वैशम्पायन उवाच प्रजापतेस्तु दक्षस्य मनोवैवस्वतस्य च। भरतस्य कुरो पूरोराजमीढस्य चानघ॥ यादवानामिमं वंशं कौरवाणां च सर्वशः। तथैव भरतानां च पुण्यं स्वस्त्ययनं महत्॥ धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं कीर्तयिष्यामि तेऽनघ। तेजोभिरुदिताः सर्वे महर्षिसमतेजसः॥
Vaishampayana said : O sinless one, Prajapati Daksha, Vaivasvata Manu, Manu, Bharata, Kuru, Puru, Ajamidha, Yadava and all the other kings of the Bharata race, O sinless king, I shall now recite the holy, illustrious and long lifebestowing histories of these great men. They were as effulgent as the sun and the great Rishis.
दश प्राचेतसः पुत्राः सन्तः पुण्यजनाः स्मृताः। मुखजेनाग्निना यैस्ते पूर्वं दग्धा महीरूहाः॥
Pracheta had ten sons, who were all devoted to asceticism and they all possessed every virtue. They burnt with the fire of their mouth many medicinal plants.
तेभ्यः प्राचेतसो जज्ञे दक्षो दक्षादिमाः प्रजाः। सम्भूताः पुरुषव्याघ्र स हि लोकपितामहः॥
O lion among the men, from them was born Prachetas Daksha and from Daksha sprang all creatures. Therefore, he was called the Grandsire.
वीरिण्या सह संगम्य दक्षः प्राचेतसो मुनिः। आत्मतुल्यानजनयत् सहस्रं संशितव्रतान्॥
The Rishi Daksha, born of Prachetas, begot one thousand sons, uniting with Virini; they were all of rigid vows like himself.
सहस्रसंख्यान् सम्भूतान् दक्षपुत्रांश्च नारदः। मोक्षमध्यापयामास सांख्यज्ञानमनुत्तमम्॥
Narada taught these one thousand sons of Daksha the excellent knowledge of Sankhya, the means of salvation.
ततः पञ्चाशतं कन्या: पुत्रिका अभिसंदधे। प्रजापतिः प्रजा दक्षः सिसृक्षुर्जनमेजय॥
Janamejaya, the lord of creation Prajapati Daksha, from the desire of creating more creatures, begot fifty daughters. He made them all his Putrikas.
ददौ दश स धर्माय कश्यपाय त्रयोदश। कालस्य नयने युक्ताः सप्तविंशतिमिन्दवे॥
He bestowed ten of his daughters on Daksha, thirteen on Kashyapa and twentyseven on Chandra who were all engaged in indicating time.
त्रयोदशानां पत्नीनां या तु दाक्षायणी वरा। मारीचः कश्यपस्त्वस्यामादित्यान् समजीजनत्॥ इन्द्रादीन् वीर्यसम्पन्नान् विवस्वन्तमथापि च। विवस्वतः सुतो जज्ञे यमो वैवस्वतः प्रभुः॥
Kashyapa, the son of Marichi, begot on his wife, the daughter of Daksha, who was the eldest among his thirteen wives, Aditya, the greatly effulgent celestials, Indra, being at their head and Vaivasvata also, Vaivasvata's son was born Yama, the great lord.
मार्तण्डस्य मनु/मानजायत सुतः प्रभुः। यमश्चापि सुतो जज्ञे ख्यातस्तस्यानुजः प्रभुः॥
Martanda (Vaivasvata) begot another son who was gifted with great intelligence and was called Manu. Yama was his younger brother.
धर्मात्मा स मनु/मान् यत्र वंशः प्रतिष्ठितः। मनोर्वंशो मानवानां ततोऽयं प्रथितोऽभवत्॥
Manu was greatly wise and virtuous; he became the progenitor of a race. The offspring of Manu were called Manavas, (human beings.)
ब्रह्मक्षत्रादयस्तस्मान्मनोर्जातास्तु मानवाः। ततोऽभवन्महाराज ब्रह्मक्षत्रेण संगतम्॥
It was from Manu that all men, including Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and others have been born. O great king, the Brahmanas and Kshatriyas were subsequently united.
ब्राह्मणा मानवास्तेषां साङ्गं वेदमधारयन्। वेनं धृष्णुं नरिष्यन्तं नाभागेक्ष्वाकुमेव च॥ कारूषमथ शर्याति तथा चैवाष्टमीमिलाम्। पृषधं नवमं प्राहुः क्षत्रधर्मपरायणम्॥ नाभागारिष्टदशमान् मनो: पञ्चाशत्तु मनोः पुत्रास्तथैवान्येऽभवन् क्षितौ॥
Those sons of Manu, who were Brahmanas, became devoted to the study of the Vedas. Vena, Dhrishnu, Narishyanta, Nabhaga, Ikshvaku, Karusha and Sharyati, the eighth a daughter, named Ila, the ninth Prishadhra, who was gifted with all the virtues of Kshatriyas. Nabhagarishta was the tenth son of Daksha. Besides these, Manu had fifty other sons on earth.
अन्योन्यभेदात् ते सर्वे विनेशुरिति नः श्रुतम्। पुरूरवास्ततो विद्वानिलायां समपद्यत॥
We have heard, they all perished quarrelling with one another. The learned Pururava was born of Ila.
सा वै तस्याभवन्माता पिता चैवेति नः श्रुतम्। त्रयोदश समुद्रस्य द्वीपानश्नन् पुरूरवाः॥
We have heard that Ila was both the father and the mother of Pururava. He had sway over thirteen islands of the sea.
अमानुषैर्वृतः सत्त्वैर्मानुषः सन् महायशाः। विप्रैः स विग्रहं चक्रे वीर्योन्मत्तः पुरूरवाः॥ जहार च स विप्राणां रत्नान्युत्क्रोशतामपि।
Though he was a human being, yet he remained always surrounded by superhuman companions. Pururava, intoxicated with the pride of power which he possessed, quarrelled with the Brahmanas, caring little for their anger. He robbed them of their wealth.
सनत्कुमारस्तं राजन् ब्रह्मलोकादुपेत्य ह॥ अनुदर्श ततश्चक्रे प्रत्यगृह्णान्न चाप्यसौ। ततो महर्षिभिः क्रुद्धैः सद्यः शप्तो व्यनश्यत॥
Seeing this, Sanatkumar came from the region of Brahma and gave him good counsel, which he did not accept. Thereupon, the wrath of the great Rishis was excited and the king, who was intoxicated with the pride of power and who lost his reason, was immediately killed by their curse.
लोभान्वितो बलमदानष्टसंज्ञो नराधिपः। स हि गन्धर्वलोकस्थानुर्वश्या सहितो विराट्॥ आनिनाय क्रियार्थेऽग्नीन् यथावद् विहितांस्त्रिधा। षट् सुता जज्ञिरे चैलादायु/मानमावसुः॥ दृढायुश्च वनायुश्च शतायुश्चोर्वशीसुताः। नहुषं वृद्धशर्माणं रजिं गयमनेनसम्॥ स्वर्भानवीसुतानेतानायोः पुत्रान् प्रचक्षते। आयुषो नहुषः पुत्रो धीमान् सत्यपराक्रमः॥
This king (Pururava) brought from the region of the Gandharvas, three kinds of fire for sacrificial purposes with the Apsara Urvashi. He begot six sons on Urvashi, namely Ayush, Dhiman, Amavasu, Dhridhayu, Vanayu and Shatayus. It is said that Ayush begot on the daughter of Svarbhanu five sons, namely Nahusha, Vriddhasharma, Raji, Gaya and Anenasa. Of all the sons of Ayush, Nahusha was exceedingly intelligent and powerful.
राज्यं शशास सुमहद् धर्मेण पृथिवीपते। पितॄन् देवानृषीन् विप्रान् गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसान्॥ नहुषः पालयामास ब्रह्मक्षत्रमथो विशः। स हत्वा दस्युसंघातानृषीन् करमदापयत्॥
O king, He ruled his kingdom with great virtue. King Nahusha equally supported the Pitris, the Devas, the Rishis, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, the Rakshasas, the Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas and the Vaishyas. He suppressed all the robbers with a mighty hand; he made Rishis to pay tribute to himself.
पशुवच्चैव तान्पृष्ठे वाहयामास वीर्यवान्। कारयामास चेन्द्रत्वमभिभूय दिवौकसः॥ तेजसा तपसा चैव विक्रमेणौजसा तथा। यतिं ययाति संयातिमायातिमयति ध्रुवम्॥ नहुषो जनयामास षट्सुतान्प्रियवादिनः। यतिस्तु योगमास्थाय ब्रह्मभूतोऽभवन्मुनिः॥
And like animal, the powerful one Nahusha carried them on the back of Rishis. Beating the very dwellers of heaven with his beauty, his asceticism, his prowess and energy, he ruled the earth, as if he was Indra himself. Nahusha begot six sweet-speeched sons, namely, Yati, Yayati, Sanyati, Aayati, Ayati and Dhruva. Yati adopted asceticism and became a great Rishi like Brahma himself.
ययाति हुष: सम्राडासीत् सत्यपराक्रमः। स पालयामास महीमीजे च बहुभिर्मखैः॥ अतिभक्त्या पितॄनर्चन् देवांश्च प्रयतः सदा। अन्वगृह्णात् प्रजाः सर्वा ययातिरपराजितः॥ तस्य पुत्रा महेष्वासाः सर्वैः समुदिता गुणैः। देवयान्यां महाराज शर्मिष्ठायां च जज्ञिरे॥ देवयान्यामजायेतां यदुस्तुर्वसुरेव च। द्रुह्युश्चानुश्च पूरुश्च शर्मिष्ठायां च जज्ञिरे॥
were Yayati became greatly virtuous. He ruled over the whole earth; he performed many sacrifices; he worshipped the Pitris with great reverence and showed a great respect towards the celestial. He showed great kindness and favour to all his subjects and he was never defeated by any foe. His sons were all great bow-men and gifted with all accomplishments. Ogreat king, they were bom of Devayani and Sharmishtha, his two wives. From Devayani were born Yadus and Turvasu. From Sharinishtha were born Druhyu, Anu and Puru.
स शाश्वती: समा राजन् प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्। जरामार्छन्महाघोरां नाहुषो रूपनाशिनीम्॥
O king, after ruling his subjects with virtue for a long time. The son of Nahusha (Yayati) was attacked by the terrible old age which destroyed his personal beauty.
जराभिभूतः पुत्रान् स राजा वचनमब्रवीत्। यदुं पूरुं तुर्वसुं च द्रुह्यं चानुं च भारत॥
Having been thus attacked by old age, the king thus addressed his sons, namely Yadu, Puru, Turvasu, Druhyu and Anu.
यौवनेन चरन् कामान् युवा युवतिभिः सह। विहर्तुमहमिच्छामि साह्यं कुरुत पुत्रकाः॥
“O Dear sons, I wish to be young and desire to pass my time with young women. Help me in this."
तं पुत्रो दैवयानेयः पूर्वजो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। किं कार्यं भवतः कार्यमस्माकं यौवनेन ते॥
His eldest son, born of Devayani said, “Why do you require? Do you want to have our youth?"
ययातिरब्रवीत् तं वै जरा मे प्रतिगृह्यताम्। यौवनेन त्वदीयेन चरेयं विषयानहम्॥
Yayati replied, “Accept my old age.” I would then enjoy myself with your youth.
यजतो दीर्घसत्रैर्मे शापाचोशनसो मुनेः। कामार्थः परिहीणोऽयं तप्येयं तेन पुत्रकाः॥
During a long sacrifice, I was cursed by the Rishi Ushanas and therefore, thus have I lost all my powers of enjoying sensual pleasures. O sons, I shall enjoy myself with your youth.
मामकेन शरीरेण राज्यमेकः प्रशास्तु वः। अहं तन्वाभिनवया युवा काममवाप्नुयाम्॥
(Therefore), take any of you my decrepitude and rule the kingdom with my body. I would then enjoy myself with a renovated youthful body.
ते न तस्य प्रत्यगृह्णन् यदुप्रभृतयो जराम्। तमब्रवीत् ततः पूरुः कनीयान् सत्यविक्रमः॥ राजश्चराभिनवया तन्वा यौवनगोचरः। अहं जरां समादाय राज्ये स्थास्यामि तेऽऽज्ञया॥
Yadu and other sons did not agree to take upon them his old age. Thereupon, his youngest son, the virtuous and powerful Puru said-"O king, enjoy again with a renovated body and returned youth. I shall take upon me your old age and I shall rule the kingdom at your command."
एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिस्तपोवीर्यसमाश्रयात्। संचारयामास जरां तदा पुत्रे महात्मनि॥
Thus being addressed, the royal sage (Yayati) transferred his old age on his highsouled son (Puru) with his power of asceticism.
पौरवेणाथ वयसा राजा यौवनमास्थितः। यायातेनापि वयसा राज्यं पूरुरकारयत्॥
The king again became a young man with the youth of Puru; and Puru with the old age of his father upon him ruled the kingdom.
ततो वर्षसहस्राणि ययातिरपराजितः। स्थितः स नृपशार्दूल: शार्दूलसमविक्रमः॥
Even when one thousand years had thus passed away, Yayati, the best of kings, the invincible hero, remained as strong and powerful as a tiger.
ययातिरपि पत्नीभ्यां दीर्घकालं विहृत्य च। विश्वाच्या सहितो रेमे पुनश्चैत्ररथे वने॥
He enjoyed for a long time the sweet company of his two wives. He enjoyed with (Apsara) Vishvachi in the gardens of Chitraratha (Gandharva king.)
नाध्यगच्छत् तदा तृप्ति कामानां स महायशाः। अवेत्य मनसा राजन्निमां गाथां तदा जगौ॥
That illustrious man had not his desires satiated even after this. Thereupon, the king remembered the following words of the Purana.
न जातु कामः कामानामुपभोगेन शाम्यति। हविषा कृष्णवर्मेव भूय एवाभिवर्धते॥
"One's desires are never satiated with enjoyments. On On the the other hand, with indulgence they flame up like the sacrificial fire with ghee poured into it.
पृथिवी रत्नसम्पूर्णा हिरण्यं पशवः स्त्रियः। नालमेकस्य तत् सर्वमिति मत्वा शमं व्रजेत्॥
Even if one enjoys the whole earth, with its wealth, its diamonds, gold, aniimals and women, still his desires will not be satiated.
यदा न कुरुते पापं सर्वभूतेषु कर्हिचित्। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा॥
It is only when a man does not commit a sin in thought, deed or word in respect of any living creatures, it is then that he attains to the purity of Brahma.
यदा चायं न बिभेति यदा चास्मान्न बिभ्यति। यदा नेच्छति न द्वेष्टि ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते तदा॥
When a man fears nothing and when he is feared by none, when he desires for nothing and when he injures none, it is then that he attains to the purity of Brahma."
इत्यवेक्ष्य महाप्राज्ञः कामानां फल्गुतां नृप। समाधाय मनो बुद्ध्या प्रत्यगृह्णाजरां सुतात्॥
The greatly wise king, seeing this and having been satisfied that one's desires are never satiated, received back his old age from his son.
दत्त्वा च यौवनं राजा पूरूं राज्येऽभिषिच्य च। अतृप्त एव कामानां पूरुं पुत्रमुवाच ह॥
Though his desires were not satiated, he gave back his youth to his son Puru and
त्वया दायादवानस्मि त्वं मे वंशकरः सुतः। पौरवो वंश इति ते ख्याति लोके गमिष्यति॥
"From you my race would continue. You are my true son and heir. My race will be known in the world after your name."
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः स नृपशार्दूल पूरुं राज्येऽभिषिच्य च। ततः सुचरितं कृत्वा भृगुतुङ्गे महातपाः॥ कालेन महता पश्चात् कालधर्ममुपेयिवान्। कारयित्वा त्वनशनं सदारः स्वर्गमाप्तवान्॥
Vaishampayana said : That best of kings, (Yayati), having installed Puru on the throne went to the mount Bhrigu to become a great ascetic. After many years he succumbed to the inevitable influence of Time. Observing the vow of fasting, he ascended heaven with his wives.