King Yayati Regains His Youth

Verse 1 (bhagavata.9.18.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच यतिर्ययातिः संयातिरायतिर्वियतिः कृतिः । षडिमे नहुषस्यासन्निन्द्रियाणीव देहिनः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca yatir yayātiḥ saṁyātir āyatir viyatiḥ kṛtiḥ ṣaḍ ime nahuṣasyāsann indriyāṇīva dehinaḥ

Sri Shukadeva said: Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, Viyati and Kriti — these six were the sons of Nahusha, like the six senses of an embodied being.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.9.18.2)

राज्यं नैच्छद् यतिः पित्रा दत्तं तत्परिणामवित् । यत्र प्रविष्टः पुरुष आत्मानं नावबुध्यते ॥ २ ॥

rājyaṁ naicchad yatiḥ pitrā dattaṁ tat-pariṇāmavit yatra praviṣṭaḥ puruṣa ātmānaṁ nāvabudhyate

Yati, understanding its true consequence, did not accept the kingdom offered by his father — for one who enters that position fails to recognize his own true self.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.9.18.3)

पितरि भ्रंशिते स्थानादिन्द्राण्या धर्षणाद्द्विजैः । प्रापितेऽजगरत्वं वै ययातिरभवन्नृपः ॥ ३ ॥

pitari bhraṁśite sthānād indrāṇyā dharṣaṇād dvijaiḥ prāpite ’jagaratvaṁ vai yayātir abhavan nṛpaḥ

When his father Nahusha, for an offense against Indra's queen, was cast down from his position by the brahmanas and reduced to the state of a python, Yayati became king.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.9.18.4)

चतसृष्वादिशद् दिक्षु भ्रातृन् भ्राता यवीयसः । कृतदारो जुगोपोर्वीं काव्यस्य वृषपर्वणः ॥ ४ ॥

catasṛṣv ādiśad dikṣu bhrātṝn bhrātā yavīyasaḥ kṛta-dāro jugoporvīṁ kāvyasya vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ

He appointed his younger brothers, one to each of the four directions; then, having taken wives from the lines of Kavya (Shukracharya) and of Vrishaparva, he guarded the whole earth.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.9.18.5)

श्रीराजोवाच ब्रह्मर्षिर्भगवान् काव्यः क्षत्रबन्धुश्च नाहुषः । राजन्यविप्रयोः कस्माद् विवाहः प्रतिलोमकः ॥ ५ ॥

śrī-rājovāca brahmarṣir bhagavān kāvyaḥ kṣatra-bandhuś ca nāhuṣaḥ rājanya-viprayoḥ kasmād vivāhaḥ pratilomakaḥ

The King said: Bhagavan Kavya was a brahmarshi, and the son of Nahusha was a kshatriya — how, then, did this reversed marriage take place between a warrior and a brahmana's daughter?

Verse 6 (bhagavata.9.18.6)

श्रीशुक उवाच एकदा दानवेन्द्रस्य शर्मिष्ठा नाम कन्यका । सखीसहस्रसंयुक्ता गुरुपुत्र्या च भामिनी ॥ ६ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca ekadā dānavendrasya śarmiṣṭhā nāma kanyakā sakhī-sahasra-saṁyuktā guru-putryā ca bhāminī

Sri Shukadeva said: One day Sharmishtha, the spirited daughter of the lord of the Danavas, went out together with a thousand friends and with the daughter of her guru, Devayani —

Verse 7 (bhagavata.9.18.7)

देवयान्या पुरोद्याने पुष्पितद्रुमसङ्कुले । व्यचरत्कलगीतालिनलिनीपुलिनेऽबला ॥ ७ ॥

devayānyā purodyāne puṣpita-druma-saṅkule vyacarat kala-gītāli- nalinī-puline ’balā

— to wander with Devayani through the city garden, thick with flowering trees, along the bank of a lotus-pool murmuring with the sweet song of bees.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.9.18.8)

ता जलाशयमासाद्य कन्याः कमललोचनाः । तीरे न्यस्य दुकूलानि विजह्रुः सिञ्चतीर्मिथः ॥ ८ ॥

tā jalāśayam āsādya kanyāḥ kamala-locanāḥ tīre nyasya dukūlāni vijahruḥ siñcatīr mithaḥ

Those lotus-eyed girls, reaching a pool of water, laid their garments on the bank and sported there, splashing water upon one another.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.9.18.9)

वीक्ष्य व्रजन्तं गिरिशं सह देव्या वृषस्थितम् । सहसोत्तीर्य वासांसि पर्यधुर्व्रीडिताः स्त्रियः ॥ ९ ॥

vīkṣya vrajantaṁ giriśaṁ saha devyā vṛṣa-sthitam sahasottīrya vāsāṁsi paryadhur vrīḍitāḥ striyaḥ

Seeing Bhagavan Girisha (Shiva) passing by, seated on his bull with the Devi Parvati, the women, embarrassed, quickly climbed out of the water and put on their garments.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.9.18.10)

शर्मिष्ठाजानती वासो गुरुपुत्र्याः समव्ययत् । स्वीयं मत्वा प्रकुपिता देवयानीदमब्रवीत् ॥ १० ॥

śarmiṣṭhājānatī vāso guru-putryāḥ samavyayat svīyaṁ matvā prakupitā devayānīdam abravīt

Unknowingly, Sharmishtha put on the garment of her guru's daughter, taking it for her own. Growing angry at this, Devayani spoke as follows.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.9.18.11)

अहो निरीक्ष्यतामस्या दास्याः कर्म ह्यसाम्प्रतम् । अस्मद्धार्यं धृतवती शुनीव हविरध्वरे ॥ ११ ॥

aho nirīkṣyatām asyā dāsyāḥ karma hy asāmpratam asmad-dhāryaṁ dhṛtavatī śunīva havir adhvare

Ah, just see the improper conduct of this servant-girl! She has put on what is mine to wear, just as a dog might seize the offering meant for the sacrificial fire.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.9.18.12)

यैरिदं तपसा सृष्टं मुखं पुंसः परस्य ये । धार्यते यैरिह ज्योतिः शिवः पन्थाः प्रदर्शितः ॥ १२ ॥

yair idaṁ tapasā sṛṣṭaṁ mukhaṁ puṁsaḥ parasya ye dhāryate yair iha jyotiḥ śivaḥ panthāḥ pradarśitaḥ

We are of that line by whose austerity this creation was fashioned, who are held to be the very mouth of the Supreme Person, who bear the sacred light within, and by whom the auspicious path has been shown.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.9.18.13)

यान् वन्दन्त्युपतिष्ठन्ते लोकनाथाः सुरेश्वराः । भगवानपि विश्वात्मा पावनः श्रीनिकेतनः ॥ १३ ॥

yān vandanty upatiṣṭhante loka-nāthāḥ sureśvarāḥ bhagavān api viśvātmā pāvanaḥ śrī-niketanaḥ

— those whom even the lords of the worlds and the rulers of the gods bow to and wait upon, whom even Bhagavan, Soul of the universe, the purifier, the abode of Shri, honors.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.9.18.14)

वयं तत्रापि भृगवः शिष्योऽस्या नः पितासुरः । अस्मद्धार्यं धृतवती शूद्रो वेदमिवासती ॥ १४ ॥

vayaṁ tatrāpi bhṛgavaḥ śiṣyo ’syā naḥ pitāsuraḥ asmad-dhāryaṁ dhṛtavatī śūdro vedam ivāsatī

And among such brahmanas we are of the very line of Bhrigu — while this girl's father, a demon, is merely our disciple. Yet, immodest as she is, she has seized what is mine, like a shudra usurping the Veda.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.9.18.15)

एवं क्षिपन्तीं शर्मिष्ठा गुरुपुत्रीमभाषत । रुषा श्वसन्त्युरङ्गीव धर्षिता दष्टदच्छदा ॥ १५ ॥

evaṁ kṣipantīṁ śarmiṣṭhā guru-putrīm abhāṣata ruṣā śvasanty uraṅgīva dharṣitā daṣṭa-dacchadā

Sri Shukadeva said: Thus rebuked and stung, Sharmishtha, hissing with rage like a serpent and biting her lip, spoke in turn to the daughter of her guru.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.9.18.16)

आत्मवृत्तमविज्ञाय कत्थसे बहु भिक्षुकि । किं न प्रतीक्षसेऽस्माकं गृहान् बलिभुजो यथा ॥ १६ ॥

ātma-vṛttam avijñāya katthase bahu bhikṣuki kiṁ na pratīkṣase ’smākaṁ gṛhān balibhujo yathā

Not knowing your own true position, you boast so much, O beggar-girl! Do you not also depend on our house for your living, like a crow waiting on scraps?

Verse 17 (bhagavata.9.18.17)

एवंविधैः सुपरुषैः क्षिप्त्वाचार्यसुतां सतीम् । शर्मिष्ठा प्राक्षिपत् कूपे वासश्चादाय मन्युना ॥ १७ ॥

evaṁ-vidhaiḥ suparuṣaiḥ kṣiptvācārya-sutāṁ satīm śarmiṣṭhā prākṣipat kūpe vāsaś cādāya manyunā

With such harsh words Sharmishtha rebuked the chaste daughter of the guru, and in her fury seized her garments and cast her into a well.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.9.18.18)

तस्यां गतायां स्वगृहं ययातिर्मृगयां चरन् । प्राप्तो यदृच्छया कूपे जलार्थी तां ददर्श ह ॥ १८ ॥

tasyāṁ gatāyāṁ sva-gṛhaṁ yayātir mṛgayāṁ caran prāpto yadṛcchayā kūpe jalārthī tāṁ dadarśa ha

When Sharmishtha had gone home, King Yayati, out hunting, happened by chance to come to that same well seeking water, and there he saw her.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.9.18.19)

दत्त्वा स्वमुत्तरं वासस्तस्यै राजा विवाससे । गृहीत्वा पाणिना पाणिमुज्जहार दयापरः ॥ १९ ॥

dattvā svam uttaraṁ vāsas tasyai rājā vivāsase gṛhītvā pāṇinā pāṇim ujjahāra dayā-paraḥ

Seeing her without clothing, the King gave her his own upper garment, and, moved by compassion, took her hand in his own and drew her up out of the well.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.9.18.20)

तं वीरमाहौशनसी प्रेमनिर्भरया गिरा । राजंस्त्वया गृहीतो मे पाणिः परपुरञ्जय ॥ २० ॥

taṁ vīram āhauśanasī prema-nirbharayā girā rājaṁs tvayā gṛhīto me pāṇiḥ para-purañjaya

Devayani, daughter of Ushana, said to that hero in a voice full of tenderness: O King, conqueror of your enemies' cities, you have taken my hand —

Verse 21 (bhagavata.9.18.21)

हस्तग्राहोऽपरो मा भूद् गृहीतायास्त्वया हि मे । एष ईशकृतो वीर सम्बन्धो नौ न पौरुषः ॥ २१ ॥

hasta-grāho ’paro mā bhūd gṛhītāyās tvayā hi me eṣa īśa-kṛto vīra sambandho nau na pauruṣaḥ

— let no other ever now take the hand you have taken, O hero; this bond between us has been made by the Lord's own will, not by human contrivance.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.9.18.22)

यदिदं कूपमग्नाया भवतो दर्शनं मम । न ब्राह्मणो मे भविता हस्तग्राहो महाभुज । कचस्य बार्हस्पत्यस्य शापाद् यमशपं पुरा ॥ २२ ॥

yad idaṁ kūpa-magnāyā bhavato darśanaṁ mama na brāhmaṇo me bhavitā hasta-grāho mahā-bhuja kacasya bārhaspatyasya śāpād yam aśapaṁ purā

That I, fallen into the well, should have this sight of you — this too was ordained, O mighty-armed one; for no brahmana can ever be the one to take my hand, on account of a curse once returned upon me by Kacha, son of Brihaspati, after I had cursed him.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.9.18.23)

ययातिरनभिप्रेतं दैवोपहृतमात्मनः । मनस्तु तद्गतं बुद्ध्वा प्रतिजग्राह तद्वचः ॥ २३ ॥

yayātir anabhipretaṁ daivopahṛtam ātmanaḥ manas tu tad-gataṁ buddhvā pratijagrāha tad-vacaḥ

Though this union was not, by ordinary custom, desired, Yayati, recognizing that his own mind had already been carried toward her by providence, accepted her words.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.9.18.24)

गते राजनि सा धीरे तत्र स्म रुदती पितुः । न्यवेदयत्ततः सर्वमुक्तं शर्मिष्ठया कृतम् ॥ २४ ॥

gate rājani sā dhīre tatra sma rudatī pituḥ nyavedayat tataḥ sarvam uktaṁ śarmiṣṭhayā kṛtam

When the composed King had gone, she went weeping to her father and told him all that Sharmishtha had done to her.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.9.18.25)

दुर्मना भगवान् काव्यः पौरोहित्यं विगर्हयन् । स्तुवन् वृत्तिं च कापोतीं दुहित्रा स ययौ पुरात् ॥ २५ ॥

durmanā bhagavān kāvyaḥ paurohityaṁ vigarhayan stuvan vṛttiṁ ca kāpotīṁ duhitrā sa yayau purāt

Grieved at heart, the illustrious Kavya (Shukracharya), condemning the profession of the priesthood and praising instead the humble life of gleaning grain like a dove, left the city together with his daughter.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.9.18.26)

वृषपर्वा तमाज्ञाय प्रत्यनीकविवक्षितम् । गुरुं प्रसादयन् मूर्ध्ना पादयोः पतितः पथि ॥ २६ ॥

vṛṣaparvā tam ājñāya pratyanīka-vivakṣitam guruṁ prasādayan mūrdhnā pādayoḥ patitaḥ pathi

Understanding that he had come intending some retribution, King Vrishaparva went out to appease his guru, and fell in the road with his head at his teacher's feet.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.9.18.27)

क्षणार्धमन्युर्भगवान् शिष्यं व्याचष्ट भार्गवः । कामोऽस्याः क्रियतां राजन् नैनां त्यक्तुमिहोत्सहे ॥ २७ ॥

kṣaṇārdha-manyur bhagavān śiṣyaṁ vyācaṣṭa bhārgavaḥ kāmo ’syāḥ kriyatāṁ rājan naināṁ tyaktum ihotsahe

Bhagavan Bhargava's anger lasted but half a moment; he said to his disciple: O King, fulfill this girl's wish — I cannot bear to abandon her.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.9.18.28)

तथेत्यवस्थिते प्राह देवयानी मनोगतम् । पित्रा दत्ता यतो यास्ये सानुगा यातु मामनु ॥ २८ ॥

tathety avasthite prāha devayānī manogatam pitrā dattā yato yāsye sānugā yātu mām anu

When it was thus settled, Devayani spoke what was in her heart: Wherever my father gives me in marriage, let Sharmishtha, together with her companions, go there with me as my attendant.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.9.18.29)

पित्रादत्तादेवयान्यै शर्मिष्ठासानुगातदा । स्वानां तत् सङ्कटं वीक्ष्य तदर्थस्य च गौरवम् । देवयानीं पर्यचरत् स्त्रीसहस्रेण दासवत् ॥ २९ ॥

pitrā dattā devayānyai śarmiṣṭhā sānugā tadā svānāṁ tat saṅkaṭaṁ vīkṣya tad-arthasya ca gauravam devayānīṁ paryacarat strī-sahasreṇa dāsavat

Given by her father to Devayani, together with her companions, Sharmishtha — weighing the danger to her own people and the gravity of what was owed — served Devayani like a maidservant, along with a thousand women.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.9.18.30)

नाहुषाय सुतां दत्त्वा सह शर्मिष्ठयोशना । तमाह राजञ्छर्मिष्ठामाधास्तल्पे न कर्हिचित् ॥ ३० ॥

nāhuṣāya sutāṁ dattvā saha śarmiṣṭhayośanā tam āha rājañ charmiṣṭhām ādhās talpe na karhicit

Ushana, giving his daughter to the son of Nahusha together with Sharmishtha, said to the King: Never let this girl Sharmishtha share your bed.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.9.18.31)

विलोक्यौशनसीं राजञ्छर्मिष्ठा सुप्रजां क्वचित् । तमेव वव्रे रहसि सख्याः पतिमृतौ सती ॥ ३१ ॥

vilokyauśanasīṁ rājañ charmiṣṭhā suprajāṁ kvacit tam eva vavre rahasi sakhyāḥ patim ṛtau satī

O King, once, seeing Devayani, daughter of Ushana, blessed with fine children, Sharmishtha, chaste as she was, sought out that very husband of her friend in a secluded place when her own season for conceiving had come.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.9.18.32)

राजपुत्र्यार्थितोऽपत्ये धर्मं चावेक्ष्य धर्मवित् । स्मरञ्छुक्रवचः काले दिष्टमेवाभ्यपद्यत ॥ ३२ ॥

rāja-putryārthito ’patye dharmaṁ cāvekṣya dharmavit smarañ chukra-vacaḥ kāle diṣṭam evābhyapadyata

Entreated by the princess for a child, the King, versed in dharma, weighed his duty; and though he remembered Shukra's warning, he yielded, in time, to what seemed ordained by fate.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.9.18.33)

यदुं च तुर्वसुं चैव देवयानी व्यजायत । द्रुह्युं चानुं च पूरुं च शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी ॥ ३३ ॥

yaduṁ ca turvasuṁ caiva devayānī vyajāyata druhyuṁ cānuṁ ca pūruṁ ca śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī

Devayani bore Yadu and Turvasu; Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparva, bore Druhyu, Anu and Puru.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.9.18.34)

गर्भसम्भवमासुर्या भर्तुर्विज्ञाय मानिनी । देवयानी पितुर्गेहं ययौ क्रोधविमूर्छिता ॥ ३४ ॥

garbha-sambhavam āsuryā bhartur vijñāya māninī devayānī pitur gehaṁ yayau krodha-vimūrchitā

When the proud Devayani learned that the Asura-born woman had conceived by her husband, she went, overcome with fury, to her father's house.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.9.18.35)

प्रियामनुगतः कामी वचोभिरुपमन्त्रयन् । न प्रसादयितुं शेके पादसंवाहनादिभिः ॥ ३५ ॥

priyām anugataḥ kāmī vacobhir upamantrayan na prasādayituṁ śeke pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ

The King, still ardent, followed his beloved and sought to soothe her with gentle words and by pressing her feet, yet he was unable to appease her by any means.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.9.18.36)

शुक्रस्तमाह कुपितः स्त्रीकामानृतपूरुष । त्वां जरा विशतां मन्द विरूपकरणी नृणाम् ॥ ३६ ॥

śukras tam āha kupitaḥ strī-kāmānṛta-pūruṣa tvāṁ jarā viśatāṁ manda virūpa-karaṇī nṛṇām

Shukra, enraged, said to him: O false and foolish man, slave to lust for women! Let old age, which disfigures men, seize hold of you at once.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.9.18.37)

श्रीययातिरुवाच अतृप्तोऽस्म्यद्य कामानां ब्रह्मन् दुहितरि स्म ते । व्यत्यस्यतां यथाकामं वयसा योऽभिधास्यति ॥ ३७ ॥

śrī-yayātir uvāca atṛpto ’smy adya kāmānāṁ brahman duhitari sma te vyatyasyatāṁ yathā-kāmaṁ vayasā yo ’bhidhāsyati

Sri Yayati said: O brahmana, I am not yet satisfied of my desire for your daughter. [Shukra then said:] Let this old age be exchanged, as you please, with whoever will agree to give you his own youth.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.9.18.38)

इति लब्धव्यवस्थानः पुत्रं ज्येष्ठमवोचत । यदो तात प्रतीच्छेमां जरां देहि निजं वयः ॥ ३८ ॥

iti labdha-vyavasthānaḥ putraṁ jyeṣṭham avocata yado tāta pratīcchemāṁ jarāṁ dehi nijaṁ vayaḥ

Having thus obtained this provision, Yayati said to his eldest son: My dear Yadu, accept this old age of mine, and give me your own youth.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.9.18.39)

मातामहकृतां वत्स न तृप्तो विषयेष्वहम् । वयसा भवदीयेन रंस्ये कतिपयाः समाः ॥ ३९ ॥

mātāmaha-kṛtāṁ vatsa na tṛpto viṣayeṣv aham vayasā bhavadīyena raṁsye katipayāḥ samāḥ

My child, I am not yet satisfied with sensual pleasures — take this old age given by your maternal grandfather, and with your youth let me enjoy a few more years.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.9.18.40)

श्रीयदुरुवाच नोत्सहे जरसा स्थातुमन्तरा प्राप्तया तव । अविदित्वा सुखं ग्राम्यं वैतृष्ण्यं नैति पूरुषः ॥ ४० ॥

śrī-yadur uvāca notsahe jarasā sthātum antarā prāptayā tava aviditvā sukhaṁ grāmyaṁ vaitṛṣṇyaṁ naiti pūruṣaḥ

Sri Yadu said: I am not willing to remain burdened with this untimely old age of yours. A man cannot come to freedom from craving without first knowing worldly pleasure.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.9.18.41)

तुर्वसुश्चोदितः पित्रा द्रुह्युश्चानुश्च भारत । प्रत्याचख्युरधर्मज्ञा ह्यनित्ये नित्यबुद्धयः ॥ ४१ ॥

turvasuś coditaḥ pitrā druhyuś cānuś ca bhārata pratyācakhyur adharmajñā hy anitye nitya-buddhayaḥ

O descendant of Bharata, when Turvasu, Druhyu and Anu were likewise urged by their father, they too refused, unaware of true dharma and holding what is fleeting to be permanent.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.9.18.42)

अपृच्छत् तनयं पूरुं वयसोनं गुणाधिकम् । न त्वमग्रजवद् वत्स मां प्रत्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥ ४२ ॥

apṛcchat tanayaṁ pūruṁ vayasonaṁ guṇādhikam na tvam agrajavad vatsa māṁ pratyākhyātum arhasi

He then asked his son Puru, youngest in years but foremost in virtue: My child, you must not refuse me as your elder brothers did.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.9.18.43)

श्रीपूरुरुवाच को नु लोके मनुष्येन्द्र पितुरात्मकृतः पुमान् । प्रतिकर्तुं क्षमो यस्य प्रसादाद् विन्दते परम् ॥ ४३ ॥

śrī-pūrur uvāca ko nu loke manuṣyendra pitur ātma-kṛtaḥ pumān pratikartuṁ kṣamo yasya prasādād vindate param

Sri Puru said: O lord among men, what man in this world, brought into being by his own father, is truly able to repay him — by whose grace one attains the very highest?

Verse 44 (bhagavata.9.18.44)

उत्तमश्चिन्तितं कुर्यात् प्रोक्तकारी तु मध्यमः । अधमोऽश्रद्धया कुर्यादकर्तोच्चरितं पितुः ॥ ४४ ॥

uttamaś cintitaṁ kuryāt prokta-kārī tu madhyamaḥ adhamo ’śraddhayā kuryād akartoccaritaṁ pituḥ

The best son fulfills what his father merely thinks; the middling one, what he is told; the lowest does it grudgingly — but a son who does nothing at all is as nothing to his father, no better than what he has cast off.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.9.18.45)

इति प्रमुदितः पूरुः प्रत्यगृह्णाज्जरां पितुः । सोऽपि तद्वयसा कामान् यथावज्जुजुषे नृप ॥ ४५ ॥

iti pramuditaḥ pūruḥ pratyagṛhṇāj jarāṁ pituḥ so ’pi tad-vayasā kāmān yathāvaj jujuṣe nṛpa

Thus, O King, Puru gladly accepted his father's old age; and Yayati, with that youth, enjoyed his desires as he pleased.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.9.18.46)

सप्तद्वीपपतिः सम्यक् पितृवत् पालयन् प्रजाः । यथोपजोषं विषयाञ्जुजुषेऽव्याहतेन्द्रियः ॥ ४६ ॥

sapta-dvīpa-patiḥ saṁyak pitṛvat pālayan prajāḥ yathopajoṣaṁ viṣayāñ jujuṣe ’vyāhatendriyaḥ

As lord of the seven islands, he governed his subjects rightly, like a father, and, his senses now unimpaired, enjoyed the objects of the world as much as he desired.

Verse 47 (bhagavata.9.18.47)

देवयान्यप्यनुदिनं मनोवाग्देहवस्तुभिः । प्रेयसः परमां प्रीतिमुवाह प्रेयसी रहः ॥ ४७ ॥

devayāny apy anudinaṁ mano-vāg-deha-vastubhiḥ preyasaḥ paramāṁ prītim uvāha preyasī rahaḥ

Devayani too, day after day in private, brought her beloved husband the greatest delight through her mind, her words, her body and every means at hand.

Verse 48 (bhagavata.9.18.48)

अयजद् यज्ञपुरुषं क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः । सर्वदेवमयं देवं सर्ववेदमयं हरिम् ॥ ४८ ॥

ayajad yajña-puruṣaṁ kratubhir bhūri-dakṣiṇaiḥ sarva-devamayaṁ devaṁ sarva-vedamayaṁ harim

He worshiped, with sacrifices bearing abundant gifts, that very Person of sacrifice, Bhagavan Hari, who is the sum of all the gods and the essence of all the Vedas.

Verse 49 (bhagavata.9.18.49)

यस्मिन्निदं विरचितं व्योम्नीव जलदावलिः । नानेव भाति नाभाति स्वप्नमायामनोरथः ॥ ४९ ॥

yasminn idaṁ viracitaṁ vyomnīva jaladāvaliḥ nāneva bhāti nābhāti svapna-māyā-manorathaḥ

In whom this universe is arrayed as clouds within the sky — seeming manifold, yet not truly appearing at all, like a dream, an illusion, a wishful fancy.

Verse 50 (bhagavata.9.18.50)

तमेव हृदि विन्यस्य वासुदेवं गुहाशयम् । नारायणमणीयांसं निराशीरयजत् प्रभुम् ॥ ५० ॥

tam eva hṛdi vinyasya vāsudevaṁ guhāśayam nārāyaṇam aṇīyāṁsaṁ nirāśīr ayajat prabhum

Fixing that very Bhagavan Vasudeva within his heart — Narayana, subtler than the subtlest, who dwells in the cave of the heart — he worshiped that Lord without desire for any reward.

Verse 51 (bhagavata.9.18.51)

एवं वर्षसहस्राणि मनःषष्ठैर्मनःसुखम् । विदधानोऽपि नातृप्यत् सार्वभौमः कदिन्द्रियैः ॥ ५१ ॥

evaṁ varṣa-sahasrāṇi manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhair manaḥ-sukham vidadhāno ’pi nātṛpyat sārva-bhaumaḥ kad-indriyaiḥ

Thus for a thousand years, indulging in the mind's pleasure through the six — the mind together with the five senses — the sovereign of the whole earth was still never satisfied by his wayward senses.