Vayu Purana

तेषां मध्ये तु पञ्चानां ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः। देवयानिमुशनसः सुतां भार्यामवाप ह ।। ३१.

Among those five, Yayāti, lord of the earth, took Devayānī, daughter of Uśanas, as his wife.

शर्मिष्ठा मासुरीं चैव तनयां वृषपर्वणः। यदुं च तुर्वसुं चैव देवयानिर्व्यजायत ।। ३१.

Devayānī bore Yadu and Turvasu, while Śarmiṣṭhā, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, gave birth to Druhyu, Anu, and Pūru.

द्रुह्युञ्चानुञ्च पूरुञ्च शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी । अजीजनन्महावीर्यान् सुतान्देवसुतोपमान् ।। ३१.

Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, gave birth to Druhyu, Anu, and Pūru—sons of great might, comparable to the children of the gods.

रथन्तस्मै ददौ रुद्रः प्रीतः परमभास्वरम्। असङ्गं काञ्चनं दिव्यमक्षयौ च महेषुधी ।। ३१.

Then Rudra, pleased, gave him a most radiant chariot—divine, golden, unassailable, and inexhaustible, with great weapons.

युक्तं मनो जवैरश्वैर्येन कन्यां समुद्वहत्। स तेन रथमुख्येन जिगाय च ततो महीम् ।। ३१.

Harnessed with horses swift as the mind, he carried away the maiden; with that foremost chariot, he conquered the earth.

ययातिर्युधि दुर्द्धर्षो देवदानवमानवैः । पौरवाणां नृपाणाञ्च सर्वेषां सोऽभवद्रथः ।। ३१.

Yayāti, invincible in battle against gods, Dānavas, and Mānavas, became the chariot-warrior of all the Paurava kings.

योवत्सुदेशप्रभवः कौरवो जनमेजयः। कुरोः पुत्रस्य राज्ञस्तु राज्ञः पारिक्षितस्य ह। जगाम स रथो नाशं शापाद्गार्ग्यस्य धीमतः ।। ३१.

That chariot, belonging to Janamejaya the Kaurava, son of King Kuru and grandson of Parīkṣit, who was born in Vatsadeśa, was destroyed by the curse of the wise Gārgya.

गार्ग्यस्य हि सुतं बालः स राजा जनमेजयः। दुर्बुद्धिर्हिंसयामास लोहगन्धं नराधिपम् ।। ३१.

For that king Janamejaya, still a boy and of poor judgment, harmed Lohagandha, the ruler of men, who was the son of Gārgya.

स लोहगन्धो राजर्षिः परिधावन्नितस्ततः। पौरजानपदैस्त्यक्तो न लेभे शर्म कर्हिचित् ।। ३१.

That royal sage Lohagandha, fleeing here and there, was abandoned by the people of the cities and countryside, and never found peace.

ततः स दुःखसन्तप्तो नालभत्संविदं क्वचित्। शशाप हेतुकमृषिं शरण्यं व्यथितस्तदा ।। ३१.

Then, tormented by suffering and finding no solace anywhere, he, distressed, cursed the sage Hetuka, who was a refuge for others.

ईन्द्रोतो नाम विख्यातो योऽसौ मुनिरुदारधीः। योजयामास चेन्द्रोतः शौनको जनमेजयम्। अश्वमेधेन राजानं पावनार्थं द्विजोत्तमः ।। ३१.

That noble-minded sage, known as Indrota, caused Janamejaya, son of Śaunaka, to perform the Aśvamedha sacrifice for the king’s purification, O best of twice-born.

स लोहगन्धो व्यनशत्तस्यावसथमेत्य ह। स च दिव्यो रथस्तस्माद्वसोश्चेदिपतेस्तथा ।। ३१.

Lohagandha disappeared after reaching his dwelling; and from him, that divine chariot passed to Vasu, king of the Cedis.

ततः शक्रेण तुष्टेन लेभे तस्माद्बृहद्रथः। ततो हत्वा जरासन्धं भीमस्तं रथमुत्तमम्। प्रददौ वासुदेवाय प्रीत्या कौरवनन्दनः ।। ३१.

Then, being pleased, Śakra gave it to Bṛhadratha; after Bhīma slew Jarāsandha, the best of chariots was given with affection by the Kaurava prince to Vāsudeva.

स जरां प्राप्य राजर्षिर्ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः। पुत्रं ज्येष्ठं वरिष्ठञ्च यदुमित्यब्रवीद्वचः ।।३१.

When Yayāti, son of Nahuṣa, was overtaken by old age, he spoke to his eldest and most excellent son, Yadu, these words.

जरावली च मां तात पलितानि च पर्यगुः । काव्यस्योशनसः शापान्न च तृप्तोऽस्मि यौवने ।। ३१.

O son, old age and gray hairs have come upon me; because of the curse of Kāvya Uśanas, I am not satisfied with my youth.

त्वं यदो प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह। जरां मे प्रतिगृह्णीष्व तं यदुः प्रत्युवाच ह ।। ३१.

You, Yadu, accept my old age and its affliction; take my old age upon yourself. Thus he spoke, and Yadu replied.

अनिर्दिष्टा मया भिक्षा ब्राह्मणस्य प्रतिश्रुता । सा च व्यायामसाध्या वै न ग्रहीष्यामि ते जराम् ।। ३१.

I have promised alms to a Brāhmaṇa, which must be obtained through exertion; therefore, I will not accept your old age.

जराया बहवो दोषा पानभोजनकारिणः। तस्माज्जरान्न ते राजन् ग्रहीतुमहमुत्सहे ।। ३१.

Old age brings many faults, especially for those who indulge in drinking and eating; therefore, O King, I am not able to accept your old age.

सितश्मश्रुधरो दीनो जरया शिथिलीकृतः। बली सन्नतगात्रश्च दुर्द्दशो दुर्बलाकृतिः ।। ३१.

With white hair and beard, miserable, weakened by old age, once strong and well-built, now pitiable and frail in appearance.

अशक्तः कार्यकरणे परिभूतस्तु यौवने। महोपभीतिभिश्चैव तां जरान्नाभिकामये ।। ३१.

Unable to perform duties, disregarded in youth, and greatly troubled by fears—such old age I do not desire.

सन्ति ते बहवः पुत्रा मत्तः प्रियतरा नृप। प्रतिगृह्णन्तु धर्मज्ञ पुत्रमन्यं वृणीष्व वै ।। ३१.

You have many sons, O King, who are dearer to you than I am; let them, who know righteousness, accept your old age—choose another son.

स एवमुक्तो यदुना तीव्रकोपसमन्वितः। उवाच वदतां श्रेष्छो ज्येष्ठं तं गर्हयन् सुतम् ।। ३१.

Thus addressed by Yadu, filled with intense anger, the best among speakers rebuked his eldest son.

आश्रमः कश्च वान्योऽस्ति को वा धर्मविधिस्तव। मामनादृत्य दुर्बुद्धे यदात्थ नवदेशिक ।। ३१.

What other hermitage is there, or what other rule of righteousness do you follow, that you, O foolish one, disregard me and speak as if you had a new teacher?

एवमुक्त्वा यदुं राजा शशापैनं स मन्युमान् । यस्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि ।। ३१.

Having spoken thus to Yadu, the king, filled with wrath, cursed him: 'You, who were born from my heart, refuse to give me your youth.'

तस्मान्न राज्यभाग् मूढ प्रजा ते वै भविष्यति। तुर्वसो प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह ।। ३१.

Therefore, O fool, you shall have no share in the kingdom, nor will you have descendants; let Turvasu accept the sin of old age along with it.

तुर्वसुरुवाच।। न कामये जरां तात सामभोगप्रणाशिनीम्। जराया बहवो दोषाः पानभोजनकारिणः। तस्माज्जरां न ते राजन् ग्रहीतुमहमुत्सहे ।। ३१.

Turvasu said: 'Father, I do not desire old age, which destroys all enjoyment; old age brings many faults, especially for those who indulge in drinking and eating. Therefore, O King, I am not able to accept your old age.'

ययातिरुवाच।। यस्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वन्न प्रयच्छसि। तस्मात् प्रजा समुच्छेदं तुर्वसो तव यास्यति ।। ३१.

Yayati said: 'You, who were born from my heart, refuse to give me your youth; therefore, Turvasu, your lineage will be cut off.'

असङ्कीर्णा च धर्मेण प्रतिलोमवरेषु च। पिशितादिषु चान्येषु मूढ राजा भविष्यसि ।। ३१.

You will be unmingled in righteousness, and in marriages against the order, and in eating flesh and other such things, O fool, you will be a king.

गुरु दारप्रसक्तेषु तिर्यग्योनिगतेषु वा। पशुधर्मेषु म्लेच्छेषु भविष्यति न संशयः ।। ३१.

You will be attached to the wives of elders, to those born in animal wombs, to animal-like conduct, and to foreigners—of this there is no doubt.