01.070
Library: Lineages described, and why Puru’s name is given for the prominent one!
ययात्युपाख्यानम्
The tale of Yayāti.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
प्रजापतेस्तु दक्षस्य मनोर्वैवस्वतस्य च। भरतस्य कुरोः पूरोरजमीढस्य चान्वये ॥०१-७०-१॥
In the lineage of Prajāpati Dakṣa, of Manu Vaivasvata, and of Bharata, Kuru, Pūru, and Ajamīḍha. (01-70-1)
यादवानामिमं वंशं पौरवाणां च सर्वशः। तथैव भारतानां च पुण्यं स्वस्त्ययनं महत् ॥ धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं कीर्तयिष्यामि तेऽनघ ॥०१-७०-२॥
I shall fully recount to you, O sinless one, this lineage of the Yādavas, the Pauravas, and likewise the Bhāratas, which is holy, greatly auspicious, blessed, fame-giving, and life-giving. (01-70-2)
तेजोभिरुदिताः सर्वे महर्षिसमतेजसः। दश प्रचेतसः पुत्राः सन्तः पूर्वजनाः स्मृताः ॥ मेघजेनाग्निना ये ते पूर्वं दग्धा महौजसः ॥०१-७०-३॥
All the ten Pracetases, the sons, radiant with splendors and equal in brilliance to great seers, being virtuous, are remembered as ancient forefathers, those mighty ones who were formerly burned by fire born from a cloud. (01-70-3)
तेभ्यः प्राचेतसो जज्ञे दक्षो दक्षादिमाः प्रजाः। सम्भूताः पुरुषव्याघ्र स हि लोकपितामहः ॥०१-७०-४॥
From them was born Dakṣa, the Prācetasa. From Dakṣa these progenies came into being, O tiger among men, for he is the grandsire of the world. (01-70-4)
वीरिण्या सह सङ्गम्य दक्षः प्राचेतसो मुनिः। आत्मतुल्यानजनयत्सहस्रं संशितव्रतान् ॥०१-७०-५॥
After uniting with Vīriṇī, Dakṣa, the sage descended from Pracetas, begot a thousand sons equal to himself and firm in their vows. (01-70-5)
सहस्रसङ्ख्यान्समितान्सुतान्दक्षस्य नारदः। मोक्षमध्यापयामास साङ्ख्यज्ञानमनुत्तमम् ॥०१-७०-६॥
Nārada taught the assembled thousand sons of Dakṣa liberation, the unsurpassed knowledge of Sāṅkhya. (01-70-6)
ततः पञ्चाशतं कन्याः पुत्रिका अभिसंदधे। प्रजापतिः प्रजा दक्षः सिसृक्षुर्जनमेजय ॥०१-७०-७॥
Then Prajāpati Dakṣa, wishing to create progeny, appointed fifty daughters as putrikās, O Janamejaya. (01-70-7)
ददौ स दश धर्माय कश्यपाय त्रयोदश। कालस्य नयने युक्ताः सप्तविंशतिमिन्दवे ॥०१-७०-८॥
He gave ten to Dharma and thirteen to Kaśyapa. He gave twenty-seven, appointed for the reckoning of Time, to the Moon. (01-70-8)
त्रयोदशानां पत्नीनां या तु दाक्षायणी वरा। मारीचः कश्यपस्तस्यामादित्यान्समजीजनत् ॥ इन्द्रादीन्वीर्यसम्पन्नान्विवस्वन्तमथापि च ॥०१-७०-९॥
Among the thirteen wives, the excellent daughter of Dakṣa was she in whom Kaśyapa, the son of Marīci, begot the Ādityas, beginning with Indra, endowed with prowess, and also Vivasvat. (01-70-9)
विवस्वतः सुतो जज्ञे यमो वैवस्वतः प्रभुः। मार्तण्डश्च यमस्यापि पुत्रो राजन्नजायत ॥०१-७०-१०॥
Vivasvat's son, Yama Vaivasvata, the lord, was born; and Mārtaṇḍa too, the son of Yama, was born, O king. (01-70-10)
मार्तण्डस्य मनुर्धीमानजायत सुतः प्रभुः। मनोर्वंशो मानवानां ततोऽयं प्रथितोऽभवत् ॥ ब्रह्मक्षत्रादयस्तस्मान्मनोर्जातास्तु मानवाः ॥०१-७०-११॥
Manu, the wise and powerful son, was born from Mārtāṇḍa. From Manu this lineage of humans then became renowned. Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, and the other human groups were born from that Manu. (01-70-11)
तत्राभवत्तदा राजन्ब्रह्म क्षत्रेण सङ्गतम्। ब्राह्मणा मानवास्तेषां साङ्गं वेदमदीधरन् ॥०१-७०-१२॥
Then there, O king, sacred brahminical power became united with royal power; the Brahmins, descendants of Manu, upheld their Veda together with its ancillary limbs. (01-70-12)
वेनं धृष्णुं नरिष्यन्तं नाभागेक्ष्वाकुमेव च। करूषमथ शर्यातिं तथैवात्राष्टमीमिलाम् ॥०१-७०-१३॥
Vena, Dhṛṣṇu, Nariṣyanta, Nābhāga, Ikṣvāku, Karūṣa, Śaryāti, and also Ilā as the eighth. (01-70-13)
पृषध्रनवमानाहुः क्षत्रधर्मपरायणान्। नाभागारिष्टदशमान्मनोः पुत्रान्महाबलान् ॥०१-७०-१४॥
They say that Manu's mighty sons, devoted to the duty of the warrior order, had Pṛṣadhra as the ninth and Nābhāgāriṣṭa as the tenth. (01-70-14)
पञ्चाशतं मनोः पुत्रास्तथैवान्येऽभवन्क्षितौ। अन्योन्यभेदात्ते सर्वे विनेशुरिति नः श्रुतम् ॥०१-७०-१५॥
Fifty sons of Manu, and likewise others, came into being on the earth. It has been heard by us that they all perished because of mutual division. (01-70-15)
पुरूरवास्ततो विद्वानिलायां समपद्यत। सा वै तस्याभवन्माता पिता चेति हि नः श्रुतम् ॥०१-७०-१६॥
Then the wise Purūravas was born from Ilā. Indeed, it is heard by us that she became both his mother and his father. (01-70-16)
त्रयोदश समुद्रस्य द्वीपानश्नन्पुरूरवाः। अमानुषैर्वृतः सत्त्वैर्मानुषः सन्महायशाः ॥०१-७०-१७॥
Purūravas, though human, was of great fame; he enjoyed thirteen islands of the ocean and was surrounded by non-human beings. (01-70-17)
विप्रैः स विग्रहं चक्रे वीर्योन्मत्तः पुरूरवाः। जहार च स विप्राणां रत्नान्युत्क्रोशतामपि ॥०१-७०-१८॥
Maddened by his valor, Purūravas came into conflict with the Brāhmaṇas. He also took away the Brāhmaṇas' jewels, even as they cried out. (01-70-18)
सनत्कुमारस्तं राजन्ब्रह्मलोकादुपेत्य ह। अनुदर्शयां ततश्चक्रे प्रत्यगृह्णान्न चाप्यसौ ॥०१-७०-१९॥
Having come to him from Brahmā’s world, O king, Sanatkumāra then showed it to him; yet that one did not accept it. (01-70-19)
ततो महर्षिभिः क्रुद्धैः शप्तः सद्यो व्यनश्यत। लोभान्वितो मदबलान्नष्टसञ्ज्ञो नराधिपः ॥०१-७०-२०॥
Then the king, cursed by the angered great seers, immediately perished; endowed with greed, overpowered by pride, and having lost his senses. (01-70-20)
स हि गन्धर्वलोकस्थ उर्वश्या सहितो विराट्। आनिनाय क्रियार्थेऽग्नीन्यथावद्विहितांस्त्रिधा ॥०१-७०-२१॥
Indeed, he, the sovereign who was dwelling in the Gandharva world and accompanied by Urvaśī, brought the ritually prescribed fires in their proper threefold form for the performance of rites. (01-70-21)
षट्पुत्रा जज्ञिरेऽथैलादायुर्धीमानमावसुः। दृढायुश्च वनायुश्च श्रुतायुश्चोर्वशीसुताः ॥०१-७०-२२॥
Then six sons were born to Aila: Āyu, the wise Dhīmān, Amāvasu, Dṛḍhāyu, Vanāyu, and Śrutāyu, the sons of Urvaśī. (01-70-22)
नहुषं वृद्धशर्माणं रजिं रम्भमनेनसम्। स्वर्भानवीसुतानेतानायोः पुत्रान्प्रचक्षते ॥०१-७०-२३॥
They declare Nahuṣa, Vṛddhaśarman, Raji, Rambha, and Anenas to be these sons of Svarbhānavī and sons of Āyu. (01-70-23)
आयुषो नहुषः पुत्रो धीमान्सत्यपराक्रमः। राज्यं शशास सुमहद्धर्मेण पृथिवीपतिः ॥०१-७०-२४॥
Nahuṣa, the wise son of Āyuṣ, whose prowess was true, ruled the kingdom as lord of the earth with very great righteousness. (01-70-24)
पितृन्देवानृषीन्विप्रान्गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसान्। नहुषः पालयामास ब्रह्मक्षत्रमथो विशः ॥०१-७०-२५॥
Nahuṣa protected and governed the ancestors, gods, sages, learned Brāhmaṇas, Gandharvas, serpents, Rākṣasas, the Brāhmaṇa and Kṣatriya orders, and also the peoples. (01-70-25)
स हत्वा दस्युसङ्घातानृषीन्करमदापयत्। पशुवच्चैव तान्पृष्ठे वाहयामास वीर्यवान् ॥०१-७०-२६॥
After slaying bands of bandits, he made the sages pay tribute. The powerful man also made them carry him on their backs like animals. (01-70-26)
कारयामास चेन्द्रत्वमभिभूय दिवौकसः। तेजसा तपसा चैव विक्रमेणौजसा तथा ॥०१-७०-२७॥
Having overpowered the dwellers in heaven through his splendor, austerity, valor, and strength, he brought about the office of Indra. (01-70-27)
यतिं ययातिं संयातिमायातिं पाञ्चमुद्धवम्। नहुषो जनयामास षट्पुत्रान्प्रियवाससि ॥०१-७०-२८॥
Nahusha begot six sons by Priyavasasi: Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, and Uddhava as the fifth. (01-70-28)
ययातिर्नाहुषः सम्राडासीत्सत्यपराक्रमः। स पालयामास महीमीजे च विविधैः सवैः ॥०१-७०-२९॥
Yayāti, the descendant of Nahuṣa, was a universal emperor of unfailing prowess. He ruled the earth and performed sacrifices with various sava rites. (01-70-29)
अतिशक्त्या पितृनर्चन्देवांश्च प्रयतः सदा। अन्वगृह्णात्प्रजाः सर्वा ययातिरपराजितः ॥०१-७०-३०॥
The unconquered Yayāti, always purified and worshipping the ancestors and the gods with surpassing capacity, graciously supported all his subjects. (01-70-30)
तस्य पुत्रा महेष्वासाः सर्वैः समुदिता गुणैः। देवयान्यां महाराज शर्मिष्ठायां च जज्ञिरे ॥०१-७०-३१॥
His sons, great archers endowed with every virtue, were born of Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā, O great king. (01-70-31)
देवयान्यामजायेतां यदुस्तुर्वसुरेव च। द्रुह्युश्चानुश्च पूरुश्च शर्मिष्ठायां प्रजज्ञिरे ॥०१-७०-३२॥
Yadu and Turvasu were born to Devayānī, while Druhyu, Anu, and Pūru were born to Śarmiṣṭhā. (01-70-32)
स शाश्वतीः समा राजन्प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन्। जरामार्छन्महाघोरां नाहुषो रूपनाशिनीम् ॥०१-७०-३३॥
He, Nāhuṣa, ruled his subjects righteously for many long years, O king, and then attained a very dreadful old age that destroyed his beauty. (01-70-33)
जराभिभूतः पुत्रान्स राजा वचनमब्रवीत्। यदुं पूरुं तुर्वसुं च द्रुह्युं चानुं च भारत ॥०१-७०-३४॥
Overcome by old age, that king addressed his sons, Yadu, Pūru, Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu, O descendant of Bharata. (01-70-34)
यौवनेन चरन्कामान्युवा युवतिभिः सह। विहर्तुमहमिच्छामि साह्यं कुरुत पुत्रकाः ॥०१-७०-३५॥
As a young man, I wish to enjoy pleasures with young women; help me, dear sons. (01-70-35)
तं पुत्रो देवयानेयः पूर्वजो यदुरब्रवीत्। किं कार्यं भवतः कार्यमस्माभिर्यौवनेन च ॥०१-७०-३६॥
The first-born son of Devayānī, Yadu, said to him, "What task of yours is to be done by us, and with our youth?" (01-70-36)
ययातिरब्रवीत्तं वै जरा मे प्रतिगृह्यताम्। यौवनेन त्वदीयेन चरेयं विषयानहम् ॥०१-७०-३७॥
Yayāti said to him, "Please accept my old age; with your youth I would enjoy the objects of sense." (01-70-37)
यजतो दीर्घसत्रैर्मे शापाच्चोशनसो मुनेः। कामार्थः परिहीणो मे तप्येऽहं तेन पुत्रकाः ॥०१-७०-३८॥
While I was sacrificing through long sacrificial sessions, and because of the curse of the sage Uśanas, the object of my desire has been lost; because of that I suffer, my dear sons. (01-70-38)
मामकेन शरीरेण राज्यमेकः प्रशास्तु वः। अहं तन्वाभिनवया युवा कामानवाप्नुयाम् ॥०१-७०-३९॥
Let one of you rule the kingdom with my body, while I, young in a fresh body, may enjoy the objects of desire. (01-70-39)
न ते तस्य प्रत्यगृह्णन्यदुप्रभृतयो जराम्। तमब्रवीत्ततः पूरुः कनीयान्सत्यविक्रमः ॥०१-७०-४०॥
Yadu and the others did not accept his old age. Then the younger Pūru, true in valor, said to him. (01-70-40)
राजंश्चराभिनवया तन्वा यौवनगोचरः। अहं जरां समास्थाय राज्ये स्थास्यामि तेऽऽज्ञया ॥०१-७०-४१॥
O king, enjoy youth with a fresh body; by your command, I will take on old age and remain in the kingdom. (01-70-41)
एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिस्तपोवीर्यसमाश्रयात्। सञ्चारयामास जरां तदा पुत्रे महात्मनि ॥०१-७०-४२॥
Thus addressed, that royal sage, relying on the power of austerity, then transferred old age into his great-souled son. (01-70-42)
पौरवेणाथ वयसा राजा यौवनमास्थितः। यायातेनापि वयसा राज्यं पूरुरकारयत् ॥०१-७०-४३॥
Then the king, having attained youth through Pūru’s age, made Pūru administer the kingdom with Yayāti’s age as well. (01-70-43)
ततो वर्षसहस्रान्ते ययातिरपराजितः। अतृप्त एव कामानां पूरुं पुत्रमुवाच ह ॥०१-७०-४४॥
Then, at the end of a thousand years, the unconquered Yayāti, still unsatisfied by desires, spoke to his son Pūru. (01-70-44)
त्वया दायादवानस्मि त्वं मे वंशकरः सुतः। पौरवो वंश इति ते ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यति ॥०१-७०-४५॥
Through you I have an heir; you are my son who will continue my lineage. Your line will become famous in the world as the Paurava lineage. (01-70-45)
ततः स नृपशार्दूलः पूरुं राज्येऽभिषिच्य च। कालेन महता पश्चात्कालधर्ममुपेयिवान् ॥०१-७०-४६॥
Then that foremost of kings consecrated Pūru in the kingdom, and after a long time he attained the law of Time, that is, death. (01-70-46)
