वैशम्पायन उवाच पौरवेणाथ वयसा ययातिनहुषात्मजः। प्रीतियुक्तो नृपश्रेष्ठश्चचार विषयान् प्रियान्॥
Vaishampayana said : Having thus received the youth of Puru, Yayati the son of Nahusha, that best of kings, was exceedingly delighted. He again indulged in the pleasures of life.
यथाकामं यथोत्साहं यथाकालं यथासुखम्। धर्माविरुद्धं राजेन्द्र यथार्हति स एव हि॥
He enjoyed himself to the full extent of his desires and to the full limit of his powers, as much as he desired and as the seasons called forth. But, O king, he did nothing against the precepts of religion.
देवानतर्पयद् यज्ञैः श्राद्धस्तद्वत् पितृनपि। दीनाननुग्रहैरिष्टैः कामैश्च द्विजसत्तमान्॥
He pleased the celestials, by performing sacrifices, the Pitris by Shraddhas, the poor by charities and the good Brahmana by fulfilling their desires.
अतिथीनन्नपानैश्च विशश्च परिपालनैः। आनृशंस्येन शूद्रांश्च दस्यून संनिग्रहेण च॥ धर्मेण च प्रजाः सर्वा यथावदनुरञ्जयन्। ययातिः पालयामास साक्षादिन्द्र इवापरः॥
The guests by food and drink, the Vaishyas by protection, the Shudras by kindness and the robbers by proper punishments, Yayati pleased all classes of his subjects by ruling over them virtuously like Indra.
स राजा सिंहविक्रान्तो युवा विषयगोचरः। अविरोधेन धर्मस्य चचार सुखमुत्तमम्॥
That king was as powerful as the lion. He was young and enjoyed all the pleasures of life. He enjoyed unlimited happiness without violating the precepts of religion.
स सम्प्राप्य शुभान् कामांस्तृप्तः खित्रश्च पार्थिवः। कालं वर्षसहस्रान्तं सस्मार मनुजाधिपः॥ परिसंख्याय कालज्ञः कला: काष्ठाश्च वीर्यवान्। यौवनं प्राप्य राजर्षिः सहस्रपरिवत्सरान्॥ विश्वाच्या सहितो रेमे व्यभ्राजन्नन्दने वने। अलकायां स कालं तु मेरुशृङ्गे तथोत्तरे॥ यदा स पश्यते कालं धर्मात्मा तं महीपतिः। पूर्णं मत्वा ततः कालं पूरूं पुत्रमुवाच ह॥
The king (Yayati) became exceedingly happy in thus being able to enjoy all the best objects of enjoyments. That king of men was only sorry (in remembering) that one thousand years would soon come to an end. That royal sage, learned in the mystery of time and possessed of great prowess, having obtained youth for one thousand years and watching proper Kalas and Kashthas. Sported with Vishvachi (Apsara), some time in the garden (of Indra) Nandana, sometimes in Aloka and sometimes on the summit of the Meru Mountain. That virtuous king then found that the fixed time (one thousand) years had come to an end. He then called Puru and addressed him thus.
यथाकामं यथोत्साहं यथाकालमरिंदम। सेविता विषयाः पुत्र यौवनेन मया तव॥
O son, O chastiser of foes, I have enjoyed with your youth to the full extent of my desires and to the full limit of my powers and all according to their seasons.
न जातु कामः कामानामुपभोगेन शाम्यति। हविषा कृष्णवर्देव भूय एवाभिवर्धते॥
But desires never die. They are never satiated by indulgence. By indulgence they flame up like the sacrificial fire with ghee poured into it.
यत् पृथिव्यां व्रीहियवं हिरण्यं पशवः स्त्रियः। एकस्यापि न पर्याप्तं तस्मात् तृष्णां परित्यजेत्॥
If one becomes the sole lord of all the earth with its paddy, oats, gems, beasts and women, still it will not be considered by him enough. Therefore, the thirst for enjoyment, should be abandoned.
या दुस्त्यजा दुर्मतिभिर्या न जीर्यति जीर्यतः। योऽसौ प्राणान्तिको रोगस्तां तृष्णां त्यजतः सुखम्।१४
The thirst (of enjoyments), which is difficult to be cast off by the wicked, which does not fail even with falling life, is truly a fatal disease in man. To get rid of this thirst is real happiness.
पूर्ण वर्षसहस्रं मे विषयासक्तचेतसः। तथाप्यनुदिनं तृष्णा ममैतेष्वभिजायते॥
My mind was attached to the pleasures of life for full one thousand years. My thirst for them, however, without being abated, is daily being increased.
तस्मादेनामहं त्यक्त्वा ब्रह्मण्याधाय मानसम्। निर्द्वन्द्वो निर्ममो भूत्वा चरिष्यामि मृगैः सह॥
Therefore, I shall get rid of it. I shall fix my mind on Brahma and becoming peaceful and having no attachment, I shall pass the rest of my days in the forest with the innocent deer.
पूरो प्रीतिऽस्मि भद्रं ते गृहाणेदं स्वयौवनम्। राज्यं चेदं गृहाण त्वं त्वं हि मे प्रियकृत् सुतः॥
O Puru, I am exceedingly pleased with you. Take (back) your own youth. Prosperity be to you. Receive my kingdom. You are my son who has done my favourite work.
वैशम्पायन उवाच प्रतिपेदे जरां राजा ययाति हुषस्तदा। यौवनं प्रतिपेदे च पूरुः स्वं पुनरात्मनः॥
Vaishampayana said : Yayati, the son of Nahusha, then received back his own old age and his son Puru also received back his youth.
अभिषेक्तुकामं नृपति पूरुं पुत्रं कनीयसम्। ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा वर्णा इदं वचनमब्रुवन्॥
Yayati became desirous of installing his youngest son Puru on the throne. But the four orders of his subject with Brahmanas at their
कथं शुक्रस्य नप्तारं देवयान्याः सुतं प्रभो। ज्येष्ठं यदुर तिक्रम्य राज्यं पूरोः प्रयच्छसि॥
“O lord, how can you install Puru on the throne, passing over your eldest son Yadu, born of Devayani and grandson of Shukra?
यदुर्येष्ठस्तव सुतो जातस्तमनु तुर्वसुः। शर्मिष्ठायाः सुतो दुह्युस्ततोऽनुः पूरुरेव च।॥
Yadu is your eldest son, after him was Turvasu. Then Sharmishtha's son Druhyu, Anu and last Puru.
कथं ज्येष्ठानतिक्रम्य कनीयान् राज्यमर्हति। एतत् सम्बोधयामस्त्वां धर्मं त्वं प्रतिपालय॥
How it would be proper to pass over all the elders and install 1 the youngest? We represent this to you, act according to the precepts of religion.
ययातिरुवाच ब्राह्मणप्रमुखा वर्णाः सर्वे शृण्वन्तु मे वचः। ज्येष्ठं प्रति यथा राज्यं न देयं मे कथंचन॥
Yayati said : Hear all of you of the four orders of the caste with the Brahmanas at their head, why my kingdom should not be given to my eldest son.
मम ज्येष्ठेन यदुना नियोगो नानुपालितः। प्रतिकूलः पितुर्यश्च न स पुत्रः सतां मतः॥
My commands were disobeyed by my eldest son. The opinion of the wise men is that the son disobeys his father is no son at all.
मातापित्रोर्वचनकृद्धितः पथ्यश्च यः सुतः। स पुत्रः पुत्रवद् यश्च वर्तते पितृमातृषु॥
The son who obeys the commands of his father and mother, who is humble and a wellwisher of his parents and who loves them, is the best of sons.
यदुनाहमवज्ञातस्तथा तुर्वसुनापि च। द्रुाना चानुना चैव मय्यवज्ञा कृता भृशम्॥
I have been slighted by Yadu and Turvasu; much have I been slighted by Druhyu and Anu.
पूरुणा तु कृतं वाक्यं मानितं च विशेषतः। कनीयान् मम दायादो धृता येन जरा मम॥
Only Puru obeyed my commands and much have I been honoured and respected by him. He accepted my old age and therefore, though he is the youngest, yet he should be made king.
मम कामः स च कृतः पूरुणा मित्ररूपिणा। शुक्रेण च वरो दत्तः काव्येनोशनसा स्वयम्॥ पुत्रो यस्त्वानुवर्तेत स राजा पृथिवीपतिः। भवतोऽनुनयाम्येवं पूरू राज्येऽभिषिच्यताम्॥
Puru is a great friend of mine and he did what was agreeable to me. And the son of Kavi, Ushanas, Shukra himself, granted me this boon. The son who would obey me would become the king and the lord of the earth. Therefore, I entreat you, let Puru be installed on the throne.
प्रकृतय ऊचुः यः पुत्रो गुमसम्पन्नो मातापित्रोर्हितः सदा। सर्वमर्हति कल्याणं कनीयानपि सत्तमः॥
The people said : O king, it is true that, the son who is accomplished and who seeks the good of his parents, deserves all prosperity, though he is the youngest.
अर्हः पूरुरिदं राज्यं यः सुतः प्रियकृत् तव। वरदानेन शुक्रस्य न शक्यं वक्तुमुत्तरम्॥
Therefore, Puru, who has done good to you, deserve, to have the kingdom. As Shukra has granted this boon, we have no power to say anything.
वैशम्पायन उवाच पौरजानपदैस्तुष्टैरित्युक्तो नाहुषस्तदा। अभ्यषिञ्चत् तत: पूरुं राज्ये स्वे सुतमात्मनः॥
Vaishampayana said: Having been thus addressed the contented people the son of Nahusha (Yayati) installed his son Puru on the throne.
दत्त्वा च पूरवे राज्यं वनवासाय दीक्षितः। पुरात् स निर्ययौ राजा ब्राह्मणैस्तापसैः सह॥
Bestowing the kingdom on Puru he resolved to live in the forest and he left his capital with Brahmanas and ascetics.
यदोस्तु यादवा जातास्तुर्वसोर्यवनाः स्मृताः। दुह्योः सुतास्तु वै भोजा अनोस्तु म्लेच्छजातयः॥
The son of Yadu are known as the Yadavas, those of Turvasu as the Yavanas, those of Druhyu as the Bhojas and those of Anu as the Mlecchas,
पूरोस्तु पौरवो वंशो यत्र जातोऽसि पार्थिव। इदं वर्षसहस्राणि राज्यं कारयितुं वशी॥
Those of Puru as the Pauravas, in which dynasty, O king, you are born to rule the country for one thousand years.
पूरोस्तु पौरवो वंशो यत्र जातोऽसि पार्थिव। इदं वर्षसहस्राणि राज्यं कारयितुं वशी॥
Those of Puru as the Pauravas, in which dynasty, O king, you are born to rule the country for one thousand years.