Vayu Purana

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.

पूरो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानञ्जरया सह। जरावली च मान्तात पलितानि च पर्यगुः ।। ३१.

You, Puru, take upon yourself this sin along with old age; wrinkles and grey hairs appeared on the body of your father.

काव्यस्योशनसः शापान्न च तृप्तोऽस्मि यौवने। कञ्चित्कालञ्जरेयं वै विषयान् वयसा तव ।। ३१.

Because of the curse of Kāvya Uśanas, I am not satisfied with youth; let me experience sensual pleasures for a while with your youth.

पूर्णें वर्षसहस्रे ते प्रतिदास्यामि यौवनम्। स्वञ्चैव प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानञ्जरया सह ।। ३१.

When a thousand years are complete, I will return your youth to you, and I will again take upon myself this sin along with old age.

सूत उवाच।। एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच पुत्रः पितरमञ्जसा। यथानुमन्यसे तात करिष्यामि तथैव च ।। ३१.

Sūta said: Thus addressed, the son replied straightforwardly to his father: 'As you wish, father, so I shall do.'

प्रतिपत्स्यामि ते राजन् पाप्मानं जरया सह। गृहाण यौवनं मत्तश्चर कामान् यथेप्सितान् ।। ३१.

I will take upon myself your sin along with old age; receive youth from me and enjoy pleasures as you desire.

जरयाहं प्रतिच्छन्नो वयोरूपधरस्तव। यौवनं भवते दत्त्वा चरिष्यामि यथार्तवत् ।। ३१.

Covered by old age, I will bear your form and appearance; having given you youth, I will live accordingly.

ययातिरुवाच।। पूरो प्रीतोऽस्मि भद्रन्ते प्रीतश्चेदं ददामि ते। सर्वकामसमृद्धा ते प्रजा राज्ये भविष्यति ।। ३१.

Yayati said: Puru, I am pleased with you; may good come to you. Because I am pleased, I grant you this: your progeny will flourish in the kingdom, endowed with all desires.

सूत उवाच।। पूरोरनुमतो राजा ययातिः स्वां जरान्ततः। संक्रामयामास तदा प्रसादाद्भार्गवस्य तु ।। ३१.

Sūta said: With Puru's consent, King Yayati then transferred his own old age to him, by the grace of Bhārgava.

यौवनेनाथ वयसा ययातिरनहुषात्मजः । प्रीतियुक्तो नरश्रेष्ठश्चचार विषयान् स्वकान् ।। ३१.

Then Yayati, son of Nahusha, endowed with youth and vigor, delighted, the best among men, enjoyed his own pleasures.

यथाकामं यथोत्साहं यथाकालं यथासुखम्। धर्म्माविरोधाद्राजेन्द्रो यथार्हति स एव हि ।। ३१.

As he wished, with enthusiasm, at the right time, and with happiness, and without violating dharma, the king enjoyed as was fitting.