कस्मात्पापप्रभावं च रुरुर्भुंक्ते द्विजोत्तम । सकलं विस्तरेणापि वद मे कुंडलात्मज
And for what reason did Ruru experience the effect of sin, O best of twice-born? Tell me everything in detail, O son of Kuṇḍala.
सुकर्मोवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि चरित्रं पापनाशनम् । नहुषस्य सुपुण्यस्य ययातेश्च महात्मनः
Sukarma said: Listen, I will tell the story that destroys sin—of Nahusha, supremely virtuous, and of the great-souled Yayāti.
सोमवंशात्प्रभूतो हि नहुषो मेदिनीपतिः । दानधर्माननेकांश्च चका रह्यतुलानपि
Nahusha, born of the Soma lineage, became lord of the earth; he performed many acts of charity and dharma, even those difficult to match.
मखानामश्वमेधानामियाज शतमुत्तमम् । वाजपेयशतं चापि अन्यान्यज्ञाननेकधा
He performed a hundred excellent horse sacrifices, and a hundred Vājapeya sacrifices, and many other sacrifices in various ways.
आत्मनः पुण्यभावेन इंद्रलोकमवाप सः । पुत्रं धर्मगुणोपेतं प्रजापालं चकार सः
By the power of his own merit, he attained the world of Indra; he made his son, endowed with righteousness and virtue, the protector of the people.
ययातिं सत्यसंपन्नं धर्मवीर्यं महामतिम् । एंद्रं पदं गतो राजा तस्य पुत्रः पदे स्वके
That son was Yayāti, endowed with truth, dharma, strength, and great wisdom; the king attained the position of Indra, and his son held his own position.
ययातिः सत्यसंपन्नः प्रजा धर्मेण पालयेत् । स्वयमेव प्रपश्येत्स प्रजाकर्माणि तान्यपि
Yayāti, endowed with truth, protected his subjects with righteousness; he himself observed all the actions of his people.
याजयामास धर्मज्ञः श्रुत्वा धर्ममनुत्तमम् । यज्ञतीर्थादिकं सर्वं दानपुण्यं चकार सः
He, knowing dharma, had sacrifices performed after hearing of the highest dharma; he performed all acts of merit—sacrifices, pilgrimages, and gifts.
राज्यं चकार मेधावी सत्यधर्मेण वै तदा । यावदशीतिसहस्राणि वर्षाणां नृपनंदनः
That wise one ruled the kingdom with truth and dharma, O delight of kings, for eighty thousand years.
तावत्कालं गतं तस्य ययातेस्तु महात्मनः । तस्य पुत्राश्च चत्वारस्तद्वीर्यबलविक्रमाः
Such was the span of Yayāti the great-souled; and his four sons were endowed with his strength, power, and valor.
तेषां नामानि वक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसः । तस्यासीज्ज्येष्ठपुत्रस्तु रुरुर्नाम महाबलः
I will now speak their names; listen with focused mind. The eldest son of her was Ruru, mighty in strength.
पुरुर्नाम द्वितीयोऽभूत्कुरुश्चान्यस्तृतीयकः । यदुर्नाम स धर्मात्मा चतुर्थो नृपतेः सुतः
The second was named Puru, and the third was Kuru; the fourth son of the king was Yadu, righteous in nature.
एवं चत्वारः पुत्राश्च ययातेस्तु महात्मनः । तेजसा पौरुषेणापि पितृतुल्यपराक्रमाः
Thus, Yayati the great-souled had four sons, equal to their father in brilliance, courage, and valor.
एवं राज्यं कृतं तेन धर्मेणापि ययातिना । तस्य कीर्तिर्यशो भावस्त्रैलोक्ये प्रचुरोभवत्
In this way, Yayati established his rule through righteousness; his fame, glory, and reputation became widespread in the three worlds.
विष्णुरुवाच- एकदा तु द्विजश्रेष्ठो नारदो ब्रह्मनंदनः । एंद्रं लोकं गतो राजन्द्रष्टुं चैव पुरंदरम्
Viṣṇu said: Once, the foremost among twice-born, Nārada, son of Brahma, went to the realm of Indra to see Purandara.
सहस्राक्षस्ततोपश्यद्धुताशनसमप्रभम् । देवो विप्रं समायांतं सर्वज्ञं ज्ञानपंडितम्
There, the thousand-eyed Indra saw the sage approaching, radiant as fire, a wise and learned brāhmaṇa.
पूजितं मधुपर्काद्यैर्भक्त्या नमितकंधरः । निवेश्य चासने पुण्ये पप्रच्छ मुनिपुंगवम्
Honored with offerings like madhuparka, with devotion and bowed neck, Indra seated him on a sacred seat and questioned the eminent sage.
इंद्र उवाच- कस्मादागमनं तेद्य किमर्थमिह चागतः । किं ते हि सुप्रियं विप्र करोम्यद्य महामुने
Indra said: What is the reason for your coming today? Why have you arrived here? What dear thing may I do for you, O great sage?
नारद उवाच- देवराज कृतं सर्वं भक्त्या यच्च प्रभाषितम् । संतुष्टोस्मि महाप्राज्ञ प्रश्नोत्तरं वदाम्यहम्
Nārada said: O king of gods, all has been done with devotion, and your words are gracious. I am satisfied, O wise one; I will now answer your questions.
महीलोकात्सुसंप्राप्तः सांप्रतं तव मंदिरम् । त्वामन्वेष्टुं समायातो दृष्ट्वा नाहुषमेव च
I have come from the world of earth to your abode at this time, seeking you, and having seen Nahusha as well.
इंद्र उवाच- सत्यधर्मेण को राजा प्रजाः पालयते सदा । सर्वधर्मसमायुक्तः श्रुतवाञ्ज्ञानवान्गुणी
Indra said: Which king always protects his subjects with truth and righteousness, endowed with all virtues, learned, wise, and noble?
पृथिव्यामस्ति को राजा वेदज्ञो ब्राह्मणप्रियः । ब्रह्मण्यो वेदविच्छूरो यज्वा दाता सुभक्तिमान्
Who is the king on earth, learned in the Vedas, dear to brāhmaṇas, devoted to Brahman, skilled in Vedic knowledge, a sacrificer, a generous giver, and full of devotion?
नारद उवाच- एभिर्गुणैस्तु संयुक्तो नहुषस्यात्मजो बली । यस्य सत्येन वीर्येण सर्वे लोकाः प्रतिष्ठिताः
Nārada said: Endowed with these qualities is the powerful son of Nahusha, by whose truth and strength all worlds are established.
भवादृशो हि भूर्लोके ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः । भवान्स्वर्गे स चैवास्ति भूतले भूतिवर्धनः
On earth, Yayati, son of Nahusha, is like you; you are in heaven, and he is on earth, increasing prosperity.
पितुः श्रेष्ठो महाराज ह्यश्वमेधशतं तथा । वाजपेयशतं चक्रे ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः
Superior to his father, O great king, Yayati, lord of the earth, performed a hundred ashvamedha sacrifices and a hundred vājapeya sacrifices.
दत्तान्यनेकरूपाणि दानानि तेन भक्तितः । गवां लक्षसहस्राणि गवां कोटिशतानि च
He gave many kinds of gifts with devotion: hundreds of thousands of cows and tens of millions of cows.
कोटिहोमांश्चकाराथ लक्षहोमांस्तथैव च । भूमिदानादि दानानि ब्राह्मणेभ्योददाच्च यः
He performed millions of homa rituals and hundreds of thousands likewise; he gave gifts of land and other donations to brāhmaṇas.
सर्वं येन स्वरूपं हि धर्मस्य परिपालितम् । एवं गुणैः समायुक्तो ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः
By him, the true nature of dharma was preserved in all its forms; thus, Yayati, son of Nahusha, was endowed with such virtues.
वर्षाणां तु सहस्राणि अशीतिर्नृपसत्तमः । राज्यं चकार सत्येन यथा दिवि भवानिह
O best among kings, he ruled for eighty thousand years, upholding truth, just as Bhava rules in heaven.
सुकर्मोवाच- एवमाकर्ण्य देवेंद्रो नारदात्स मुनीश्वरात् । समालोच्य स मेधावी संभीतो धर्मपालनात्
Sukarma said: Hearing thus from the sage Narada, the lord of the gods, thoughtful and wise, became fearful about the protection of dharma.