> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 9
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *****

> > Canto 9: 'Liberation'

> > *****

> > Chapter Eighteen: King Yayâti Regains His Youth

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > yatir yayâtih samyâtir

> > âyatir viyatih krtih

> > sad ime nahusasyâsann

> > indriyânîva dehinah

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; yatih--Yati; yayâtih--Yayâti; samyâtih--Samyâti; âyatih--Âyati; viyatih--Viyati; krtih--Krti; sat--six; ime--all of them; nahusasya--of King Nahusa; âsan--were; indriyâni--the (six) senses; iva--like; dehinah--of an embodied soul.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King Pariksit, as the embodied soul has six senses, King Nahusa had six sons, named Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, Viyati and Krti.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > râjyam naicchad yatih pitrâ

> > dattam tat-parinâmavit

> > yatra pravistah purusa

> > âtmânam nâvabudhyate

> > râjyam--the kingdom; na aicchat--did not accept; yatih--the eldest son, Yati; pitrâ--by his father; dattam--offered; tat-parinâma-vit--knowing the result of becoming powerful as a king; yatra--wherein; pravistah--having entered; purusah--such a person; âtmânam--self-realization; na--not; avabudhyate--will take seriously and understand.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When one enters the post of king or head of the government, one cannot understand the meaning of self-realization. Knowing this, Yati, the eldest son of Nahusa, did not accept the power to rule, although it was offered by his father.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > pitari bhramsite sthânâd

> > indrânyâ dharsanâd dvijaih

> > prâpite 'jagaratvam vai

> > yayâtir abhavan nrpah

> > pitari--when his father; bhramsite--was caused to fall down; sthânât--from the heavenly planets; indrânyâh--of Sacî, the wife of Indra; dharsanât--from offending; dvijaih--by them (upon her lodging a complaint with the brâhmanas); prâpite--being degraded to; ajagaratvam--the life of a snake; vai--indeed; yayâtih--the son named Yayâti; abhavat--became; nrpah--the king.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because Nahusa, the father of Yayati, molested Indra's wife, Saci, who then complained to Agastya and other brahmanas, these saintly brahmanas cursed Nahusa to fall from the heavenly planets and be degraded to the status of a python. Consequently, Yayati became the king.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > catasrsv âdisad diksu

> > bhrâtrn bhrâtâ yavîyasah

> > krta-dâro jugoporvîm

> > kâvyasya vrsaparvanah

> > catasrsu--over the four; âdisat--allowed to rule; diksu--directions; bhrâtrn--four brothers; bhrâtâ--Yayâti; yavîyasah--young; krta-dârah--married; jugopa--ruled; ûrvîm--the world; kâvyasya--the daughter of Sukrâcârya; vrsaparvanah--the daughter of Vrsaparvâ.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Yayati had four younger brothers, whom he allowed to rule the four directions. Yayati himself married Devayani, the daughter of Sukracarya, and Sarmistha, the daughter of Vrsaparva, and ruled the entire earth.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > srî-râjovâca

> > brahmarsir bhagavân kâvyah

> > ksatra-bandhus ca nâhusah

> > râjanya-viprayoh kasmâd

> > vivâhah pratilomakah

> > srî-râjâ uvâca--Mahârâja Parîksit inquired; brahma-rsih--the best of the brâhmanas; bhagavân--very powerful; kâvyah--Sukrâcârya; ksatra-bandhuh--belonged to the ksatriya class; ca--also; nâhusah--King Yayâti; râjanya-viprayoh--of a brâhmana and a ksatriya; kasmât--how; vivâhah--a marital relationship; pratilomakah--against the customary regulative principles.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maharaja Pariksit said: Sukracarya was a very powerful brahmana, and Maharaja Yayati was a ksatriya. Therefore I am curious to know how there occurred this pratiloma marriage between a ksatriya and a brahmana.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 6-7

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > ekadâ dânavendrasya

> > sarmisthâ nâma kanyakâ

> > sakhî-sahasra-samyuktâ

> > guru-putryâ ca bhâminî

> > devay âny âpurody âne

> > puspita-druma-sankule

> > vyacarat kala-gîtâli-

> > nalinî-puline 'balâ

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; ekadâ--once upon a time; dânava-indrasya--of Vrsaparvâ; sarmisthâ--Sarmisthâ; nâma--by name; kanyakâ--a daughter; sakhî-sahasra-samyuktâ--accompanied by thousands of friends; guru-putryâ--with the daughter of the guru, Sukrâcârya; ca--also; bhâminî--very easily irritated; devayânyâ--with Devayânî; pura-udyâne--within the palace garden; puspita--full of flowers; druma--with nice trees; sankule--congested; vyacarat--was walking; kala-gîta--with very sweet sounds; ali--with bumblebees; nalinî--with lotuses; puline--in such a garden; abalâ--innocent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: One day Vrsaparva's daughter Sarmistha, who was innocent but angry by nature, was walking with Devayani, the daughter of Sukracarya, and with thousands of friends, in the palace garden. The garden was full of lotuses and trees of flowers and fruits and was inhabited by sweetly singing birds and bumblebees.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > tâ jalâsayam âsâdya

> > kanyâh kamala-locanâh

> > tîre nyasya dukûlâni

> > vijahruh sincatîr mithah

> > tâh--they; jala-âsayam--to the lakeside; âsâdya--coming; kanyâh--all the girls; kamala-locanâh--with eyes like lotus petals; tîre--on the bank; nyasya--giving up; dukûlâni--their dresses; vijahruh--began to sport; sincatîh--throwing water; mithah--on one another.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the young, lotus-eyed girls came to the bank of a reservoir of water, they wanted to enjoy by bathing. Thus they left their clothing on the bank and began sporting, throwing water on one another.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > vîksya vrajantam girisam

> > saha devyâ vrsa-sthitam

> > sahasottîrya vâsâmsi

> > paryadhur vrîditâh striyah

> > vîksya--seeing; vrajantam--passing by; girisam--Lord Siva; saha--with; devyâ--Pârvatî, the wife of Lord Siva; vrsa-sthitam--seated upon his bull; sahasâ--quickly; uttîrya--getting out of the water; vâsâmsi--garments; paryadhuh--put on the body; vrîditâh--being ashamed; striyah--the young girls.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While sporting in the water, the girls suddenly saw Lord Siva passing by, seated on the back of his bull with his wife, Parvati. Ashamed because they were naked, the girls quickly got out of the water and covered themselves with their garments.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > sarmisthâjânatî vâso

> > guru-putryâh samavyayat

> > svîyam matvâ prakupitâ

> > devayânîdam abravît

> > sarmisthâ--the daughter of Vrsaparvâ; ajânatî--without knowledge; vâsah--the dress; guru-putryâh--of Devayânî, the daughter of the guru; samavyayat--put on the body; svîyam--her own; matvâ--thinking; prakupitâ--irritated and angry; devayânî--the daughter of Sukrâcârya; idam--this; abravît--said.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sarmistha unknowingly put Devayani's dress on her own body, thus angering Devayani, who then spoke as follows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > aho nirîksyatâm asyâ

> > dâsyâh karma hy asâmpratam

> > asmad-dhâryam dhrtavatî

> > sunîva havir adhvare

> > aho --alas; nirîksyatâm--just see; asyâh--of her (Sarmisthâ); dâsyâh--just like our servant; karma--activities; hi--indeed; asâmpratam--without any etiquette; asmat-dhâryam--the garment meant for me; dhrtavatî--she has put on; sunî iva--like a dog; havih--clarified butter; adhvare--meant for offering in the sacrifice.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Oh, just see the activities of this servant-maid Sarmistha! Disregarding all etiquette, she has put on my dress, just like a dog snatching clarified butter meant for use in a sacrifice.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 12-14

> > yair idam tapasâ srstam

> > mukham pumsah parasya ye

> > dhâryate yair iha jyotih

> > sivah panthâh pradarsitah

> > yân vandanty upatisthante

> > loka-nâthâh suresvarâh

> > bhagavân api visvâtmâ

> > pâvanah srî-niketanah

> > vayam tatrâpi bhrgavah

> > sisyo 'syâ nah pitâsurah

> > asmad-dhâryam dhrtavatî

> > sûdro vedam ivâsatî

> > yaih--by which persons; idam--this entire universe; tapasâ--by austerity; srstam--was created; mukham--the face; pumsah--of the Supreme Person; parasya--transcendental; ye--those who (are); dhâryate--is always born; yaih--by which persons; iha--here; jyotih--the brahmajyoti, the effulgence of the Supreme Lord; sivah--auspicious; panthâh--way; pradarsitah--is directed;

> > yân--to whom; vandanti--offer prayers; upatisthante--honor and follow; loka-nâthâh--the directors of the various planets; sura-îsvarâh--the demigods; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; api--even; visva-âtmâ--the Supersoul; pâvanah--the purifier; srî-niketanah--the husband of the goddess of fortune;

> > vayam--we (are); tatra api--even greater than other brâhmanas; bhrgavah--descendants of Bhrgu; sisyah--disciple; asyâh--of her; nah--our; pitâ--father; asurah--belong to the demoniac group; asmat-dhâryam--meant to be worn by us; dhrtavatî--she has put on; sûdrah--a non-brâhmana worker; vedam--the Vedas; iva--like; asatî--unchaste.

> > TRANSLATION

> > We are among the qualified brahmanas, who are accepted as the face of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The brahmanas have created the entire universe by their austerity, and they always keep the Absolute Truth within the core of their hearts. They have directed the path of good fortune, the path of Vedic civilization, and because they are the only worshipable objects within this world, they are offered prayers and worshiped even by the great demigods, the directors of the various planets, and even by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul, the supreme purifier, the husband of the goddess of fortune. And we are even more respectable because we are in the dynasty of Bhrgu. Yet although this woman's father, being among the demons, is our disciple, she has put on my dress, exactly like a sudra taking charge of Vedic knowledge.

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > evam ksipantîm sarmisthâ

> > guru-putrîm abhâsata

> > rusâ svasanty urangîva

> > dharsitâ dasta-dacchadâ

> > evam--thus; ksipantîm--chastising; sarmisthâ--the daughter of Vrsaparvâ; guru-putrîm--unto the daughter of the guru, Sukrâcârya; abhâsata--said; rusâ--being very angry; svasantî--breathing very heavily; urangî iva--like a serpent; dharsitâ--offended, trampled; dasta-dat-chadâ--biting her lip with her teeth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: When thus rebuked in cruel words, Sarmistha was very angry. Breathing heavily like a serpent and biting her lower lip with her teeth, she spoke to the daughter of Sukracarya as follows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > âtma-vrttam avijnâya

> > katthase bahu bhiksuki

> > kim na pratîksase 'smâkam

> > grhân balibhujo yathâ

> > âtma-vrttam --one's own position; avijnâya--without understanding; katthase--you are talking madly; bahu--so much; bhiksuki--beggar; kim--whether; na--not; pratîksase--you wait; asmâkam--our; grhân--at the house; balibhujah--crows; yathâ--like.

> > TRANSLATION

> > You beggar, since you don't understand your position, why should you unnecessarily talk so much? Don't all of you wait at our house, depending on us for your livelihood like crows?

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > evam-vidhaih suparusaih

> > ksiptvâcârya-sutâm satîm

> > sarmisthâ prâksipat kûpe

> > vâsas câdâya manyunâ

> > evam-vidhaih--such; su-parusaih--by unkind words; ksiptvâ--after chastising; âcârya-sutâm--the daughter of Sukrâcârya; satîm--Devayânî; sarmisthâ--Sarmisthâ; prâksipat--threw (her); kûpe--into a well; vâsah--the garments; ca--and; âdâya--taking away; manyunâ--because of anger.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Using such unkind words, Sarmistha rebuked Devayani, the daughter of Sukracarya. In anger, she took away Devayani's garments and threw Devayani into a well.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > tasyâm gatâyâm sva-grham

> > yayâtir mrgayâm caran

> > prâpto yadrcchayâ kûpe

> > jalârthî tâm dadarsa ha

> > tasyâm--when she; gatâyâm--went; sva-grham--to her home; yayâtih--King Yayâti; mrgayâm--hunting; caran--wandering; prâptah--arrived; yadrcchayâ--by chance; kûpe--in the well; jala-arthî--desiring to drink water; tâm--her (Devayânî); dadarsa--saw; ha--indeed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After throwing Devayani into the well, Sarmistha went home. Meanwhile, King Yayati, while engaged in a hunting excursion, went to the well to drink water and by chance saw Devayani.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > dattvâ svam uttaram vâsas

> > tasyai râjâ vivâsase

> > grhîtvâ pâninâ pânim

> > ujjahâra dayâ-parah

> > dattvâ--giving; svam--his own; uttaram--upper; vâsah--cloth; tasyai--unto her (Devayânî); râjâ--the King; vivâsase--because she was naked; grhîtvâ--catching; pâninâ--with his hand; pânim--her hand; ujjahâra--delivered; dayâ-parah--being very kind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Seeing Devayani naked in the well, King Yayati immediately gave her his upper cloth. Being very kind to her, he caught her hand with his own and lifted her out.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 20-21

> > tam vîram âhausanasî

> > prema-nirbharayâ girâ

> > râjams tvayâ grhîto me

> > pânih para-puranjaya

> > hasta-grâho 'paro mâ bhûd

> > grhîtâyâs tvayâ hi me

> > esa îsa-krto vîra

> > sambandho nau na paurusah

> > tam--unto him; vîram--Yayâti; âha--said; ausanasî--the daughter of Usanâ Kavi, Sukrâcârya; prema-nirbharayâ--saturated with love and kindness; girâ--by such words; râjan--O King; tvayâ--by you; grhîtah--accepted; me--my; pânih--hand; para-puranjaya--the conqueror of the kingdoms of others;

> > hasta-grâhah--he who accepted my hand; aparah--another; mâ--may not; bhût--become; grhîtâyâh--accepted; tvayâ--by you; hi--indeed; me--of me; esah--this; îsa-krtah--arranged by providence; vîra--O great hero; sambandhah--relationship; nau--our; na--not; paurusah--anything man-made.

> > TRANSLATION

> > With words saturated with love and affection, Devayani said to King Yayati: O great hero, O King, conqueror of the cities of your enemies, by accepting my hand you have accepted me as your married wife. Let me not be touched by others, for our relationship as husband and wife has been made possible by providence, not by any human being.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > yad idam kûpa-magnâyâ

> > bhavato darsanam mama

> > na brâhmano me bhavitâ

> > hasta-grâho mahâ-bhuja

> > kacasya bârhaspatyasya

> > sâpâd yam asapam purâ

> > yat--because of; idam--this; kûpa-magnâyâh--fallen in the well; bhavatah--of your good self; darsanam--meeting; mama--with me; na--not; brâhmanah--a qualified brâhmana; me--my; bhavitâ--will become; hasta-grâhah--husband; mahâ-bhuja--O great mighty-armed one; kacasya--of Kaca; bârhaspatyasya--the son of the learned brâhmana and celestial priest Brhaspati; sâpât--because of the curse; yam--whom; asapam--I cursed; purâ--in the past.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because of falling in the well, I met you. Indeed, this has been arranged by providence. After I cursed Kaca, the son of the learned scholar Brhaspati, he cursed me by saying that I would not have a brahmana for a husband. Therefore, O mighty-armed one, there is no possibility of my becoming the wife of a brahmana.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > yayâtir anabhipretam

> > daivopahrtam âtmanah

> > manas tu tad-gatam buddhvâ

> > pratijagrâha tad-vacah

> > yayâtih--King Yayâti; anabhipretam--not liked; daiva-upahrtam--brought about by providential arrangements; âtmanah--his personal interest; manah--mind; tu--however; tat-gatam--being attracted to her; buddhvâ--by such intelligence; pratijagrâha--accepted; tat-vacah--the words of Devayânî.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Because such a marriage is not sanctioned by regular scriptures, King Yayati did not like it, but because it was arranged by providence and because he was attracted by Devayani's beauty, he accepted her request.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > gate râjani sâ dhîre

> > tatra sma rudatî pituh

> > nyavedayat tatah sarvam

> > uktam sarmisthayâ krtam

> > gate râjani--after the departure of the King; sâ--she (Devayânî); dhîre--learned; tatra sma--returning to her home; rudatî--crying; pituh--before her father; nyavedayat--submitted; tatah--thereafter; sarvam--all; uktam--mentioned; sarmisthayâ--by Sarmisthâ; krtam--done.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, when the learned King returned to his palace, Devayani returned home crying and told her father, Sukracarya, about all that had happened because of Sarmistha. She told how she had been thrown into the well but was saved by the King.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > durmanâ bhagavân kâvyah

> > paurohityam vigarhayan

> > stuvan vrttim ca kâpotîm

> > duhitrâ sa yayau purât

> > durmanâh--being very unhappy; bhagavân--the most powerful; kâvyah--Sukrâcârya; paurohityam--the business of priesthood; vigarhayan--condemning; stuvan--praising; vrttim--the profession; ca--and; kâpotîm--of collecting grains from the field; duhitrâ--with his daughter; sah--he (Sukrâcârya); yayau--went; purât--from his own residence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As Sukracarya listened to what had happened to Devayani, his mind was very much aggrieved. Condemning the profession of priesthood and praising the profession of uncha-vrtti [collecting grains from the fields], he left home with his daughter.

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > vrsaparvâ tam âjnâya

> > pratyanîka-vivaksitam

> > gurum prasâdayan mûrdhnâ

> > pâdayoh patitah pathi

> > vrsaparvâ--the King of the demons; tam âjnâya--understanding the motive of Sukrâcârya; pratyanîka--some curse; vivaksitam--desiring to speak; gurum--his spiritual master, Sukrâcârya; prasâdayat--he satisfied immediately; mûrdhnâ--with his head; pâdayoh--at the feet; patitah--fell down; pathi--on the road.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Vrsaparva understood that Sukracarya was coming to chastise or curse him. Consequently, before Sukracarya came to his house, Vrsaparva went out and fell down in the street at the feet of his guru and satisfied him, checking his wrath.

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > ksanârdha-manyur bhagavân

> > sisyam vyâcasta bhârgavah

> > kâmo 'syâh kriyatâm râjan

> > nainâm tyaktum ihotsahe

> > ksana-ardha--lasting only a few moments; manyuh--whose anger; bhagavân--the most powerful; sisyam--unto his disciple, Vrsaparvâ; vyâcasta--said; bhârgavah--Sukrâcârya, the descendant of Bhrgu; kâmah--the desire; asyâh--of this Devayâni; kriyatâm--please fulfill; râjan--O King; na--not; enâm--this girl; tyaktum--to give up; iha--in this world; utsahe--I am able.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The powerful Sukracarya was angry for a few moments, but upon being satisfied he said to Vrsaparva: My dear King, kindly fulfill the desire of Devayani, for she is my daughter and in this world I cannot give her up or neglect her.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > tathety avasthite prâha

> > devayânî manogatam

> > pitrâ dattâ yato yâsye

> > sânugâ yâtu mâm anu

> > tathâ iti--when King Vrsaparvâ agreed to Sukrâcârya's proposal; avasthite--the situation being settled in this way; prâha--said; devayânî--the daughter of Sukrâcârya; manogatam--her desire; pitrâ--by the father; dattâ--given; yatah--to whomever; yâsye--I shall go; sa-anugâ--with her friends; yâtu--shall go; mâm anu--as my follower or servant.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After hearing Sukracarya's request, Vrsaparva agreed to fulfill Devayani's desire, and he awaited her words. Devayani then expressed her desire as follows: "Whenever I marry by the order of my father, my friend Sarmistha must go with me as my maidservant, along with her friends."

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > pitrâ dattâ devayânyai

> > sarmisthâ sânugâ tadâ

> > sv ânâmtat sankatam vîksya

> > tad-arthasya ca gauravam

> > devayânîm paryacarat

> > strî-sahasrena dâsavat

> > pitrâ--by the father; dattâ--given; devayânyai--unto Devayânî, the daughter of Sukrâcârya; sarmisthâ--the daughter of Vrsaparvâ; sa-anugâ--with her friends; tadâ--at that time; svânâm--of his own; tat--that; sankatam--dangerous position; vîksya--observing; tat--from him; arthasya--of the benefit; ca--also; gauravam--the greatness; devayânîm--unto Devayânî; paryacarat--served; strî-sahasrena--with thousands of other women; dâsa-vat--acting as a slave.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Vrsaparva wisely thought that Sukracarya's displeasure would bring danger and that his pleasure would bring material gain. Therefore he carried out Sukracarya's order and served him like a slave. He gave his daughter Sarmistha to Devayani, and Sarmistha served Devayani like a slave, along with thousands of other women.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > nâhusâya sutâm dattvâ

> > saha sarmisthayosanâ

> > tam âha râjan charmisthâm

> > âdhâs talpe na karhicit

> > nâhusâya--unto King Yayâti, the descendant of Nahusa; sutâm--his daughter; dattvâ--giving in marriage; saha--with; sarmisthayâ--Sarmisthâ, the daughter of Vrsaparvâ and servant of Devayânî; usanâ--Sukrâcârya; tam--unto him (King Yayâti); âha--said; râjan--my dear King; sarmisthâm--Sarmisthâ, the daughter of Vrsaparvâ; âdhâh--allow; talpe--on your bed; na--not; karhicit--at any time.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Sukracarya gave Devayani in marriage to Yayati, he had Sarmistha go with her, but he warned the King, "My dear King, never allow this girl Sarmistha to lie with you in your bed."

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > vilokyausanasîm râjan

> > charmisth âsupraj âm kvacit

> > tam eva vavre rahasi

> > sakhyâh patim rtau satî

> > vilokya--by seeing; ausanasîm--Devayâni, the daughter of Sukrâcârya; râjan--O King Parîksit; sarmisthâ--the daughter of Vrsaparvâ; su-prajâm--possessing nice children; kvacit--at some time; tam--him (King Yayâti); eva--indeed; vavre--requested; rahasi--in a secluded place; sakhyâh--of her friend; patim--the husband; rtau--at the appropriate time; satî--being in that position.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King Pariksit, upon seeing Devayani with a nice son, Sarmistha once approached King Yayati at the appropriate time for conception. In a secluded place, she requested the King, the husband of her friend Devayani, to enable her to have a son also.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > râja-putryârthito 'patye

> > dharmam câveksya dharmavit

> > smaran chukra-vacah kâle

> > distam evâbhyapadyata

> > râja-putryâ--by Sarmisthâ, who was the daughter of a king; arthitah--being requested; apatye--for a son; dharmam--religious principles; ca--as well as; aveksya--considering; dharma-vit--aware of all religious principles; smaran--remembering; sukra-vacah--the warning of Sukrâcârya; kâle--at the time; distam--circumstantially; eva--indeed; abhyapadyata--accepted (to fulfill the desire of Sarmisthâ).

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Princess Sarmistha begged King Yayati for a son, the King was certainly aware of the principles of religion, and therefore he agreed to fulfill her desire. Although he remembered the warning of Sukracarya, he thought of this union as the desire of the Supreme, and thus he had sex with Sarmistha.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > yadum ca turvasum caiva

> > devayânî vyajâyata

> > druhyum cânum ca pûrum ca

> > sarmisthâ vârsaparvanî

> > yadum--Yadu; ca--and; turvasum--Turvasu; ca eva--as well as; devayani--the daughter of Sukrâcârya; vyajâyata--gave birth to; druhyum--Druhyu; ca--and; anum--Anu; ca--also; pûrum--Pûru; ca--also; sarmisthâ--Sarmisthâ; vârsaparvanî--the daughter of Vrsaparvâ.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Devayani gave birth to Yadu and Turvasu, and Sarmistha gave birth to Druhyu, Anu and Puru.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > garbha-sambhavam âsuryâ

> > bhartur vijnâya mâninî

> > devayânî pitur geham

> > yayau krodha-vimûrchitâ

> > garbha-sambhavam--pregnancy; âsuryâh--of Sarmisthâ; bhartuh--made possible by her husband; vijnâya--knowing (from the brâhmana astrologers); mâninî--being very proud; devayânî--the daughter of Sukrâcârya; pituh--of her father; geham--to the house; yayau--departed; krodha-vimûrchitâ--frenzied because of anger.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the proud Devayani understood from outside sources that Sarmistha was pregnant by her husband, she was frenzied with anger. Thus she departed for her father's house.

> > ******

> > TEXT 35

> > priyâm anugatah kâmî

> > vacobhir upamantrayan

> > na prasâdayitum seke

> > pâda-samvâhanâdibhih

> > priyâm--his beloved wife; anugatah--following; kâmî--very, very lusty; vacobhih--by great words; upamantrayan--appeasing; na--not; prasâdayitum--to appease; seke--was able; pâda-samvâhana-âdibhih--even by massaging her feet.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Yayati, who was very lusty, followed his wife, caught her and tried to appease her by speaking pleasing words and massaging her feet, but he could not satisfy her by any means.

> > ******

> > TEXT 36

> > sukras tam âha kupitah

> > strî-kâmânrta-pûrusa

> > tvâm jarâ visatâm manda

> > virûpa-karanî nrnâm

> > sukrah--Sukrâcârya; tam--unto him (King Yayâti); âha--said; kupitah--being very angry at him; strî-kâma--O you who have lusty desires for women; anrta-pûrusa--O untruthful person; tvâm--unto you; jarâ--old age, invalidity; visatâm--may enter; manda--you fool; virûpa-karanî--which disfigures; nrnâm--the bodies of human beings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukracarya was extremely angry. "You untruthful fool, lusting after women! You have done a great wrong," he said. "I therefore curse you to be attacked and disfigured by old age and invalidity."

> > ******

> > TEXT 37

> > srî-yayâtir uvâca

> > atrpto 'smy adya kâmânâm

> > brahman duhitari sma te

> > vyatyasyatâm yathâ-kâmam

> > vayasâ yo 'bhidhâsyati

> > srî-yayâtih uvâca--King Yayâti said; atrptah--unsatisfied; asmi--I am; adya--till now; kâmânâm--to satisfy my lusty desires; brahman--O learned brâhmana; duhitari--in connection with the daughter; sma--in the past; te--your; vyatyasyatâm--just exchange; yathâ-kâmam--as long as you are lusty; vayasâ--with youth; yah abhidhâsyati--of one who agrees to exchange your old age for his youth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Yayati said, "O learned, worshipable brahmana, I have not yet satisfied my lusty desires with your daughter." Sukracarya then replied, "You may exchange your old age with someone who will agree to transfer his youth to you."

> > ******

> > TEXT 38

> > iti labdha-vyavasthânah

> > putram jyestham avocata

> > yado tâta pratîcchemâm

> > jarâm dehi nijam vayah

> > iti--thus; labdha-vyavasthânah--getting the opportunity to exchange his old age; putram--unto his son; jyestham--the eldest; avocata--he requested; yado--O Yadu; tâta--you are my beloved son; pratîccha--kindly exchange; imâm--this; jarâm--invalidity; dehi--and give; nijam--your own; vayah--youth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Yayati received this benediction from Sukracarya, he requested his eldest son: My dear son Yadu, please give me your youth in exchange for my old age and invalidity.

> > ******

> > TEXT 39

> > mâtâmaha-krtâm vatsa

> > na trpto visayesv aham

> > vayasâ bhavadîyena

> > ramsye katipayâh samâh

> > mâtâmaha-krtâm --given by your maternal grandfather, Sukrâcârya; vatsa--my dear son; na--not; trptah--satisfied; visayesu--in sex life, sense gratification; aham--I (am); vayasâ--by age; bhavadîyena--of your good self; ramsye--I shall enjoy sex life; katipayâh--for a few; samâh--years.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear son, I am not yet satisfied in my sexual desires. But if you are kind to me, you can take the old age given by your maternal grandfather, and I may take your youth so that I may enjoy life for a few years more.

> > ******

> > TEXT 40

> > srî-yadur uvâca

> > notsahe jarasâ sthâtum

> > antarâ prâptayâ tava

> > aviditvâ sukham grâmyam

> > vaitrsnyam naiti pûrusah

> > srî-yaduh uvâca--Yadu, the eldest son to Yayâti, replied; na utsahe--I am not enthusiastic; jarasâ--with your old age and invalidity; sthâtum--to remain; antarâ--while in youth; prâptayâ--accepted; tava--your; aviditvâ--without experiencing; sukham--happiness; grâmyam--material or bodily; vaitrsnyam--indifference to material enjoyment; na--does not; eti--attain; pûrusah--a person.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Yadu replied: My dear father, you have already achieved old age, although you also were a young man. But I do not welcome your old age and invalidity, for unless one enjoys material happiness, one cannot attain renunciation.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > turvasus coditah pitrâ

> > druhyus cânus ca bhârata

> > praty âcakhyur adharmajn â

> > hy anitye nitya-buddhayah

> > turvasuh--Turvasu, another son; coditah--requested; pitrâ--by the father (to exchange old age and invalidity for his youth); druhyuh--Druhyu, another son; ca--and; anuh--Anu, another son; ca--also; bhârata--O King Parîksit; pratyâcakhyuh--refused to accept; adharma-jnâh--because they did not know religious principles; hi--indeed; a-nitye--temporary youth; nitya-buddhayah--thinking to be permanent.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Maharaja Pariksit, Yayati similarly requested his sons Turvasu, Druhyu and Anu to exchange their youth for his old age, but because they were unaware of religious principles, they thought that their flickering youth was eternal, and therefore they refused to carry out their father's order.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > aprcchat tanayam pûrum

> > vayasonam gunâdhikam

> > na tvam agrajavad vatsa

> > mâm pratyâkhyâtum arhasi

> > aprcchat--requested; tanayam--the son; pûrum--Pûru; vayasâ--by age; ûnam--although younger; guna-adhikam--better than the others by quality; na--not; tvam--you; agraja-vat--like your older brothers; vatsa--my dear son; mâm--me; pratyâkhyâtum--to refuse; arhasi--ought.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Yayati then requested Puru, who was younger than these three brothers but more qualified, "My dear son, do not be disobedient like your elder brothers, for that is not your duty."

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > srî-pûrur uvâca

> > ko nu loke manusyendra

> > pitur âtma-krtah pumân

> > pratikartum ksamo yasya

> > prasâdâd vindate param

> > srî-pûruh uvâca--Pûru said; kah--what; nu--indeed; loke--in this world; manusya-indra--O Your Majesty, best of human beings; pituh--the father; âtma-krtah--who has given this body; pumân--a person; pratikartum--to repay; ksamah--is able; yasya--of whom; prasâdât--by the mercy; vindate--one enjoys; param--superior life.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Puru replied: O Your Majesty, who in this world can repay his debt to his father? By the mercy of one's father, one gets the human form of life, which can enable one to become an associate of the Supreme Lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 44

> > uttamas cintitam kuryât

> > prokta-kârî tu madhyamah

> > adhamo 'sraddhayâ kuryâd

> > akartoccaritam pituh

> > uttamah--the best; cintitam--considering the father's idea; kuryât--acts accordingly; prokta-kârî--one who acts on the order of the father; tu--indeed; madhyamah--mediocre; adhamah--lower class; asraddhayâ--without any faith; kuryât--acts; akartâ--unwilling to do; uccaritam--like stool; pituh--of the father.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A son who acts by anticipating what his father wants him to do is first class, one who acts upon receiving his father's order is second class, and one who executes his father's order irreverently is third class. But a son who refuses his father's order is like his father's stool.

> > ******

> > TEXT 45

> > iti pramuditah pûruh

> > pratyagrhnâj jarâm pituh

> > so 'pi tad-vayasâ kâmân

> > yathâvaj jujuse nrpa

> > iti--in this way; pramuditah--very pleased; pûruh--Pûru; pratyagrhnât--accepted; jarâm--the old age and invalidity; pituh--of his father; sah--that father (Yayâti); api--also; tat-vayasâ--by the youth of his son; kâmân--all desires; yathâ-vat--as required; jujuse--satisfied; nrpa--O Mahârâja Parîksit.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: In this way, O Maharaja Pariksit, the son named Puru was very pleased to accept the old age of his father, Yayati, who took the youth of his son and enjoyed this material world as he required.

> > ******

> > TEXT 46

> > sapta-dvîpa-patih samyak

> > pitrvat pâlayan prajâh

> > yathopajosam visayân

> > jujuse 'vyâhatendriyah

> > sapta-dvîpa-patih --the master of the entire world, consisting of seven islands; samyak--completely; pitr-vat--exactly like a father; pâlayan--ruling; prajâh--the subjects; yathâ-upajosam--as much as he wanted; visayân--material happiness; jujuse--enjoyed; avyâhata--without being disturbed; indriyah--his senses.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, King Yayati became the ruler of the entire world, consisting of seven islands, and ruled the citizens exactly like a father. Because he had taken the youth of his son, his senses were unimpaired, and he enjoyed as much material happiness as he desired.

> > ******

> > TEXT 47

> > devayâny apy anudinam

> > mano-vâg-deha-vastubhih

> > preyasah paramâm prîtim

> > uvâha preyasî rahah

> > devayâni--Mahârâja Yayâti's wife, the daughter of Sukrâcârya; api--also; anudinam--twenty-four hours, day after day; manah-vâk--by her mind and words; deha--body; vastubhih--with all requisite things; preyasah--of her beloved husband; paramâm--transcendental; prîtim--bliss; uvâha--executed; preyasî--very dear to her husband; rahah--in seclusion, without any disturbance.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In secluded places, engaging her mind, words, body and various paraphernalia, Devayani, the dear wife of Maharaja Yayati, always brought her husband the greatest possible transcendental bliss.

> > ******

> > TEXT 48

> > ayajad yajna-purusam

> > kratubhir bhûri-daksinaih

> > sarva-devamayam devam

> > sarva-vedamayam harim

> > ayajat--worshiped; yajna-purusam--the yajna-purusa, the Lord; kratubhih--by performing various sacrifices; bhûri-daksinaih--giving abundant gifts to the brâhmanas; sarva-deva-mayam--the reservoir of all the demigods; devam--the Supreme Lord; sarva-veda-mayam--the ultimate object of all Vedic knowledge; harim--the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Yayati performed various sacrifices, in which he offered abundant gifts to the brahmanas to satisfy the Supreme Lord, Hari, who is the reservoir of all the demigods and the object of all Vedic knowledge.

> > ******

> > TEXT 49

> > yasminn idam viracitam

> > vyomnîva jaladâvalih

> > nâneva bhâti nâbhâti

> > svapna-mâyâ-manorathah

> > yasmin --in whom; idam--this entire cosmic manifestation; viracitam--created; vyomni--in the sky; iva--just like; jalada-âvalih--clouds; nânâ iva--as if in different varieties; bhâti--is manifested; na âbhâti--is unmanifested; svapna-mâyâ--illusion, like a dream; manah-rathah--created to be traversed by the chariot of the mind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Lord, Vasudeva, who created the cosmic manifestation, exhibits Himself as all-pervading, like the sky that holds clouds. And when the creation is annihilated, everything enters into the Supreme Lord, Visnu, and varieties are no longer manifested.

> > ******

> > TEXT 50

> > tam eva hrdi vinyasya

> > vâsudevam guhâsayam

> > nârâyanam anîyâmsam

> > nirâsîr ayajat prabhum

> > tam eva--Him only; hrdi--within the heart; vinyasya--placing; vâsudevam--Lord Vâsudeva; guha-âsayam--who exists in everyone's heart; nârâyanam--who is Nârâyana, or an expansion of Nârâyana; anîyâmsam--invisible to material eyes, although existing everywhere; nirâsîh--Yayâti, without any material desires; ayajat--worshiped; prabhum--the Supreme Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Without material desires, Maharaja Yayati worshiped the Supreme Lord, who is situated in everyone's heart as Narayana and is invisible to material eyes, although existing everywhere.

> > ******

> > TEXT 51

> > evam varsa-sahasrâni

> > manah-sasthair manah-sukham

> > vidadhâno 'pi nâtrpyat

> > sârva-bhaumah kad-indriyaih

> > evam--in this way; varsa-sahasrâni--for one thousand years; manah-sasthaih--by the mind and five knowledge-acquiring senses; manah-sukham--temporary happiness created by the mind; vidadhânah--executing; api--although; na atrpyat--could not be satisfied; sârva-bhaumah--although he was the king of the entire world; kat-indriyaih--because of possessing impure senses.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Although Maharaja Yayati was the king of the entire world and he engaged his mind and five senses in enjoying material possessions for one thousand years, he was unable to be satisfied.

> > Back to the running text