Vaishampayana said: -
1. 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: -
2. O child; Old age, wrinkles and white hair have come over to me by the curse the son of I<avi who is called Ushanas. But I am not yet satiated with youth.
3. O Yadu, take you upon yourself my decrepitude and consequent old age. I shall then enjoy with your youth.
4. 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: -
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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: -
8. O son, you have sprung from my heart, but you do not give me your youth. Therefore, your children will never be ruling kings.
9. O Turvasu, take upon yourself my decrepitude and consequent weakness. I wish to enjoy the pleasures of life with your youth.
10. 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: -
11. 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: -
12. You are born from my heart, but you do not give me your youth. Therefore, O Turvasu, your line will be extinct.
13-15. 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:
16. Having thus cursed his son Turvasu, Yayati spoke to Sharmishtha’s son Druhyu thus: -
Yayati said: -
17. O Druhyu, take upon yourself for one thousand years my decrepitude, destructive of beauty and complexion. Give me your youth.
18. After the expiration of one thousand years, I shall return to you your youth and take back my own decrepitude.
Druhyu said: -
19. 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: -
20. O son, you are sprung from my heart, but you refuse to give me your youth. Therefore, your cherished wishes will never be fulfilled.
21-22. 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.
23. 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: -
24. 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: -
25. 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.
26. Your sons will die as soon as they will attain to their youth. You shall not be able to perform any sacrifice before fire.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. After the expiration of one thousand years, I shall return to you your youth and take my own decrepitude.
Vaishampayana said: -
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. Attacked by your old age, deprived of youth and beauty, I shall at your command live and give you my youth.”
Yayati said: -
33. 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.
Vaishampayana said: -
34. 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.
Thus ends the eighty fourth chapter, the history of Yayati, in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.