The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section LXXXV
Section LXXXV.
( Sambhava Parva continued. )
Vaisampayana said, "And the excellent monarch Yayati the son of Nahusha, having received Puru's youth, became exceedingly gratified. And with it he once more began to indulge in his favorite pursuits to the full extent of his desires and the limit of his powers, according to season, so as to derive the greatest pleasure thereform. And, O king, in nothing that he did, he acted against the precepts of his religion as behoved him well. He gratified the gods by his sacrifices; the pitris by Sradhas; the poor by his charities; all excellent Brahmanas, by ful-filling their desire; all persons entitled to the rites of hospitality, by food and drink; the Vaisayas, by protection; and the Sudras, by kindness. And the king repressed all criminals by proper punishments. And Yayati, gratifying all sections of his subjects, protected them virtuously like another Indra. And the monarch possessed of the prowess of a lion, with youth and every object of enjoyment under control, enjoyed unlimited happiness without transgressing the precepts of religion. And the king became very happy in thus being able to enjoy all the excellent objects of his desire. And he was only sorry when he thought that those thousand years would come to an end. And having obtained youth for a thousand years, the king acquainted with the mysteries of time, and watching proper Kalas and Kashtas, sported with (the celestial damsel) Viswachi, sometimes in the beautiful gardens of Indra, sometimes in Alaka (the city of Kuvera), and sometimes on the summit of the mountain Meru on the north. And when the virtuous monarch saw that the thousand years were full, summoning his son Puru he addressed him thus:—'O thou oppressor of the foe, with thy youth, O son, I have enjoyed the pleasures of life, each according to its season, to the full extent of my desires,—to the limit of my powers. Our desires, however, are never gratified by indulgence. On the other hand, with indulgence they only flame up like fire with libations of sacrificial butter. If a single person were owner of everything on earth,—all its yield of paddy and barley, its silver, gold, and gems, its animals and women; he would not yet be content. Thirst of enjoyment, therefore, should be: abandoned. Indeed, true happiness is theirs who have cast off their thirst for the objects of the earth,—a thirst which is difficult to be cast off by the wicked and the sinful, which faileth not with failing life, and which is truly the fatal desease of man. My heart hath for a full thousand years been fixed upon the objects of desire. My thirst for these, however, without abating, increaseth day by day. Therefore shall I cast it off, and fixing my mind on Brahma shall I pass the rest of my days with the innocent deer of the forest, peacefully and without affection for any worldly object. And, O Puru, I have been exceedingly gratified with thee! Prosperity be thine! Receive back this thy youth. Receive thou also my kingdom. Thou art, indeed, that son of mine who has done me the greatest of services.'"
Vaisampayana, continued; "And then Yayati, the son of Nahusha, received back his decrepitude. And his son Pura also received back his own youth. And Yayati was desirous of installing Puru his youngest son on the throne. But the four erders with the Brahmanas at their head then addressed the monarch thus:—'O king, how shalt thou bestow thy kingdom on Puru passing over thy eldest son Yadu born of Deva-yani and therefore the grandson of the great Sukra? Indeed, Yadu is thy eldest son; after him hath been born Turvasu; and of Sharmishta's sons, the first is Druhyu, then Anu, and then Puru. How doth the youngest deserve the throne passing all his elder brothers over? This we represent to thee: O, conform to virtuous practice!'
"Yayati then said, 'Ye four orders with Brahmanas at their head, hear ye my words, as to why my kingdom should not be given to my eldest son! My commands have been disobeyed by my eldest son Yadu. The wise say that he is no son who disobeyeth his father. That son, however, who doth the bidding of his parents, who seeketh their good, who is agreeable to them, is, indeed, the best of sons. I have been disregarded by Yadu, and by Turvasu too. Much have I been disregarded by Druhyu and Anu also. By Puru alone hath my word been obeyed. By him have I been much regarded. Therefore shall the youngest be my heir. He took my decrepitude. Indeed, Puru is my friend! He did what was so agreeable to me! It hath also been commanded by Sukra himself—the son of Kavi, that that son of mine who should obey me become king after me and bring the whole earth under his sway. I therefore beseech ye, let Puru be installed on the throne!'
"The people then said, 'True it is, O king, that that son who is accomplished and always seeketh the good of his parents, deserveth prosperity even if he be the youngest. Therefore doth Puru, who hath done thee good, deserve the crown. And as Sukra himself hath commanded it, we have nothing to say to it.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "And the son of Nahusha, thus addressed by the contented people, then installed his son Puru on the throne. And having bestowed his kingdom on Puru, the monarch performed the initiatory ceremonies for retiring into the woods. And soon after he left his capital, followed by Brahmanas and ascetics.
"And the sons of Yadu are known by the name of the Yadavas; while those of Turvasu have come to be called the Yavanas. And the sous of Druhyu are the Bhojas, while those of Anu the Mlechchas. The progeny of Puru, however, are the Pauravas amongst whom, O monarch, thou art born, inorder to rule for a thousand years with thy passions under complete control!"
And thus ends the eighty-fifth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.