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Mahabharata
Sambhava Parva (VI)
History of Yayati.
Vaishampayana said:
Yayati, then coming to his capital which was like that of Indra, entered the inner-apartment and installed Devayani there. At the request of Devayani, he established the daughter of Vrishaparva in a house which he caused to be erected in the Ashoka groves of his gardens. The king honoured the daughter of Vrishaparva, Sharmishtha, surrounded by her one thousand maids, by making every arrangement for her food and garments.
The king, the son of Nahusha, happily passed many years in the company of Devayani.
The beautiful lady, Devayani conceived when her season came. She gave birth to her eldest child which was a boy.
When one thousand years had passed away, Sharmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparva, attained her puberty and her season came. She (therefore) began to ponder.
(She said to herself), "My season has come. But I have not yet chosen a husband. What would happen? What should I do? How am I to accomplish my wishes?
Devayani has given birth to a son. My youth is in vain. I shall choose him as my husband whom Devayani has chosen.
The king should give me a son. This is a firm resolve. Will not that virtuous-minded king grant me a private interview?
(One day) the king listlessly came to the Ashoka grove and seeing Sharmishtha he stood before her.
Sharmishtha, of sweet smiles, finding the king alone before her, thus addressed the king with joined hands.
Sharmishtha said:
O son of Nahusha, none can see the ladies that dwell in the inner-apartments of Soma, Indra, Vishnu, Yama, Varuna and your own. O king, you know that I am handsome and well-born. O great king, I solicit you. My season has come. See that it goes not in vain.
Yayati said:
I know very well the great birth of yours, born as you are in the race of the Danavas. You are also exceedingly beautiful. I do not find the least defeat in your beauty.
Ushanas, the son of Kavi, however, commanded me when I was married to Devayani that Vrishaparva's daughter shall not be my bed.
Sharmishtha said:
It is not sinful to speak falsehood in the following five cases, namely in joke, in respect of women to be associated with, in marriage, in prospect of immediate death and at the time of the loss of one's whole fortune.
O king, it is not true that he is fallen who does not speak out the truth when asked (for there are occasions when to speak falsehood is an act of piety.) The falsehood is sinful when one (harmful) object is to be accomplished.
Yayati said:
A king should be a model prince in the eyes of his people. That king who speaks falsehood is sure to meet with his destruction. I do not dare to speak a lie, though the greatest losses threaten me.
Sharmishtha said:
O king, you have been chosen by my friends as her husband. One's friend's marriage is the same as one's own. You are, therefore, as much my husband (as Devayani's).
Yayati said:
It is one of my strict vows no doubt that I should grant what is asked of me. You ask me (to grant you a favour) Therefore, tell me what should I do?
Sharmishtha said:
O king, save me from sin. Protect my virtue. Becoming a mother by you, let me perform the greatest pious act in the world.
O king, it is ordained that three persons can never earn wealth for themselves. They are the wife, the slave and the son. That which they earn belong to him who owns them.
O king, I am the slave of Devayani, the lady of the Bhrigu race. You are Devayani's master and lord. Therefore, you are my master and lord as well. I solicit you. Fulfill my wishes.
Vaishampayana said:
Thus having been addressed by Sharmishtha, the king was persuaded to believe that what she said was true. He fulfilled Sharmishtha's wishes and thus protected her virtue.
They passed some time together. They took affectionate farewell of each other and separated. Each went whence they came.
Sharmishtha of sweet smiles and fair eyebrows conceived in consequence of that connection with that best of kings.
O king, in due time the lotus-eyed lady (Sharmishtha) gave birth to a son, as effulgent as a celestial child and with eyes like lotus leaves.
Vaishampayana said:
O descendant of the Bharata race, when Devayani heard of the birth of this boy, she became very sorry and Sharmishtha became an object of her sad reflections. Going to Sharmishtha, Devayani thus spoke to her.
Devayani said:
O girl of fair-eye-brows, what sin is this you have committed out of lust!
Sharmishtha said :
A Rishi of virtuous mind, learned in the Vedas, came to me. He was capable of granting boons and he was solicited by me to grant my wishes based on virtue.
O lady of sweet smiles, I would never seek the fulfillment of my desires by sinful means. I tell you truly, this my child was begotten by a Rishi.
Devayani said:
O timid maiden, it is all right if that is the case. If you know the lineage, the name and the family of that Brahmana, tell me I wish to hear them.
Sharmishtha said :
O lady of sweet smiles, that Rishi was as effulgent in asceticism and energy as the sun. Seeing him, I had no power of making these enquiries.
Devayani said:
O Sharmishtha, If this be true, if you have received this your son from such a great Brahmana, I have then no cause for anger.
Vaishampayana said:
They talked and laughed with each other and then they separated, (Devayani) the daughter of the Bhrigu race going to her mansion and believing what Sharmishtha told her.
O king, Yayati begot on Devayani two more sons (namely) Yadu and Turvasu, who were like Indra and Vishnu.
The daughter of Vrishaparva, Sharmishtha, by that royal sage gave birth to three sons in all, namely Druhyu, Anu and Puru.
O king, one day Devayani of sweet smiles went with Yayati into a solitary part of the royal park.
There she saw three children of celestial beauty, playing with perfect ease. She was surprised and thus spoke to the king.
Devayani said:
O king, whose children are these, so handsome, so like the children of the celestial? They are exactly like you in splendour and beauty.
Vaishampayana said:
Having asked the king, she asked the children.
Devayani said:
O children, what if your lineage! Who is your father? Answer me truly. I desire to know all.
The children then pointed to the king with their fingers and said that Sharmishtha was their mother.
Vaishampayana said:
Having said this, they came to the king to clasp his knees. But the king dared not caress them before Devayani.
The boys wept in grief and they left the place, going towards their mother. The king became very much abashed of this conduct of the boys.
Seeing the affection of the boys towards the king, (Devayani) understood all. All the addressed Sharmishtha thus :
Devayani said:
How have you dared to do me an injury, dependant as you are on me? Do you not fear to have recourse once more to your Asura conduct?
Sharmishtha said:
O lady of sweet smiles, all that I told you about the Rishi is quite true. My acts were according to the precepts of virtue and right.
Therefore, I am not afraid of you. When you chose the king as your husband, I too did the same. O beautiful lady, a friend's husband is one's own husband according to the precept of religion. You are a daughter of a Brahmana and therefore you deserve my greatest worship and regard. Do you no know that this royal sage (Yayati) is the object of greater esteem to me?
Vaishampayana said:
Having heard these words, Devayani said, "O king, you have wronged me, I will not live here any longer."
Having said this, she with tearful eyes quickly rose to go away to her father. And the king was grieved to see her thus angry.
He became very much alarmed; and he followed her, trying to appease her wrath. But she did not return. Her eyes were red in anger.
She did not speak a word to the king, but she, with her eyes full of tears, soon reached her father, Ushanas, the son of Kavi.
Seeing her father, she made to him due salutation and stood before him. Yayati also came immediately after her and he saluted and worshipped the son of Bhrigu.
Devayani said:
O father, virtue has been defeated by vice. The low have risen and the high have fallen. I have been insulted by the daughter of Vrishaparva.
Three sons have been begotten on her by this king Yayati. O father, unfortunate am I! I have got only two sons.
O son of Bhrigu, this king is renowned for his knowledge in religion and virtue. But, O son of Kavi, I tell you, he has fallen from the path of virtue.
Shukra said:
O king, as you have made vice your favourite pursuit, though well-acquainted with the precepts of virtue, terrible decrepitude will overtake you.
Yayati said:
Adorable Rishi, I was solicited by the daughter of the Danava king to make her season fruitful. I did grant her prayer from a sense of virtue. O Rishi, men learned in the Vedas say that he, who does not grant the prayer of a woman in season, commits the sin of killing an embryo. He, who, being solicited in secret by a woman full of desire and in season, does not grant her wishes, loses virtue. The learned say that he becomes a killer of embryo.
O son of Bhrigu, for these reason and being afraid of committing a sin, I went to Sharmishtha.
Shukra said:
O king, you are dependent on me. You should have waited to receive, my command. O son of Nahusha, having acted falsely in the matter of your duty, you have committed the sin of theft.
Vaishampayana said:
Thus being cursed by the angry Ushanas, Yayati, the son of Nahusha, was then deprived of his youth and terrible decrepitude soon overcame him.
Yayati said:
O son of Bhrigu, I have not been as yet satiated with youth of Devayani. Therefore, O Brahmana, be graceful to me. Let not decrepitude overcome me.
Shukra said:
I never speak an untruth, O king, (see), you have been immediately attacked by old age. But if you like, you can transfer this decrepitude to some other man.
Yayati said:
O Brahmana, let this be ordered by you that, the son of mine who will accept my this old age will enjoy my kingdom and gain both virtue and fame.
Shukra said:
O son of Nahusha, remembering me you will be able to transfer your this decrepitude to whomever you like. Your that son who will give you his youth will become your successor on the throne. He will have long life, widespread fame and a large progeny.
Vaishampayana said :
Having been thus attacked by old age, Yayati returned to his capital. He summoned his eldest and accomplished son Yadu and thus spoke to him.
Yayati said:
O child; Old age, wrinkles and white hair have come over to me by the curse the son of Kavi who is called Ushanas. But I am not yet satiated with youth.
O Yadu, take you upon yourself my this decrepitude and consequent old age. I shall then enjoy with your youth. When one thousand years will be completed, I shall return to you your youth and take back my decrepitude and its consequent Weakness.
Yadu said:
There are many inconveniences in old age about eating and drinking. Therefore, O king, I shall not take your decrepitude upon me. This is my determination.
White hair, cheerlessness, relaxation of nerves, wrinkles, all over the body, deformities, weakness, leanness, inability of work, these are the consequences of decrepitude. Even friends and dependants forsake an old decrepit man.
O king, you have many sons, some of them are dearer to you (than I). O virtuous man, ask some other son of yours to take upon him your decrepitude.
Yayati said:
O son, you have sprung from my heart, but you do not give me your youth. Therefore, your children will never be ruling kings.
O Turvasu, take upon yourself my decrepitude and consequent weakness. I wish to enjoy the pleasures of life with your youth.
After the expiration of one thousand years, I shall return, to you, your youth and take back my decrepitude and its consequent weakness.
Turvasu said:
O father, I do not like old age. It destroys all pleasures and enjoyments, strength and beauty, the intellect and the memory, nay even life.
Yayati said:
You are born frorn my heart, but you do not give me your youth. Therefore, O Turvasu, your line will be extinct.
You shall be the foolish king of those whose practise and precepts will be impure, whose women of superior birth will give birth to children by men of inferior birth, who will live on meat, who will be mean, who will not hesitate to appropriate the wives of their superiors, who will be like birds and beasts in their practise and who will be sinful and Mlecchas.
Vaishampayana said:
Having thus cursed his son Turvasu, Yayati spoke to Sharmishtha's son Druhyu thus:
Yayati said:
O Druhyu, take upon yourself for one thousand years my decrepitude, destructive of beauty and complexion. Give me your youth.
After the expiration of one thousand years, I shall return to you your youth and take back my own decrepitude.
Druhyu said:
O king, one, if he is decrepit, cannot enjoy elephants, cars, horses or women. His voice also becomes indistinct. Therefore, I do no desire (to take upon myself) your old age.
Yayati said:
O son, you are sprung from my heart, but you refuse to give me your youth. Therefore, your cherished wishes will never be fulfilled.
You shall be a king only in name. You shall rule over a region where there will be no roads, no passages for horses, cars, elephants, asses, goats, bullocks, palanquins and other good vehicles, where the only means of locomotion will be rafts and floats. In such a place you will live with all your friends.
Yayati said:
O Anu, take my decrepitude and its consequent weakness. I shall enjoy the pleasures of life for one thousand years with your youth.
Anu said:
Those that are decrepit eat like children and they are always impure. They cannot pour libations on sacrificial fire at the proper time. Therefore, I do not like to take upon myself your old age.
Yayati said:
O son, you have sprung from my heart, but you do not give me your youth. As you find so many faults with decrepitude, decrepitude will overcome you. Your sons will die as soon as they will attain to their youth. You shall not be able to perform any sacrifice before fire.
Yayati said:
O Puru, you are my youngest and dearest son, you will become the foremost of them. Old age, wrinkles and white hair, O child, have come over me.
On account of the curse of the son of Kavi, who is called Ushanas. But I am not yet satiated with youth. O Puru, take my decrepitude upon you and consequent weakness. I shall enjoy the pleasures of life for one thousand years with your youth. After the expiration of one thousand years. I shall return to you your youth and take my own decrepitude.
Vaishampayana said:
Having been thus addressed the king, Puru replied to him with all humility. (He said:) "O great king, I shall do as you command me to do.
O king, I shall take upon myself your old age and its consequent weakness. Take my youth and enjoy as you like the pleasures of life.
"Attacked by your old age, deprived of youth and beauty, I shall at your command live and give you my youth."
Yayati said:
O Puru, my child, I am much pleased with you. I grant you the following boon with great pleasure. "The people of your kingdom will have all their desires fulfilled."
Having said this, Yayati remembered the great ascetic, the son of Kavi (Shukra) and transferred his decrepitude to the body of the high-souled Puru.
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