जरादुःखं न शक्नोमि नवे वयसि भूपते । कः समर्थो हि वै धर्तुं क्षमस्व त्वं ममाधुना
I cannot endure the misery of old age in my youth, O king; who indeed is able to bear it? Forgive me now.
यदुं क्रुद्धो महाराजः शशाप द्विजनंदन । राज्यार्हो न च ते वंशः कदाचिद्वै भविष्यति
The great king, enraged, cursed Yadu, the delight of the twice-born: 'Your lineage shall never be worthy of the kingdom.'
बलतेजः क्षमाहीनः क्षात्रधर्मविवर्जितः । भविष्यति न संदेहो मच्छासनपराङ्मुखः
Devoid of strength, brilliance, and forbearance, lacking the duty of a warrior, and turning away from my command—such shall you be, without doubt.
यदुरुवाच- निर्दोषोहं महाराज कस्माच्छप्तस्त्वयाधुना । कृपां कुरुष्व दीनस्य प्रसादसुमुखो भव
Yadu said: 'I am blameless, O great king; why have you cursed me now? Show mercy to one who is afflicted; be gracious and kind.'
राजोवाच- महादेवः कुले ते वै स्वांशेनापि हि पुत्रक । करिष्यति विसृष्टिं च तदा पूतं कुलं तव
The king said: 'O son, the great god will indeed, by his own portion, be born in your lineage; then your line will be purified.'
यदुरुवाच- अहं पुत्रो महाराज निर्दोषः शापितस्त्वया । अनुग्रहो दीयतां मे यदि मे वर्त्तते दया
Yadu said: 'I am your son, O great king, blameless, yet you have cursed me; grant me your favor, if you have any compassion for me.'
राजोवाच- यो भवेज्ज्येष्ठपुत्रस्तु पितुर्दुःखापहारकः । राज्यदायं सुभुंक्ते च भारवोढा भवेत्स हि
The king said: 'He who is the eldest son, who removes his father’s suffering, who enjoys the kingdom’s share, and who bears the burden—he alone is worthy.'
त्वया धर्मं न प्रवृत्तमभाष्योसि न संशयः । भवता नाशिताज्ञा मे महादंडेन घातिनः
You did not act according to righteousness, nor did you speak as you should, without doubt; you have destroyed my command, deserving of great punishment.
तस्मादनुग्रहो नास्ति यथेष्टं च तथा कुरु । यदुरुवाच- यस्मान्मे नाशितं राज्यं कुलं रूपं त्वया नृप
Therefore, there is no favor; act as you wish accordingly. Yadu spoke: Because you have destroyed my kingdom, lineage, and beauty, O king,
तस्माद्दुष्टो भविष्यामि तव वंशपतिर्नृप । तव वंशे भविष्यंति नानाभेदास्तु क्षत्त्रियाः
Therefore, I shall become wicked, the head of your lineage, O king. In your lineage, various divisions of Kshatriyas will arise.
तेषां ग्रामान्सुदेशांश्च स्त्रियो रत्नानि यानि वै । भोक्ष्यंति च न संदेहो अतिचंडा महाबलाः
They will enjoy villages, good lands, women, and all jewels; without doubt, they will be exceedingly fierce and powerful.
मम वंशात्समुत्पन्नास्तुरुष्का म्लेच्छरूपिणः । त्वया ये नाशिताः सर्वे शप्ताः शापैः सुदारुणैः
From my lineage will arise Turks, bearing the form of foreigners; all those whom you destroyed are cursed with terrible curses.
एवं बभाषे राजानं यदुः क्रुद्धो नृपोत्तम । अथ क्रुद्धो महाराजः पुनश्चैवं शशाप ह
Thus, Yadu, enraged, spoke to the king, O best of kings. Then the great king, angered, again cursed in this manner.
मत्प्रजानाशकाः सर्वे वंशजास्ते शृणुष्व हि । यावच्चंद्रश्च सूर्यश्च पृथ्वी नक्षत्रतारकाः
Hear, all those born in your lineage who destroy my subjects: As long as the moon, sun, earth, stars, and constellations exist,
तावन्म्लेच्छाः प्रपक्ष्यंते कुंभीपाके चरौ रवे । कुरुं दृष्ट्वा ततो बालं क्रीडमानं सुलक्षणम्
So long shall foreigners thrive in Kumbhipaka and roam at the edge of the sun. Seeing the young Kurus, playing and auspicious,
समाह्वयति तं राजा न सुतं नृपनंदनम् । शिशुं ज्ञात्वा परित्यक्तः सकुरुस्तेन वै तदा
The king summoned him, not his own son, the delight of the king. Recognizing the child, he abandoned him, and thus the Kuru was left behind.
शर्मिष्ठायाः सुतं पुण्यं तं पूरुं जगदीश्वरः । समाहूय बभाषे च जरा मे गृह्यतां पुनः
The blessed son of Sharmishtha, that Puru, was summoned by the lord of the world, who spoke: Let my old age be taken again.
भुंक्ष्व राज्यं मया दत्तं सुपुण्यं हतकंटकम् । पूरुरुवाच- राज्यं देवे न भोक्तव्यं पित्रा भुक्तं यथा तव
Enjoy the kingdom given by me, most blessed and free of thorns. Pururavas spoke: The kingdom should not be enjoyed by me, O god, as it was by your father.
त्वदादेशं करिष्यामि जरा मे दीयतां नृप । तारुण्येन ममाद्यैव भूत्वा सुंदररूपदृक्
I will follow your command; let old age be given to me, O king. Through youth, let me now become one of beautiful form.
भुंक्ष्व भोगान्सुकर्माणि विषयासक्तचेतसा । यावदिच्छा महाभाग विहरस्व तया सह
Enjoy pleasures and good deeds, with your mind attached to the senses. As long as you desire, O greatly fortunate one, live with her.
यावज्जीवाम्यहं तात जरां तावद्धराम्यहम् । एवमुक्तस्तु तेनापि पूरुणा जगतीपतिः
As long as I live, O father, I will bear old age. Thus addressed by Puru, the lord of the earth,
हर्षेण महताविष्टस्तं पुत्रं प्रत्युवाच सः । यस्माद्वत्स ममाज्ञा वै न हता कृतवानिह
Filled with great joy, he spoke to his son: Because, dear one, you have not disobeyed my command here,
तस्मादहं विधास्यामि बहुसौख्यप्रदायकम् । यस्माज्जरागृहीता मे दत्तं तारुण्यकं स्वकम्
Therefore, I will grant you much happiness. Because you have accepted my old age and given your own youth,
तेन राज्यं प्रभुंक्ष्व त्वं मया दत्तं महामते । एवमुक्तः सुपूरुश्च तेन राज्ञा महीपते
Therefore, you shall rule the kingdom given by me, O wise one. Thus addressed, the noble Puru by that king, O lord of the earth,
तारुण्यंदत्तवानस्मै जग्राहास्माज्जरां नृप । ततः कृते विनिमये वयसोस्तातपुत्रयोः
Having given his youth to him, he took old age from me, O king. Then, after the exchange of age between father and son,
तस्माद्वृद्धतरः पूरुः सर्वांगेषु व्यदृश्यत । नूतनत्वं गतो राजा यथा षोडशवार्षिकः
Therefore, Puru appeared older in all his limbs; the king attained newness, as if he were sixteen years old.
रूपेण महताविष्टो द्वितीय इव मन्मथः । धनूराज्यं च छत्रं च व्यजनं चासनं गजम्
Endowed with great beauty, like a second god of love, he received the kingdom, the royal umbrella, the fan, the throne, and the elephant.
कोशं देशं बलं सर्वं चामरं स्यंदनं तथा । ददौ तस्य महाराजः पूरोश्चैव महात्मनः
The great king gave him the treasury, the land, all the forces, the chowrie, and the chariot, as well as the office of chief priest, O great-souled one.
कामासक्तश्च धर्मात्मा तां नारीमनुचिंतयन् । तत्सरः सागरप्रख्यंकामाख्यं नहुषात्मजः
Though devoted to righteousness, he was overcome by desire, thinking constantly of that woman; Nahusha’s son went to the lake named Kama, vast as the ocean.
अश्रुबिंदुमती यत्र जगाम लघुविक्रमः । तां दृष्ट्वा तु विशालाक्षीं चारुपीनपयोधराम्
There Ashrubindumati went, swift in her movements; seeing her, the broad-eyed one, with lovely, full breasts—