asuras killed the gods in the midst of battle, Bṛhaspati, of noble mind, did not revive them.
न हि वेद स तां विद्यां यां काव्यो वेद वीर्यवान् संजीवनीं ततो देवा विषादमगमन्परम्
Indeed, he did not know that knowledge which the mighty Kāvya knew—the science of reviving. Therefore, the gods fell into deep despair.
अथ देवा भयोद्विग्नाः काव्यादुशनसस्तदा ऊचुः कचमुपागम्य ज्येष्ठं पुत्रं बृहस्पतेः
Then, the gods, distressed by fear of Kāvya Uśanas, approached Kaca, the eldest son of Bṛhaspati, and spoke to him.
भजमानान्भजस्वास्मान् कुरु साहाय्यमुत्तमम् यासौ विद्या निवसति ब्राह्मणे ऽमिततेजसि
"Join with us, support us, and render the highest assistance. That knowledge resides in the Brāhmaṇa of immeasurable brilliance."
शुक्रे तामाहर क्षिप्रं भागभाङ्नो भविष्यसि वृषपर्वणः समीपे ऽसौ शक्यो द्रष्टुं त्वया द्विजः
"Quickly obtain it from Śukra. You shall receive a share of the offerings. That Brāhmaṇa dwells near Vṛṣaparvan; you, O twice-born, are able to see him."
रक्षते दानवांस्तत्र न स रक्षत्यदानवान् तम् आराधयितुं शक्तो नान्यः कश्चिदृते त्वया
"He protects the Dānavas there, but does not protect the non-Dānavas. No one but you is able to propitiate him."
देवयानी च दयिता सुता तस्य महात्मनः ताम् आराधयितुं शक्तो नान्यः कश्चन विद्यते
"Devayānī, the beloved daughter of that great soul, is there. No one but you is able to win her favor."
शीलदाक्षिण्यमाधुर्यैर् आचारेण दमेन च देवयान्यां तु तुष्टायां विद्यां तां प्राप्स्यसि ध्रुवम्
"By virtue, generosity, sweetness, good conduct, and self-control, when Devayānī is pleased, you will surely obtain that knowledge."
तदा हि प्रेषितो देवैः समीपे वृषपर्वणः तथेत्युक्त्वा तु स प्रायाद् बृहस्पतिसुतः कचः
Then, sent by the gods, Kaca, son of Bṛhaspati, said, 'So be it,' and set out to the presence of Vṛṣaparvan.
स गत्वा त्वरितो राजन् देवैः सम्पूजितः कचः असुरेन्द्रपुरे शुक्रं प्रणम्येदमुवाच ह
Having gone swiftly, honored by the gods, Kaca bowed to Śukra in the city of the lord of the asuras and spoke these words.
ऋषेर् अङ्गिरसः पौत्रं पुत्रं साक्षाद्बृहस्पतेः नाम्ना कचेति विख्यातं शिष्यं गृह्णातु मां भवान्
"O revered one, I am the grandson of the sage Aṅgiras, the direct son of Bṛhaspati, and known by the name Kaca. Please accept me as your disciple."
ब्रह्मचर्यं चरिष्यामि त्वय्यहं परमं गुरो अनुमन्यस्व मां ब्रह्मन् सहस्रपरिवत्सरान्
O supreme teacher, I wish to practice the highest celibacy under you; please permit me, O Brahman, for a thousand years.
कच सुस्वागतं ते ऽस्तु प्रतिगृह्णामि ते वचः अर्चयिष्ये ऽहमर्च्यं त्वाम् अर्चितो ऽस्तु बृहस्पतिः
Kaca, you are most welcome; I accept your words. I shall honor you, the worthy one, and may Bṛhaspati be honored as well.
कचस्तु तं तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रतिजग्राह तद्व्रतम् आदिष्टं कविपुत्रेण शुक्रेणोशनसा स्वयम्
Kaca, having replied, 'So be it,' accepted that vow, as instructed by Śukra, son of Kavi, himself.
व्रतं च व्रतकालं च यथोक्तं प्रत्यगृह्णत आराधयन्नुपाध्यायं देवयानीं च भारत
He accepted the vow and its period as stated, and served his preceptor and Devayānī, O Bhārata.
नित्यमाराधयिष्यंस्तां युवा यौवनगोचराम् गायन्नृत्यन्वादयंश्च देवयानीमतोषयत्
He constantly served her, a young woman in the bloom of youth, by singing, dancing, and playing music, thus pleasing Devayānī.
संशीलयन्देवयानीं कन्यां सम्प्राप्तयौवनाम् पुष्पैः फलैः प्रेषणैश्च तोषयामास भार्गवीम्
Attending to Devayānī, the maiden who had reached youth, he pleased the Bhārgava girl with flowers, fruits, and errands.