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.
सूत उवाच। एवन्तु तुर्वसुं शप्त्वा ययातिः सुतमात्मनः। शर्मिष्ठायाः सुतं द्रुह्युमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। ३१.
Sūta said: Thus, after cursing Turvasu, his own son, Yayati spoke these words to Druhyu, the son of Sharmishtha.
द्रुह्यो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व वर्णरूपविनाशिनीम्। जरां वर्षसहस्रं वै यौवनं स्वन्ददस्व मे ।। ३१.
Druhyu, you must accept old age, which destroys caste and beauty, for a thousand years; give me your youth.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे ते प्रतिदास्यामि यौवनम्। स्वञ्चादास्यामि बूयोऽहं पाप्मानं जरया सह ।। ३१.
When your thousand years are complete, I will return your youth to you; I will again take upon myself the sin of old age.
द्रुह्युरुवाच न सङ्गश्चास्य भवति न जरां तेन कामये ।। ३१.
Druhyu said: There is no attachment to it, so I do not desire old age.
ययातिरुवाच।। यस्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वन्न प्रयच्छसि। तस्माद् द्रुह्यो प्रियः कामो न ते सम्पत्स्यते क्वचित् ।। ३१.
Yayati said: You, who were born from my heart, refuse to give me your youth; therefore, Druhyu, you will never attain your beloved desire.
नौप्लवोत्तरसञ्चारस्तत्र नित्यं भविष्यति। अराजभ्राजवंशस्त्वं तत्र नित्यं भविष्यसि ।। ३१.
There will never be passage by boat across the waters there; your lineage will always be without a king in that land.
अनो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह। एवं वर्षसहस्रन्तु चरेयं यौवनेन ते ।। ३१.
You, Anu, take upon yourself this sin along with old age; in this way, I may live for a thousand years enjoying your youth.
अनुरुवाच न जुहोति स कालेऽग्नि तां जरान्नाबिकामये ।। ३१.
Anu replied: The fire does not burn at the proper time because of old age; therefore, I do not desire it.
ययातिरुवाच।। यस्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वन्न प्रयच्छसि। जरादोषस्त्वयोक्तोऽयं तस्मात्ते प्रतिपत्स्यते ।। ३१.
Yayati said: You, who are born from my heart, do not give me your youth; you have mentioned the fault of old age, so it will return to you.
प्रजा च यौवनं प्राप्ता विनशिष्यत्यतस्तव। अग्निप्रस्कन्दनपरस्त्वं चाप्येव भविष्यसि ।। ३१.
Your offspring, having attained youth, will perish because of this; and you will also become one who neglects the sacred fire.