The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1 ADI PARVA SECTION LXXXIV (Sambhava Parva continued)

 The Mahabharata of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa BOOK 1

ADI PARVA

 SECTION LXXXIV

(Sambhava Parva continued)

"Vaisampayana said, 'Yayati, then, overcome with decrepitude, returned to

his capital and summoning his eldest son Yadu who was also the most

accomplished, addressed him thus, 'Dear child, from the curse of Kavya

called also Usanas, decrepitude and wrinkles and whiteness of hair have

come over me. But I have not been gratified yet with the enjoyment of

youth. Do thou, O Yadu, take this my weakness along with my decrepitude.

I shall enjoy with thy youth. And when a full thousand years will have

elapsed, returning to thee thy youth, I shall take back my weakness with

this decrepitude!'

"Yadu replied, 'There are innumerable inconveniences in decrepitude, in

respect of drinking and eating. Therefore, O king, I shall not take thy

decrepitude. This is, indeed, my determination. White hair on the head,

cheerlessness and relaxation of the nerves, wrinkles all over the body,

deformities, weakness of the limbs, emaciation, incapacity to work,

defeat at the hands of friends and companions--these are the consequences

of decrepitude. Therefore, O king, I desire not to take it. O king, thou

hast many sons some of whom are dearer to thee. Thou art acquainted with

the precepts of virtue. Ask some other son of thine to take thy

decrepitude.

"Yayati replied, 'Thou art sprung from my heart, O son, but thou givest

me not thy youth. Therefore, thy children shall never be kings.' And he

continued, addressing another son of his, 'O Turvasu, take thou this

weakness of mine along with my decrepitude. With thy youth, O son, I like

to enjoy the pleasure of life. After the lapse of a full thousand years I

shall give back to thee thy youth, and take back from thee my weakness

and decrepitude.'

"Turvasu replied, 'I do not like decrepitude, O father, it takes away all

appetites and enjoyments, strength and beauty of person, intellect, and

even life.' Yayati said to him, 'Thou art sprung from my heart, O son!

But thou givest me not thy youth! Therefore, O Turvasu, thy race shall be

extinct. Wretch, thou shall be the king of those whose practices and

precepts are impure, amongst whom men of inferior blood procreate

children upon women of blue blood, who live on meat, who are mean, who

hesitate not to appropriate the wives of their superiors, whose practices

are those of birds and beasts, who are sinful, and non-Aryan.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'Yayati, having thus cursed his son Turvasu, then,

addressed Sarmishtha's son Drahyu thus, 'O Drahyu, take thou for a

thousand years my decrepitude destructive of complexion and personal

beauty and give me thy youth. When a thousand years have passed away, I

shall return thee thy youth and take back my own weakness, and

decrepitude.' To this Drahyu replied, 'O king, one that is decrepit can

never enjoy elephants and cars and horses and women. Even his voice

becometh hoarse. Therefore, I do not desire (to take) thy decrepitude.'

Yayati said to him, 'Thou art sprung from my heart, O son! But thou

refusest to give me thy youth. Therefore, thy most cherished desires

shall never be fulfilled. Thou shalt be king only in name, of that region

where there are no roads for (the passage of) horses and cars and

elephants, and good vehicles, and asses, and goats and bullocks, and

palanquins; where there is swimming only by rafts and floats.' Yayati

next addressed Anu and said, 'O Anu, take my weakness and decrepitude. I

shall with thy youth enjoy the pleasures of life for a thousand years.'

To this Anu replied, 'Those that are decrepit always eat like children

and are always impure. They cannot pour libations upon fire in proper

times. Therefore, I do not like to take thy decrepitude.' Yayati said to

him, 'Thou art sprung from my heart, thou givest not thy youth. Thou

findest so many faults in decrepitude. Therefore, decrepitude shall

overcome thee! And, O Anu, thy progeny also as soon as they attain to

youth, shall die. And thou shalt also not be able to perform sacrifices

before fire.'

"Yayati at last turned to his youngest child, Puru, and addressing him

said, 'Thou art, O Puru, my youngest son! But thou shall be the first of

all! Decrepitude, wrinkles, and whiteness of hair have come over me in

consequence of the curse of Kavya called also Usanas. I have not yet

however, been satiated with my youth. O Puru, take thou this my weakness

and decrepitude! With thy youth I shall enjoy for some years the

pleasures of life. And when a thousand years have passed away, I shall

give back to thee thy youth and take back my own decrepitude.'

"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by the king, Puru answered with

humility, 'I shall do, O monarch, as thou bidest me. I shall take, O

king, thy weakness and decrepitude. Take thou my youth and enjoy as thou

listest the pleasures of life. Covered with thy decrepitude and becoming

old, I shall, as thou commandest, continue to live, giving thee my

youth.' Yayati then said, 'O Puru, I have been gratified with thee. And

being gratified, I tell thee that the people in thy kingdom shall have

all their desires fulfilled.'

"And having said this, the great ascetic Yayati, then thinking of Kavya,

transferred his decrepitude unto the body of the high-souled Puru.'"