Yayati Asks His Sons for Their Youth

Verse 1 (1.78.1)

जरां प्राप्य ययातिस्तु स्वपुरं प्राप्य चैव हि । पुत्रं ज्येष्ठं वरिष्ठं च यदुमित्यब्रवीद्वचः ॥

jarāṃ prāpya yayātistu svapuraṃ prāpya caiva hi | putraṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ variṣṭhaṃ ca yadumityabravīdvacaḥ

Having come to old age, Yayati went back to his own city and spoke these words to Yadu, his eldest and foremost son:

Verse 2 (1.78.2)

जरा वली च मां तात पलितानि च पर्यगुः । काव्यस्योशनसः शापान्न च तृप्तोऽस्मि यौवने ॥

jarā valī ca māṃ tāta palitāni ca paryaguḥ | kāvyasyośanasaḥ śāpānna ca tṛpto'smi yauvane

Old age, wrinkles and grey hair have overtaken me, my son, through the curse of Kavya Ushanas; yet I am not sated with youth.

Note on the text: Corrected जरावली → जरा वली (word division; "old age and wrinkles", as CE 1.79.2 and verse 28).

Verse 3 (1.78.3)

त्वं यदो प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह । यौवनेन त्वदीयेन चरेयं विषयानहम् ॥

tvaṃ yado pratipadyasva pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | yauvanena tvadīyena careyaṃ viṣayānaham

Yadu, take on my affliction along with my old age, so that with your youth I may enjoy the pleasures of the senses.

Verse 4 (1.78.4)

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु पुनस्ते यौवनं त्वहम् । दत्त्वा स्वं प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानं जरया सह ॥

pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu punaste yauvanaṃ tvaham | dattvā svaṃ pratipatsyāmi pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha

When a full thousand years have passed, I will give you back your youth and take up again my own affliction along with old age.

Verse 5 (1.78.5)

जरायां बहवो दोषाः पानभोजनकारिताः । तस्माज्जरां न ते राजन्ग्रहीष्य इति मे मतिः ॥

jarāyāṃ bahavo doṣāḥ pānabhojanakāritāḥ | tasmājjarāṃ na te rājangrahīṣya iti me matiḥ

Old age brings many ills in eating and drinking. Therefore, O king, I will not take your old age; that is my mind.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.79.5*824).

Verse 6 (1.78.6)

सितश्मश्रुर्निरानन्दो जरया शिथिलीकृतः । वलीसङ्गतगात्रस्तु दुर्दर्शो दुर्बलः कृशः ॥

sitaśmaśrurnirānando jarayā śithilīkṛtaḥ | valīsaṅgatagātrastu durdarśo durbalaḥ kṛśaḥ

White-bearded, joyless, slackened by age, his limbs covered with wrinkles, unsightly, weak and lean,

Verse 7 (1.78.7)

अशक्तः कार्यकरणे परिभूतः स यौवतैः । सहोपजीविभिश्चैव तां जरां नाभिकामये ॥

aśaktaḥ kāryakaraṇe paribhūtaḥ sa yauvataiḥ | sahopajīvibhiścaiva tāṃ jarāṃ nābhikāmaye

unable to do his work, scorned by young women and by his dependants alike: such old age I do not want.

Verse 8 (1.78.8)

सन्ति ते बहवः पुत्रा मत्तः प्रियतरा नृप । जरां ग्रहीतुं धर्मज्ञ तस्मादन्यं वृणीष्व वै ॥

santi te bahavaḥ putrā mattaḥ priyatarā nṛpa | jarāṃ grahītuṃ dharmajña tasmādanyaṃ vṛṇīṣva vai

You have many sons dearer to you than I am, O king. You who know dharma, choose another to take your old age.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.79.6*826).

Verse 9 (1.78.9)

यत्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि । तस्मादराज्यभाक्तात प्रजा तव भविष्यति ॥

yattvaṃ me hṛdayājjāto vayaḥ svaṃ na prayacchasi | tasmādarājyabhāktāta prajā tava bhaviṣyati

Since you, born of my heart, will not give me your youth, your offspring, my son, shall have no share in kingship.

Verse 10 (1.78.10)

प्रत्याख्यातस्तु राजा स तुर्वसुं प्रत्युवाच ह । तुर्वसो प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह । यौवनेन चरेयं वै विषयांस्तव पुत्रक ॥

pratyākhyātastu rājā sa turvasuṃ pratyuvāca ha | turvaso pratipadyasva pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | yauvanena careyaṃ vai viṣayāṃstava putraka

Refused, the king then said to Turvasu: "Turvasu, take on my affliction along with old age; let me enjoy the pleasures of the senses with your youth, my son."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick, quote mark, doubled danda). First line not in the critical edition (vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.79.7*827); lines 2–3 are 1.79.8. Speaker set to the narrator, as the verse opens with narration.

Verse 11 (1.78.11)

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु पुनर्दास्यामि यौवनम् । स्वं चैव प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानं जरया सह ॥

pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu punardāsyāmi yauvanam | svaṃ caiva pratipatsyāmi pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha

When a full thousand years have passed, I will give your youth back to you and take up again my own affliction along with old age.

Verse 12 (1.78.12)

न कामये जरां तात कामभोगप्रणाशिनीम् । बलरूपान्तकरणीं बुद्धिप्राणप्रणाशिनीम् ॥

na kāmaye jarāṃ tāta kāmabhogapraṇāśinīm | balarūpāntakaraṇīṃ buddhiprāṇapraṇāśinīm

Father, I do not want old age, which destroys desire and enjoyment, puts an end to strength and beauty, and ruins intellect and vitality.

Verse 13 (1.78.13)

यत्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि । तस्मात्प्रजा समुच्छेदं तुर्वसो तव यास्यति ॥

yattvaṃ me hṛdayājjāto vayaḥ svaṃ na prayacchasi | tasmātprajā samucchedaṃ turvaso tava yāsyati

Since you, born of my heart, will not give me your youth, your line, Turvasu, shall come to extinction.

Verse 14 (1.78.14)

संकीर्णाचारधर्मेषु प्रतिलोमचरेषु च । पिशिताशिषु चान्त्येषु मूढ राजा भविष्यसि ॥

saṃkīrṇācāradharmeṣu pratilomacareṣu ca | piśitāśiṣu cāntyeṣu mūḍha rājā bhaviṣyasi

Fool, you shall be king among those whose customs and laws are mixed, who are born against the order of the classes, who eat raw flesh, and who are outcasts;

Verse 15 (1.78.15)

गुरुदारप्रसक्तेषु तिर्यग्योनिगतेषु च । पशुधर्मेषु पापेषु म्लेच्छेषु त्वं भविष्यसि ॥

gurudāraprasakteṣu tiryagyonigateṣu ca | paśudharmeṣu pāpeṣu mleccheṣu tvaṃ bhaviṣyasi

among those who lust after their teachers' wives, who have sunk to the state of beasts, who live by the law of animals, among sinful barbarians: there you shall be.

Verse 16 (1.78.16)

एवं स तुर्वसुं शप्त्वा ययातिः सुतमात्मनः । शर्मिष्ठायाः सुतं द्रुह्युमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

evaṃ sa turvasuṃ śaptvā yayātiḥ sutamātmanaḥ | śarmiṣṭhāyāḥ sutaṃ druhyumidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Having thus cursed his own son Turvasu, Yayati spoke these words to Druhyu, Sharmishtha's son:

Verse 17 (1.78.17)

द्रुह्यो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व वर्णरूपविनाशिनीम् । जरां वर्षसहस्रं मे यौवनं स्वं ददस्व च ॥

druhyo tvaṃ pratipadyasva varṇarūpavināśinīm | jarāṃ varṣasahasraṃ me yauvanaṃ svaṃ dadasva ca

Druhyu, take on for a thousand years my old age, which destroys complexion and beauty, and give me your own youth.

Verse 18 (1.78.18)

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु पुनर्दास्यामि यौवनम् । स्वं चादास्यामि भूयोऽहं पाप्मानं जरया सह ॥

pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu punardāsyāmi yauvanam | svaṃ cādāsyāmi bhūyo'haṃ pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha

When a full thousand years have passed, I will give your youth back, and take up once more my own affliction along with old age.

Verse 19 (1.78.19)

न गजं न रथं नाश्वं जीर्णो भुङ्क्ते न च स्त्रियम् । वाग्भङ्गश्चास्य भवति तां जरां नाभिकामये ॥

na gajaṃ na rathaṃ nāśvaṃ jīrṇo bhuṅkte na ca striyam | vāgbhaṅgaścāsya bhavati tāṃ jarāṃ nābhikāmaye

An old man cannot enjoy an elephant, a chariot or a horse, nor a woman; even his speech falters. Such old age I do not want.

Verse 20 (1.78.20)

यत्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि । तस्माद्द्रुह्यो प्रियः कामो न ते संपत्स्यते क्वचित् ॥

yattvaṃ me hṛdayājjāto vayaḥ svaṃ na prayacchasi | tasmāddruhyo priyaḥ kāmo na te saṃpatsyate kvacit

Since you, born of my heart, will not give me your youth, your cherished desire, Druhyu, shall never be fulfilled anywhere.

Verse 21 (1.78.21)

यत्राश्वरथमुख्यानामश्वानां स्याद्गतं न च । हस्तिनां पीठकानां च गर्दभानां तथैव च ॥

yatrāśvarathamukhyānāmaśvānāṃ syādgataṃ na ca | hastināṃ pīṭhakānāṃ ca gardabhānāṃ tathaiva ca

Where there shall be no passage for the finest horses and chariots, nor for horses, elephants, litters or donkeys,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.79.18*829).

Verse 22 (1.78.22)

बस्तानां च गवां चैव शिबिकायास्तथैव च । उडुपप्लवसंतारो यत्र नित्यं भविष्यति । अराजा भोजशब्दं त्वं तत्रावाप्स्यसि सान्वयः ॥

bastānāṃ ca gavāṃ caiva śibikāyāstathaiva ca | uḍupaplavasaṃtāro yatra nityaṃ bhaviṣyati | arājā bhojaśabdaṃ tvaṃ tatrāvāpsyasi sānvayaḥ

nor for goats, cattle or palanquins; where crossing shall always be by raft and boat: there, kingless, you and your line shall get the name of Bhoja.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (1.79.19c): Wikisource leaves the curse as a "where …" clause with no main clause; added the line अराजा भोजशब्दं त्वं तत्रावाप्स्यसि सान्वयः. First line is from the CE apparatus (1.79.18*829); second line is 1.79.19a.

Verse 23 (1.78.23)

अनो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह । एकं वर्षसहस्रं तु चरेयं यौवनेन ते ॥

ano tvaṃ pratipadyasva pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | ekaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu careyaṃ yauvanena te

Anu, take on my affliction along with old age, so that I may live for one thousand years with your youth.

Verse 24 (1.78.24)

जीर्णः शिशुवदादत्तेऽकालेऽन्नमशुचिर्यथा । न जुहोति च कालेऽग्निं तां जरां नाभिकामये ॥

jīrṇaḥ śiśuvadādatte'kāle'nnamaśuciryathā | na juhoti ca kāle'gniṃ tāṃ jarāṃ nābhikāmaye

An old man, like a child, takes his food at the wrong time, and is like one unclean; he does not offer into the fire at the proper time. Such old age I do not want.

Note on the text: Corrected शिशुवदादत्ते कालेऽन्नम् → शिशुवदादत्तेऽकालेऽन्नम् (misprint in Wikisource; the missing avagraha turns "at the wrong time" into "at the right time"; CE ādatte 'kāle 'nnam).

Verse 25 (1.78.25)

यत्त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्वं न प्रयच्छसि । जरादोषस्त्वया प्रोक्तस्तस्मात्त्वं प्रतिलप्स्यसे ॥

yattvaṃ me hṛdayājjāto vayaḥ svaṃ na prayacchasi | jarādoṣastvayā proktastasmāttvaṃ pratilapsyase

Since you, born of my heart, will not give me your youth, you shall yourself receive the defects of old age that you have spoken of.

Verse 26 (1.78.26)

प्रजाश्च यौवनप्राप्ता विनशिष्यन्त्यनो तव । अग्निप्रस्कन्दनपरस्त्वं चाप्येवं भविष्यसि ॥

prajāśca yauvanaprāptā vinaśiṣyantyano tava | agnipraskandanaparastvaṃ cāpyevaṃ bhaviṣyasi

And your children, Anu, shall perish as soon as they reach youth; and you too shall be one who forsakes the sacred fire.

Verse 27 (1.78.27)

प्रत्याख्यातश्चतुर्भिश्च शप्त्वा तान्यदुपूर्वकान् । पूरोः सकाशमगमन्मत्वा पूरुमलङ्घनम् ॥

pratyākhyātaścaturbhiśca śaptvā tānyadupūrvakān | pūroḥ sakāśamagamanmatvā pūrumalaṅghanam

Refused by four sons, he cursed those sons headed by Yadu and went to Puru, judging that Puru would not disobey him.

Note on the text: Corrected मत्त्वा → मत्वा (misprint in Wikisource; gerund of मन्). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.79.23*830, lines 20–21).

Verse 28 (1.78.28)

पूरो त्वं मे प्रियः पुत्रस्त्वं वरीयान्भविष्यसि । जरा वली च मां तात पलितानि च पर्यगुः ॥

pūro tvaṃ me priyaḥ putrastvaṃ varīyānbhaviṣyasi | jarā valī ca māṃ tāta palitāni ca paryaguḥ

Puru, you are my beloved son; you shall be the foremost. Old age, wrinkles and grey hair have overtaken me, my son,

Note on the text: Corrected मांतात → मां तात (word division).

Verse 29 (1.78.29)

काव्यस्योशनसः शापान्न च तृप्तोऽस्मि यौवने । पूरो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह । कंचित्कालं चरेयं वै विषयान्वयसा तव ॥

kāvyasyośanasaḥ śāpānna ca tṛpto'smi yauvane | pūro tvaṃ pratipadyasva pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | kaṃcitkālaṃ careyaṃ vai viṣayānvayasā tava

through the curse of Kavya Ushanas, and I am not sated with youth. Puru, take on my affliction along with old age; for a while let me enjoy the pleasures of the senses with your youth.

Note on the text: Corrected वयसातव → वयसा तव (word division). First line is 1.79.24ef; lines 2–3 are 1.79.25.

Verse 30 (1.78.30)

पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु पुनर्दास्यामि यौवनम् । स्वं चैव प्रतिपत्स्यामि पाप्मानं जरया सह ॥

pūrṇe varṣasahasre tu punardāsyāmi yauvanam | svaṃ caiva pratipatsyāmi pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha

When a full thousand years have passed, I will give your youth back to you and take up again my own affliction along with old age.

Note on the text: Auto-alignment matched the identical verse 1.79.9; in this place it is 1.79.26 (CE reads pratidāsyāmi).

Verse 31 (1.78.31)

एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच पूरुः पितरमञ्जसा । यदात्थ मां महाराज तत्करिष्यामि ते वचः ॥

evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca pūruḥ pitaramañjasā | yadāttha māṃ mahārāja tatkariṣyāmi te vacaḥ

So addressed, Puru promptly answered his father: "Whatever you ask of me, great king, I will do as you say."

Note on the text: Corrected पितरमज्जसा → पितरमञ्जसा (misprint in Wikisource; CE añjasā).

Verse 32 (1.78.32)

गुरोर्वै वचनं पुण्यं स्वर्ग्यमायुष्करं नृणाम् । गुरुप्रसादात्त्रैलोक्यमन्वशासच्छतक्रतुः ॥

gurorvai vacanaṃ puṇyaṃ svargyamāyuṣkaraṃ nṛṇām | guruprasādāttrailokyamanvaśāsacchatakratuḥ

The word of one's elder is holy; it leads to heaven and lengthens men's lives. By the grace of his guru, Shatakratu ruled the three worlds.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (backtick). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.79.27*833). Speaker set to Puru (his reply continues from verse 31).

Verse 33 (1.78.33)

गुरोरनुमतं प्राप्य सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् । यावदिच्छसि तावच्च धारयिष्यामि ते जराम् ॥

guroranumataṃ prāpya sarvānkāmānavāpnuyāt | yāvadicchasi tāvacca dhārayiṣyāmi te jarām

With the assent of one's elder, one may obtain every desire. For as long as you wish, I will bear your old age.

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark. Corrected कामानमाप्नुयात् → कामानवाप्नुयात् (misprint in Wikisource; CE apparatus avāpnuyāt). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.79.27*833; the second line resembles 1.79.28*834). Speaker set to Puru.

Verse 34 (1.78.34)

प्रतिपत्स्यामि ते राजन्पाप्मानं जरया सह । गृहाण यौवनं मत्तश्चर कामान्यथेप्सितान् ॥

pratipatsyāmi te rājanpāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | gṛhāṇa yauvanaṃ mattaścara kāmānyathepsitān

I will take on your affliction along with old age, O king. Take my youth from me and enjoy the pleasures you desire.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from the narrator to Puru.

Verse 35 (1.78.35)

जरयाहं प्रतिच्छन्नो वयोरूपधरस्तव । यौवनं भवते दत्त्वा चरिष्यामि यथात्थ माम् ॥

jarayāhaṃ praticchanno vayorūpadharastava | yauvanaṃ bhavate dattvā cariṣyāmi yathāttha mām

Covered by old age, I will bear your years and your form; having given my youth to you, I will live as you have told me.

Note on the text: Corrected यथात्थमाम् → यथात्थ माम् (word division). Speaker corrected from the narrator to Puru.

Verse 36 (1.78.36)

पूरो प्रीतोऽस्मि ते वत्स प्रीतश्चेदं ददामि ते । सर्वकामसमृद्धा ते प्रजा राज्ये भविष्यति ॥

pūro prīto'smi te vatsa prītaścedaṃ dadāmi te | sarvakāmasamṛddhā te prajā rājye bhaviṣyati

Puru, I am pleased with you, my child, and being pleased I grant you this: your people in your kingdom shall be rich in every desire.

Verse 37 (1.78.37)

एवमुक्त्वा ययातिस्तु स्मृत्वा काव्यं महातपाः । संक्रामयामास जरां तदा पूरौ महात्मनि ॥

evamuktvā yayātistu smṛtvā kāvyaṃ mahātapāḥ | saṃkrāmayāmāsa jarāṃ tadā pūrau mahātmani

Having said this, Yayati, of great austerity, called Kavya to mind and transferred his old age to the great-souled Puru.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.79.30*836).