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6.YAYATI
EMPEROR Yayati was one of the
ancestors of the Pandavas. He had never
known defeat. He followed the dictates of
the sastras, adored the gods and venerated
his ancestors with intense devotion. He
became famous as a ruler devoted to the
welfare of his subjects.
But as has already been told, he became
prematurely old by the curse of
Sukracharya for having wronged his wife
Devayani. In the words of the poet of the
Mahabharata:
"Yayati attained that old age which
destroys beauty and brings on miseries." It
is needless to describe the misery of youth
suddenly blighted into age, where the
horrors of loss are accentuated by pangs
of recollection.
Yayati, who found himself suddenly an
old man, was still haunted by the desire
for sensual enjoyment. He had five
beautiful sons, all virtuous and
accomplished. Yayati called them and
appealed piteously to their affection:
"The curse of your grandfather
Sukracharya has made me unexpectedly
and prematurely old. I have not had my
fill of the joys of life. For, not knowing
what was in store for me I lived a life of
restraint, denying myself even lawful
pleasures. One of you ought to bear the
burden of my old age and give his youth
in return. He who agrees to this and
bestows his youth on me will be the ruler
of my kingdom. I desire to enjoy life in
the full vigor of youth."
He first asked his eldest son. That son
replied: "O great king, women and
servants will mock at me if I were to take
upon myself your old age. I cannot do go.
Ask of my younger brothers who are
dearer to you than myself."
When the second son was approached, he
gently refused with the words: "Father,
you ask me to take up old age that
destroys not only strength and beauty but
also as I see wisdom. I am not strong
enough to do so."
The third son replied: "An old man cannot
ride a horse or an elephant. His speech
will falter. What can I do in such a
helpless plight? I cannot agree."
The king was angry and disappointed that
his three sons had declined to do as he
wished, but he hoped for better from his
fourth son, to whom he said: "You should
take up my old age. If you exchange your
youth with me, I shall give it back to you
after some time and take back the old age
with which I have been cursed."
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