Yayati Reclaims His Old Age and Instructs Puru in Kingship

Verse 1 (padma.2.82.1)

सुकर्मोवाच- एवं चिंतयते यावद्राजा परमधार्मिकः । तावत्प्रोवाच सा देवी रतिपुत्री वरानना

sukarmovāca- evaṁ ciṁtayate yāvadrājā paramadhārmikaḥ tāvatprovāca sā devī ratiputrī varānanā

Sukarma said: "While that supremely righteous king was thus absorbed in thought, that goddess, the fair daughter of Rati, spoke to him -"

Verse 2 (padma.2.82.2)

किमु चिंतयसे राजंस्त्वमिहैव महामते । प्रायेणापि स्त्रियः सर्वाश्चपलाः स्युर्न संशयः

kimu ciṁtayase rājaṁstvamihaiva mahāmate prāyeṇāpi striyaḥ sarvāścapalāḥ syurna saṁśayaḥ

"'Why do you brood so, O king, O wise one? Nearly all women, without doubt, are said to be fickle -'"

Verse 3 (padma.2.82.3)

नाहं चापल्यभावेन त्वामेवं प्रविचालये । नाहं हि कारयाम्यद्य भवत्पार्श्वं नृपोत्तम

nāhaṁ cāpalyabhāvena tvāmevaṁ pravicālaye nāhaṁ hi kārayāmyadya bhavatpārśvaṁ nṛpottama

"'- but I am not disturbing you in this way out of fickleness. I am not, O best of kings, compelling you to my side today -'"

Verse 4 (padma.2.82.4)

अन्यस्त्रियो यथा लोके चपलत्वाद्वदंति च । अकार्यं राजराजेंद्र लोभान्मोहाच्च लंपटाः

anyastriyo yathā loke capalatvādvadaṁti ca akāryaṁ rājarājeṁdra lobhānmohācca laṁpaṭāḥ

"'- as other women in the world speak, out of fickleness, wanton with greed and delusion, urging what should not be done, O lord of kings.'"

Verse 5 (padma.2.82.5)

लोकानां दर्शनायैव जाता श्रद्धा ममोरसि । देवानां दर्शनं पुण्यं दुर्लभं हि सुमानुषैः

lokānāṁ darśanāyaiva jātā śraddhā mamorasi devānāṁ darśanaṁ puṇyaṁ durlabhaṁ hi sumānuṣaiḥ

"'It is only for the sake of seeing the worlds that this longing has arisen in my heart. The sight of the gods is meritorious, rare even for good men to attain.'"

Verse 6 (padma.2.82.6)

तेषां च दर्शनं राजन्कारयामि वदस्व मे । दोषं पापकरं यत्तु मत्संगादिह चेद्भवेत्

teṣāṁ ca darśanaṁ rājankārayāmi vadasva me doṣaṁ pāpakaraṁ yattu matsaṁgādiha cedbhavet

"'O king, arrange for me their sight; tell me this. If, from my company, any sinful fault should arise here -'"

Verse 7 (padma.2.82.7)

एवं चिंतयसे दुःखं यथान्यः प्राकृतो जनः । महाभयाद्यथाभीतो मोहगर्ते गतो यथा

evaṁ ciṁtayase duḥkhaṁ yathānyaḥ prākṛto janaḥ mahābhayādyathābhīto mohagarte gato yathā

"'- then why do you brood over this sorrow like some ordinary man, as if terrified by great fear, as if fallen into a pit of delusion?'"

Verse 8 (padma.2.82.8)

त्यज चिंतां महाराज न गंतव्यं त्वया दिवि । येन ते जायते दुःखं तन्न कार्यं मया कदा

tyaja ciṁtāṁ mahārāja na gaṁtavyaṁ tvayā divi yena te jāyate duḥkhaṁ tanna kāryaṁ mayā kadā

"'Abandon this anxiety, great king; there is no need for you to go to the sky at all. Whatever causes you sorrow, that I shall never ask of you.'"

Verse 9 (padma.2.82.9)

एवमुक्तस्तथा राजा तामुवाच वराननाम् । चिंतितं यन्मया देवि तच्छृणुष्व हि सांप्रतम्

evamuktastathā rājā tāmuvāca varānanām ciṁtitaṁ yanmayā devi tacchṛṇuṣva hi sāṁpratam

Thus addressed, the king said to that lovely woman: "Hear now, O goddess, what I have been thinking."

Verse 10 (padma.2.82.10)

मानभंगो मया दृष्टो नैव स्वस्य मनःप्रिये । मयि स्वर्गं गते कांते प्रजा दीना भविष्यति

mānabhaṁgo mayā dṛṣṭo naiva svasya manaḥpriye mayi svargaṁ gate kāṁte prajā dīnā bhaviṣyati

"'I see no loss of my own honor in this, O beloved of my heart; but should I go to heaven, O gracious one, my subjects will become helpless -'"

Verse 11 (padma.2.82.11)

त्रासयिष्यति दुष्टात्मा यमस्तु व्याधिभिः प्रजाः । त्वया सार्धं प्रयास्यामि स्वर्गलोकं वरानने

trāsayiṣyati duṣṭātmā yamastu vyādhibhiḥ prajāḥ tvayā sārdhaṁ prayāsyāmi svargalokaṁ varānane

"'- that wicked-souled Yama will terrify my subjects with diseases. Therefore, O fair one, I shall go to the heavenly world together with you.'"

Verse 12 (padma.2.82.12)

एवमाभाष्य तां राजा समाहूय सुतोत्तमम् । पूरुं तं सर्वधर्मज्ञं जरायुक्तं महामतिम्

evamābhāṣya tāṁ rājā samāhūya sutottamam pūruṁ taṁ sarvadharmajñaṁ jarāyuktaṁ mahāmatim

Having said this to her, the king summoned his excellent son Puru, knower of all dharma, now bearing the weight of old age, and of great wisdom.

Verse 13 (padma.2.82.13)

एह्येहि सर्वधर्मज्ञ धर्मं जानासि निश्चितम् । ममाज्ञया हि धर्मात्मन्धर्मः संपालितस्त्वया

ehyehi sarvadharmajña dharmaṁ jānāsi niścitam mamājñayā hi dharmātmandharmaḥ saṁpālitastvayā

"'Come, come, knower of all dharma; you know dharma with certainty. By my command, O righteous soul, you have well upheld dharma.'"

Verse 14 (padma.2.82.14)

जरा मे दीयतां तात तारुण्यं गृह्यतां पुनः । राज्यं कुरु ममेदं त्वं सकोशबलवाहनम्

jarā me dīyatāṁ tāta tāruṇyaṁ gṛhyatāṁ punaḥ rājyaṁ kuru mamedaṁ tvaṁ sakośabalavāhanam

"'My son, now give me back my old age, and take back your own youth again. Rule this kingdom of mine, with its treasury, army, and mounts.'"

Verse 15 (padma.2.82.15)

आसमुद्रां प्रभुंक्ष्व त्वं रत्नपूर्णां वसुंधराम् । मया दत्तां महाभाग सग्रामवनपत्तनाम्

āsamudrāṁ prabhuṁkṣva tvaṁ ratnapūrṇāṁ vasuṁdharām mayā dattāṁ mahābhāga sagrāmavanapattanām

"'Enjoy, O great one, this jewel-filled earth stretching to the ocean, with its villages, forests, and cities, given by me.'"

Verse 16 (padma.2.82.16)

प्रजानां पालनं पुण्यं कर्तव्यं च सदानघ । दुष्टानां शासनं नित्यं साधूनां परिपालनम्

prajānāṁ pālanaṁ puṇyaṁ kartavyaṁ ca sadānagha duṣṭānāṁ śāsanaṁ nityaṁ sādhūnāṁ paripālanam

"'O sinless one, the protection of your subjects is a meritorious duty, ever to be performed; the constant punishment of the wicked and the constant protection of the good -'"

Verse 17 (padma.2.82.17)

कर्तव्यं च त्वया वत्स धर्मशास्त्रप्रमाणतः । ब्राह्मणानां महाभाग विधिनापि स्वकर्मणा

kartavyaṁ ca tvayā vatsa dharmaśāstrapramāṇataḥ brāhmaṇānāṁ mahābhāga vidhināpi svakarmaṇā

"'- these you must carry out, my son, according to the authority of the dharma-shastras. And, O great one, brahmins must be protected according to due rite, through your own proper conduct -'"

Verse 18 (padma.2.82.18)

भक्त्या च पालनं कार्यं यस्मात्पूज्या जगत्त्रये । पंचमे सप्तमे घस्रे कोशं पश्य विपश्चितः

bhaktyā ca pālanaṁ kāryaṁ yasmātpūjyā jagattraye paṁcame saptame ghasre kośaṁ paśya vipaścitaḥ

"'- with devotion, for they are worshipped in all three worlds. On the fifth and seventh days, examine the treasury as a wise man should.'"

Verse 19 (padma.2.82.19)

बलं च नित्यं संपूज्यं प्रसादधनभोजनैः । चारचक्षुर्भवस्व त्वं नित्यं दानपरो भव

balaṁ ca nityaṁ saṁpūjyaṁ prasādadhanabhojanaiḥ cāracakṣurbhavasva tvaṁ nityaṁ dānaparo bhava

"'The army must always be honored with favor, wealth, and provisions. Be one who keeps a spy's watchful eye always, and be ever devoted to giving.'"

Verse 20 (padma.2.82.20)

भव स्वनियतो मंत्रे सदा गोप्यः सुपंडितैः । नियतात्मा भव स्वत्वं मा गच्छ मृगयां सुत

bhava svaniyato maṁtre sadā gopyaḥ supaṁḍitaiḥ niyatātmā bhava svatvaṁ mā gaccha mṛgayāṁ suta

"'Be self-controlled in counsel, kept secret always by the truly learned; be one whose self is disciplined, my son, and never go off to hunt.'"

Verse 21 (padma.2.82.21)

विश्वासः कस्य नो कार्यः स्त्रीषु कोशे महाबले । पात्राणां त्वं तु सर्वेषां कलानां कुरु संग्रहम्

viśvāsaḥ kasya no kāryaḥ strīṣu kośe mahābale pātrāṇāṁ tvaṁ tu sarveṣāṁ kalānāṁ kuru saṁgraham

"'Never place complete trust in women, in the treasury, or in the mighty. Gather together all worthy persons and all the arts.'"

Verse 22 (padma.2.82.22)

यज यज्ञैर्हृषीकेशं पुण्यात्मा भव सर्वदा । प्रजानां कंटकान्सर्वान्मर्दयस्व दिने दिने

yaja yajñairhṛṣīkeśaṁ puṇyātmā bhava sarvadā prajānāṁ kaṁṭakānsarvānmardayasva dine dine

"'Worship Hrishikesha through sacrifices; be ever a meritorious soul. Crush all the thorns of your subjects, day after day.'"

Verse 23 (padma.2.82.23)

प्रजानां वांछितं सर्वमर्पयस्व दिने दिने । प्रजासौख्यं प्रकर्तव्यं प्रजाः पोषय पुत्रक

prajānāṁ vāṁchitaṁ sarvamarpayasva dine dine prajāsaukhyaṁ prakartavyaṁ prajāḥ poṣaya putraka

"'Grant your subjects all they desire, day after day; the happiness of your people must always be secured - nurture them, my son.'"

Verse 24 (padma.2.82.24)

स्वको वंशः प्रकर्तव्यः परदारेषु मा कृथाः । मतिं दुष्टां परस्वेषु पूर्वानन्वेहि सर्वदा

svako vaṁśaḥ prakartavyaḥ paradāreṣu mā kṛthāḥ matiṁ duṣṭāṁ parasveṣu pūrvānanvehi sarvadā

"'Preserve your own lineage; never go after another's wife. Never harbor an evil intent toward another's wealth; ever follow in the footsteps of your forefathers.'"

Verse 25 (padma.2.82.25)

वेदानां हि सदा चिंता शास्त्राणां हि च सर्वदा । कुरुष्वैवं सदा वत्स शस्त्राभ्यासरतो भव

vedānāṁ hi sadā ciṁtā śāstrāṇāṁ hi ca sarvadā kuruṣvaivaṁ sadā vatsa śastrābhyāsarato bhava

"'Ever reflect upon the Vedas, and always study the shastras. Do this always, my son, and remain ever devoted to the practice of arms.'"

Verse 26 (padma.2.82.26)

संतुष्टः सर्वदा वत्स स्वशय्या निरतो भव । गजस्य वाजिनोभ्यासं स्यंदनस्य च सर्वदा

saṁtuṣṭaḥ sarvadā vatsa svaśayyā nirato bhava gajasya vājinobhyāsaṁ syaṁdanasya ca sarvadā

"'Be always content, my son, and ever devoted to your own bed alone. Practice constantly with the elephant, the horse, and the chariot.'"

Verse 27 (padma.2.82.27)

एवमादिश्य तं पुत्रमाशीर्भिरभिनंद्य च । स्वहस्तेन च संस्थाप्य करे दत्तं स्वमायुधम्

evamādiśya taṁ putramāśīrbhirabhinaṁdya ca svahastena ca saṁsthāpya kare dattaṁ svamāyudham

Having thus instructed his son, and having honored him with blessings, having installed him on the throne with his own hand, and placed his own weapon in his hand -

Verse 28 (padma.2.82.28)

स्वां जरां तु समागृह्य दत्त्वा तारुण्यमस्य च । गंतुकामस्ततः स्वर्गं ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः

svāṁ jarāṁ tu samāgṛhya dattvā tāruṇyamasya ca gaṁtukāmastataḥ svargaṁ yayātiḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ

- and having taken back his own old age, and given him back his youth, Yayati, lord of the earth, then desired to set out for heaven.