01.070
Library: Lineages described, and why Puru’s name is given for the prominent one!
yayātyupākhyānam
The tale of Yayāti.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
prajāpates tu dakṣasya manor vaivasvatasya ca। bharatasya kuroḥ pūror ajamīḍhasya cānvaye ॥01-70-1॥
In the lineage of Prajāpati Dakṣa, of Manu Vaivasvata, and of Bharata, Kuru, Pūru, and Ajamīḍha. (01-70-1)
yādavānāmimaṃ vaṃśaṃ pauravāṇāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ। tathaiva bhāratānāṃ ca puṇyaṃ svastyayanaṃ mahat ॥ dhanyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ kīrtayiṣyāmi te'nagha ॥01-70-2॥
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)
tejobhiruditāḥ sarve maharṣisamatejasaḥ। daśa pracetasaḥ putrāḥ santaḥ pūrvajanāḥ smṛtāḥ ॥ meghajenāgninā ye te pūrvaṁ dagdhā mahaujasaḥ ॥01-70-3॥
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)
tebhyaḥ prācetaso jajñe dakṣo dakṣādimāḥ prajāḥ। sambhūtāḥ puruṣavyāghra sa hi lokapitāmahaḥ ॥01-70-4॥
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)
vīriṇyā saha saṅgamya dakṣaḥ prācetaso muniḥ। ātmatulyānajanayatsahasraṃ saṃśitavratān ॥01-70-5॥
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)
sahasrasaṅkhyānsamitānsutāndakṣasya nāradaḥ। mokṣamadhyāpayāmāsa sāṅkhyajñānamanuttamam ॥01-70-6॥
Nārada taught the assembled thousand sons of Dakṣa liberation, the unsurpassed knowledge of Sāṅkhya. (01-70-6)
tataḥ pañcāśataṃ kanyāḥ putrikā abhisaṃdadhe। prajāpatiḥ prajā dakṣaḥ sisṛkṣurjanamejaya ॥01-70-7॥
Then Prajāpati Dakṣa, wishing to create progeny, appointed fifty daughters as putrikās, O Janamejaya. (01-70-7)
dadau sa daśa dharmāya kaśyapāya trayodaśa। kālasya nayane yuktāḥ saptaviṃśatim indave ॥01-70-8॥
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)
trayodaśānāṃ patnīnāṃ yā tu dākṣāyaṇī varā। mārīcaḥ kaśyapastasyāmādityānsamajījanat ॥ indrādīnvīryasampannānvivasvantamathāpi ca ॥01-70-9॥
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)
vivasvataḥ suto jajñe yamo vaivasvataḥ prabhuḥ। mārtaṇḍaśca yamasyāpi putro rājannajāyata ॥01-70-10॥
Vivasvat's son, Yama Vaivasvata, the lord, was born; and Mārtaṇḍa too, the son of Yama, was born, O king. (01-70-10)
mārtāṇḍasya manurdhīmānajāyata sutaḥ prabhuḥ। manorvaṃśo mānavānāṃ tato'yaṃ prathito'bhavat ॥ brahmakṣatrādayastasmānmanorjātāstu mānavāḥ ॥01-70-11॥
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)
tatrābhavattadā rājanbrahma kṣatreṇa saṅgatam। brāhmaṇā mānavāsteṣāṃ sāṅgaṃ vedamadīdharan ॥01-70-12॥
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)
venaṃ dhṛṣṇuṃ nariṣyantaṃ nābhāgekṣvākumeva ca। karūṣamatha śaryātiṃ tathaivātrāṣṭamīmilām ॥01-70-13॥
Vena, Dhṛṣṇu, Nariṣyanta, Nābhāga, Ikṣvāku, Karūṣa, Śaryāti, and also Ilā as the eighth. (01-70-13)
pṛṣadhranavamānāhuḥ kṣatradharmaparāyaṇān। nābhāgāriṣṭadaśamānmanoḥ putrānmahābalān ॥01-70-14॥
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)
pañcāśataṃ manoḥ putrās tathaivānye'bhavan kṣitau। anyonyabhedāt te sarve vineśur iti naḥ śrutam ॥01-70-15॥
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)
purūravāstato vidvānilāyāṃ samapadyata। sā vai tasyābhavanmātā pitā ceti hi naḥ śrutam ॥01-70-16॥
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)
trayodaśa samudrasya dvīpānaśnanpurūravāḥ। amānuṣairvṛtaḥ sattvairmānuṣaḥ sanmahāyaśāḥ ॥01-70-17॥
Purūravas, though human, was of great fame; he enjoyed thirteen islands of the ocean and was surrounded by non-human beings. (01-70-17)
vipraiḥ sa vigrahaṃ cakre vīryonmattaḥ purūravāḥ। jahāra ca sa viprāṇāṃ ratnānyutkrośatāmapi ॥01-70-18॥
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)
sanatkumārastaṁ rājanbrahmalokādupetya ha। anudarśayāṁ tataścakre pratyagṛhṇānna cāpyasau ॥01-70-19॥
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)
tato maharṣibhiḥ kruddhaiḥ śaptaḥ sadyo vyanasyata। lobhānvito madabalānnaṣṭasañjño narādhipaḥ ॥01-70-20॥
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)
sa hi gandharvalokastha urvaśyā sahito virāṭ। ānināya kriyārthe'gnīnyathāvadvihitāṃstridhā ॥01-70-21॥
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)
ṣaṭputrā jajñire'thailādāyurdhīmānamāvasuḥ। dṛḍhāyuśca vanāyuśca śrutāyuścorvaśīsutāḥ ॥01-70-22॥
Then six sons were born to Aila: Āyu, the wise Dhīmān, Amāvasu, Dṛḍhāyu, Vanāyu, and Śrutāyu, the sons of Urvaśī. (01-70-22)
nahuṣaṁ vṛddhaśarmāṇaṁ rajiṁ rambhamanenasam। svarbhānavīsutānetānāyoḥ putrānpracakṣate ॥01-70-23॥
They declare Nahuṣa, Vṛddhaśarman, Raji, Rambha, and Anenas to be these sons of Svarbhānavī and sons of Āyu. (01-70-23)
āyuṣo nahuṣaḥ putro dhīmānsatyaparākramaḥ। rājyaṃ śaśāsa sumahaddharmeṇa pṛthivīpatiḥ ॥01-70-24॥
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)
pitr̥ndevānr̥ṣīnviprāngandharvoragarākṣasān। nahuṣaḥ pālayāmāsa brahmakṣatramatho viśaḥ ॥01-70-25॥
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)
sa hatvā dasyusaṅghātānṛṣīnkaramadāpayat। paśuvaccaiva tānpṛṣṭhe vāhayāmāsa vīryavān ॥01-70-26॥
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)
kārayāmāsa cendratvamabhibhūya divaukasaḥ। tejasā tapasā caiva vikrameṇaujasā tathā ॥01-70-27॥
Having overpowered the dwellers in heaven through his splendor, austerity, valor, and strength, he brought about the office of Indra. (01-70-27)
yatiṁ yayātiṁ saṁyātimāyātiṁ pāñcamuddhavam। nahuṣo janayāmāsa ṣaṭputrānpriyavāsasi ॥01-70-28॥
Nahusha begot six sons by Priyavasasi: Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, and Uddhava as the fifth. (01-70-28)
yayātir nāhuṣaḥ samrāḍ āsīt satyaparākramaḥ। sa pālayāmāsa mahīm īje ca vividhaiḥ savaiḥ ॥01-70-29॥
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)
atiśaktyā pitṛnarcandevāṃśca prayataḥ sadā। anvagṛhṇātprajāḥ sarvā yayātiraparājitaḥ ॥01-70-30॥
The unconquered Yayāti, always purified and worshipping the ancestors and the gods with surpassing capacity, graciously supported all his subjects. (01-70-30)
tasya putrā maheṣvāsāḥ sarvaiḥ samuditā guṇaiḥ। devayānyāṃ mahārāja śarmiṣṭhāyāṃ ca jajñire ॥01-70-31॥
His sons, great archers endowed with every virtue, were born of Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā, O great king. (01-70-31)
devayānyāmajāyetāṁ yadusturvasureva ca। druhyuścānuśca pūruśca śarmiṣṭhāyāṁ prajajñire ॥01-70-32॥
Yadu and Turvasu were born to Devayānī, while Druhyu, Anu, and Pūru were born to Śarmiṣṭhā. (01-70-32)
sa śāśvatīḥ samā rājanprajā dharmeṇa pālayan। jarāmārchanmahāghorāṃ nāhuṣo rūpanāśinīm ॥01-70-33॥
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)
jarābhibhūtaḥ putrānsa rājā vacanamabravīt। yaduṁ pūruṁ turvasuṁ ca druhyuṁ cānuṁ ca bhārata ॥01-70-34॥
Overcome by old age, that king addressed his sons, Yadu, Pūru, Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu, O descendant of Bharata. (01-70-34)
yauvanena carankāmānyuvā yuvatibhiḥ saha। vihartumahamicchāmi sāhyaṁ kuruta putrakāḥ ॥०१-७०-३५॥
As a young man, I wish to enjoy pleasures with young women; help me, dear sons. (01-70-35)
taṁ putro devayāneyaḥ pūrvajo yadurabravīt। kiṁ kāryaṁ bhavataḥ kāryamasmābhiryauvanena ca ॥01-70-36॥
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)
yayātirabravīttaṃ vai jarā me pratigṛhyatām। yauvanena tvadīyena careyaṃ viṣayānaham ॥01-70-37॥
Yayāti said to him, "Please accept my old age; with your youth I would enjoy the objects of sense." (01-70-37)
yajato dīrghasatrairme śāpāccośanaso muneḥ। kāmārthaḥ parihīṇo me tapye'haṃ tena putrakāḥ ॥01-70-38॥
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)
māmakena śarīreṇa rājyamekaḥ praśāstu vaḥ। ahaṃ tanvābhinavayā yuvā kāmānavāpnuyām ॥01-70-39॥
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)
na te tasya pratyagr̥hṇanyaduprabhr̥tayo jarām। tamabravīttataḥ pūruḥ kanīyānsatyavikramaḥ ॥01-70-40॥
Yadu and the others did not accept his old age. Then the younger Pūru, true in valor, said to him. (01-70-40)
rājaṃścarābhinavayā tanvā yauvanagocaraḥ। ahaṃ jarāṃ samāsthāya rājye sthāsyāmi te''jñayā ॥01-70-41॥
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)
evamuktaḥ sa rājarṣistapovīryasamāśrayāt। sañcārayāmāsa jarāṃ tadā putre mahātmani ॥01-70-42॥
Thus addressed, that royal sage, relying on the power of austerity, then transferred old age into his great-souled son. (01-70-42)
pauraveṇātha vayasā rājā yauvanamāsthitaḥ। yāyātenāpi vayasā rājyaṃ pūrurakārayat ॥01-70-43॥
Then the king, having attained youth through Pūru’s age, made Pūru administer the kingdom with Yayāti’s age as well. (01-70-43)
tato varṣasahasrānte yayātiraparājitaḥ। atṛpta eva kāmānāṃ pūruṃ putramuvāca ha ॥01-70-44॥
Then, at the end of a thousand years, the unconquered Yayāti, still unsatisfied by desires, spoke to his son Pūru. (01-70-44)
tvayā dāyādavānasmi tvaṃ me vaṃśakaraḥ sutaḥ। pauravo vaṃśa iti te khyātiṃ loke gamiṣyati ॥01-70-45॥
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)
tataḥ sa nṛpaśārdūlaḥ pūruṁ rājye'bhiṣicya ca। kālena mahatā paścātkāladharmamupeyivān ॥01-70-46॥
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)
