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 your youth. And when a full thousand years will have
elapsed, returning to you your 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 are acquainted with
the precepts of virtue. Ask some other son of yours to take thy
decrepitude.
"Yayati replied, 'Thou are sprung from my heart, O son, but you givest
me not your youth. Therefore, your children shall never be kings.' And he
continued, addressing another son of his, 'O Turvasu, take you this
weakness of mine along with my decrepitude. With your youth, O son, I like
to enjoy the pleasure of life. After the lapse of a full thousand years I
shall give back to you your youth, and take back from you 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 are sprung from my heart, O son!
But you givest me not your youth! Therefore, O Turvasu, your race shall be
extinct. Wretch, you 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 you for a
thousand years my decrepitude destructive of complexion and personal
beauty and give me your youth. When a thousand years have passed away, I
shall return you your 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) your decrepitude.'
Yayati said to him, 'Thou are sprung from my heart, O son! But thou
refusest to give me your youth. Therefore, your 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 your 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 your decrepitude.' Yayati said to
him, 'Thou are sprung from my heart, you givest not your youth. Thou
findest so many faults in decrepitude. Therefore, decrepitude shall
overcome thee! And, O Anu, your progeny also as soon as they attain to
youth, shall die. And you 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 you 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 you this my weakness
and decrepitude! With your youth I shall enjoy for some years the
pleasures of life. And when a thousand years have passed away, I shall
give back to you your youth and take back my own decrepitude.'
"Vaisampayana said, 'Thus addressed by the king, Puru answered with
humility, 'I shall do, O monarch, as you bidest me. I shall take, O
king, your weakness and decrepitude. Take you my youth and enjoy as thou
listest the pleasures of life. Covered with your decrepitude and becoming
old, I shall, as you commandest, continue to live, giving you my
youth.' Yayati then said, 'O Puru, I have been gratified with thee. And
being gratified, I tell you that the people in your 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.'"
--------------------END OF PARVA 1 : UPA-PARVA 84 ---------------------
