अधर्मेण जितो धर्मः प्रवृत्तमधरोत्तरम् शर्मिष्ठा यातिवृत्तास्ति दुहिता वृषपर्वणः
Righteousness has been overcome by unrighteousness, and wrongdoing has increased; Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, has acted as an ascetic.
त्रयो ऽस्यां जनिताः पुत्रा राज्ञानेन ययातिना दुर्भगाया मम द्वौ तु पुत्रौ तात ब्रवीमि ते
Three sons have been born to her by King Yayāti; of my unfortunate daughter, O father, I will tell you of two sons.
धर्मज्ञ इति विख्यात एष राजा भृगूद्वह अतिक्रान्तश्च मर्यादां काव्यैतत्कथयामि ते
This king, renowned as one who knows righteousness, O best of Bhṛgus, has transgressed the bounds; Kāvya, I tell you this.
धर्मज्ञस्त्वं महाराज यो ऽधर्मम् अकृथाः प्रियम् तस्माज्जरा त्वाम् अचिराद् धर्षयिष्यति दुर्जया
You are known as one who knows righteousness, O great king, yet you have done what is pleasing but unrighteous; therefore, soon, the unconquerable old age will seize you.
ऋतुं यो याच्यमानाया न ददाति पुमान्वृतः भ्रूणहेत्युच्यते ब्रह्मन् स चेह ब्रह्मवादिभिः
A man who, though asked, does not grant a woman her season, is called a slayer of the embryo, O Brāhmaṇa, and so say the speakers of Brahman here.
ऋतुकामां स्त्रियं यस्तु गम्यां रहसि याचितः नोपैति यो हि धर्मेण ब्रह्महेत्युच्यते बुधैः
But if a man, when approached in private by a woman desiring her season, does not go to her lawfully, he is called a slayer of Brahman by the wise.
इत्येतानि समीक्ष्याहं कारणानि भृगूद्वह अधर्मभयसंविग्नः शर्मिष्ठाम् उपजग्मिवान्
Considering these reasons, O best of Bhṛgus, and fearful of unrighteousness, I approached Śarmiṣṭhā.
न त्व् अहं प्रत्यवेक्ष्यस्ते मदधीनो ऽसि पार्थिव मिथ्याचरणधर्मेषु चौर्यं भवति नाहुष
But I did not act on your behalf; you are not under my control, O king. In matters of false conduct, theft does not occur, O son of Nahusha.
क्रोधेनोशनसा शप्तो ययातिर्नाहुषस्तदा पूर्वं वयः परित्यज्य जरां सद्यो ऽन्वपद्यत
Then Yayāti, son of Nahusha, was cursed by Uśanas in anger; immediately, having cast off his youth, he was overtaken by old age.
अतृप्तो यौवनस्याहं देवयान्यां भृगूद्वह प्रसादं कुरु मे ब्रह्मञ् जरेयं मा विशेत माम्
Unsatisfied with youth, O best of Bhṛgus, in Devayānī, grant me your favor, O Brāhmaṇa, that this old age may not enter me.
नाहं मृषा वदाम्येतज् जरां प्राप्तो ऽसि भूमिप जरां त्व् एतां त्वमन्यस्मिन् संक्रामय यदीच्छसि
I do not speak falsely in this, you have obtained old age, O king; if you wish, you may transfer this old age to another.
राज्यभाक् स भवेद्ब्रह्मन् पुण्यभाक्कीर्तिभाक्तथा यो दद्यान्मे वयः पुत्रस् तद्भवाननुमन्यताम्
He who would give me his youth, O Brāhmaṇa, shall enjoy the kingdom, merit, and fame; let that son of mine be approved by you.
संक्रामयिष्यसि जरां यथेष्टं नहुषात्मज मामनुध्याय तत्त्वेन न च पापमवाप्स्यसि
You may transfer old age as you wish, O son of Nahusha; do so truthfully, and you will not incur sin.
वयो दास्यति ते पुत्रो यः स राजा भविष्यति आयुष्मान्कीर्तिमांश्चैव बह्वपत्यस् तथैव च
The son who gives you his youth will become king, long-lived, renowned, and blessed with many children.
जरां प्राप्य ययातिस्तु स्वपुरं प्राप्य चैव हि पुत्रं ज्येष्ठं वरिष्ठं च यदुमित्यब्रवीद्द्विजः
Having obtained old age, Yayāti returned to his own city and spoke to his eldest and most distinguished son, Yadu, O Brāhmaṇa.
जरा वली च मां तात पलितानि च पर्यगुः काव्यस्योशनसः शापान् न च तृप्तो ऽस्मि यौवने
Old age and wrinkles, O son, and gray hairs have come upon me because of the curse of Kāvya Uśanas, and I am not yet satisfied with youth.
त्वं यदो प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह यौवनेन त्वदीयेन चरेयं विषयानहम्
You, Yadu, accept old age along with sin; with your youth, I will enjoy the pleasures of the senses.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु त्वदीयं यौवनं त्व् अहम् दत्त्वा सम्प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानं जरया सह
But when a thousand years are complete, I will return your youth to you, and I will again accept sin together with old age.
सितश्मश्रुधरो दीनो जरसा शिथिलीकृतः वलीसंततगात्रश्च दुर्दर्शो दुर्बलः कृशः
One who is gray-haired and bearded, miserable, weakened by old age, with limbs marked by wrinkles, hard to look at, feeble, and thin—
अशक्तः कार्यकरणे परिभूतः स यौवने सहोपजीविभिश्चैव तज्जरां नाभिकामये
Unable to perform duties, despised, even in youth by those who live with him—such old age I do not desire.
सन्ति ते बहवः पुत्रा मत्तः प्रियतरा नृप जरां ग्रहीतुं धर्मज्ञ पुत्रमन्यं वृणीष्व वै
You have many sons, O king, dearer to you than I am; choose another son, O knower of dharma, to accept old age.
यस्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि पापान्मातुलसम्बन्धाद् दुष्प्रजा ते भविष्यति
If you, born from my heart, do not give me your youth, then, because of this maternal connection, your offspring will be wicked.
तुर्वसो प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह यौवनेन चरेयं वै विषयांस्तव पुत्रक
Turvasu, you accept sin together with old age; with your youth, my son, I will enjoy the pleasures of the senses.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे नु पुनर्दास्यामि यौवनम् तथैव प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानं जरया सह
But when a thousand years are complete, I will return your youth, and in the same way, I will again accept sin together with old age.
न कामये जरां तात कामभोगप्रणाशिनीम् बलरूपान्तकरणीं बुद्धिमानविनाशिनीम्
I do not desire old age, father, which destroys enjoyment of pleasures, brings an end to strength and beauty, and ruins intelligence.
यस्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि तस्मात्प्रजा समुच्छेदं तुर्वसो तव यास्यति
If you, born from my heart, do not give me your youth, then, Turvasu, your lineage will come to an end.
संकीर्णाश्चोरधर्मेषु प्रतिलोमचरेषु च पिशिताशिषु लोकेषु नूनं राजा भविष्यसि
You will surely become king among people who are mixed in conduct, who act contrary to dharma, and who eat flesh.
गुरुदारप्रसक्तेषु तिर्यग्योनिरतेषु च पशुधर्मिषु म्लेच्छेषु पापेषु प्रभविष्यसि
You will rule among those attached to their teachers' wives, engaged in animal births, behaving like beasts, among outcasts and the wicked.
एवं स तुर्वसुं शप्त्वा ययातिः सुतमात्मनः शर्मिष्ठायाः सुतं ज्येष्ठं द्रुह्युं वचनमब्रवीत्
Thus, having cursed Turvasu, his own son, Yayati spoke to Druhyu, the eldest son of Sharmishtha.
द्रुह्यो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व वर्णरूपविनाशिनीम् जरां वर्षसहस्रं मे यौवनं स्वं प्रयच्छताम्
Druhyu, you accept old age, which destroys color and form, for a thousand years; give me your youth.