Chapter 84

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Yayati, then, overcome with decrepitude, returned tohis capital and summoning his eldest son Yadu who was also the mostaccomplished, addressed him thus, ‘Dear child, from the curse of Kavyacalled also Usanas, decrepitude and wrinkles and whiteness of hair havecome over me. But I have not been gratified yet with the enjoyment ofyouth.

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 haveelapsed, returning to thee thy youth, I shall take back my weakness withthis decrepitude!’

“Yadu replied, ‘There are innumerable inconveniences in decrepitude, inrespect of drinking and eating. Therefore, O king, I shall not take thydecrepitude. 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 consequencesof decrepitude. Therefore, O king, I desire not to take it. O king, thouhast many sons some of whom are dearer to thee. Thou art acquainted withthe precepts of virtue. Ask some other son of thine to take thydecrepitude.

“Yayati replied, ‘Thou art sprung from my heart, O son, but thou givestme not thy youth. Therefore, thy children shall never be kings.’ And hecontinued, addressing another son of his, ‘O Turvasu, take thou thisweakness of mine along with my decrepitude. With thy youth, O son, I liketo enjoy the pleasure of life. After the lapse of a full thousand years Ishall give back to thee thy youth, and take back from thee my weaknessand decrepitude.’

“Turvasu replied, ‘I do not like decrepitude, O father, it takes away allappetites and enjoyments, strength and beauty of person, intellect, andeven 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 beextinct. Wretch, thou shall be the king of those whose practices andprecepts are impure, amongst whom men of inferior blood procreatechildren upon women of blue blood, who live on meat, who are mean, whohesitate not to appropriate the wives of their superiors, whose practicesare 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 athousand years my decrepitude destructive of complexion and personalbeauty and give me thy youth. When a thousand years have passed away, Ishall return thee thy youth and take back my own weakness, anddecrepitude.’ To this Drahyu replied, ‘O king, one that is decrepit cannever enjoy elephants and cars and horses and women. Even his voicebecometh hoarse. Therefore, I do not desire (to take) thy decrepitude.’Yayati said to him, ‘Thou art sprung from my heart, O son! But thourefusest to give me thy youth. Therefore, thy most cherished desiresshall never be fulfilled. Thou shalt be king only in name, of that regionwhere there are no roads for (the passage of) horses and cars andelephants, and good vehicles, and asses, and goats and bullocks, andpalanquins; where there is swimming only by rafts and floats.’ Yayatinext addressed Anu and said, ‘O Anu, take my weakness and decrepitude. Ishall with thy youth enjoy the pleasures of life for a thousand years.’To this Anu replied, ‘Those that are decrepit always eat like childrenand are always impure. They cannot pour libations upon fire in propertimes. Therefore, I do not like to take thy decrepitude.’ Yayati said tohim, ‘Thou art sprung from my heart, thou givest not thy youth. Thoufindest so many faults in decrepitude. Therefore, decrepitude shallovercome thee! And, O Anu, thy progeny also as soon as they attain toyouth, shall die. And thou shalt also not be able to perform sacrificesbefore fire.’

“Yayati at last turned to his youngest child, Puru, and addressing himsaid, ‘Thou art, O Puru, my youngest son! But thou shall be the first ofall! Decrepitude, wrinkles, and whiteness of hair have come over me inconsequence of the curse of Kavya called also Usanas. I have not yethowever, been satiated with my youth. O Puru, take thou this my weaknessand decrepitude! With thy youth I shall enjoy for some years thepleasures of life. And when a thousand years have passed away, I shallgive back to thee thy youth and take back my own decrepitude.’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by the king, Puru answered withhumility, ‘I shall do, O monarch, as thou bidest me. I shall take, Oking, thy weakness and decrepitude. Take thou my youth and enjoy as thoulistest the pleasures of life. Covered with thy decrepitude and becomingold, I shall, as thou commandest, continue to live, giving thee myyouth.’ Yayati then said, ‘O Puru, I have been gratified with thee. Andbeing gratified, I tell thee that the people in thy kingdom shall haveall 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.'”