Matsyapurana 33
English (machine translation) 33
- Language
- English
33.1
Śaunaka said:
Having attained old age and having reached his own city, / the king spoke to his eldest and most excellent son, Yadu:
33.2
Yayāti said:
Old age, wrinkles, and grey hairs have overcome me, dear son, / by the curse of Kāvya Uśanas, and I am not satiated with youth.
33.3
Do you, Yadu, accept this affliction along with old age; / with your youth I would enjoy the objects of the senses.
33.4
When a thousand years are completed, I, / having returned your youth, will take back the affliction along with old age.
33.5
Yadu said:
Bearing a white beard, wretched, weakened by old age, / body covered with wrinkles, unsightly, feeble, emaciated,
33.6
incapable of taking action, despised by the young / and by dependents—I do not desire that old age.
33.7
You have many sons dearer than me, O king; / O knower of dharma, choose another son to take the old age!
33.8
Yayāti said:
Since you, born of my heart, do not give me your own youth, / your progeny will be wicked because of your sinful maternal connection.
33.9
O Turvasu, accept this affliction along with old age; / with your youth I would enjoy the objects of the senses, my boy.
33.10
When a thousand years are completed, I will give you back your youth, / and in that very manner I will take back the affliction along with old age.
33.11
*Turvasu said:
I do not desire old age, father, which destroys desires and pleasures,
which ends strength and beauty, and destroys intellect and pride.
33.12
*Yayāti said:
Since you, who were born from my heart, do not give your youth,
therefore, Turvasu, your offspring will meet destruction.
33.13
You will surely be king among people mixed in thievish ways,
who behave against the grain of the social order, and who eat raw flesh.
33.14
You will rule over sinners, barbarians behaving like beasts,
who are attached to the wives of elders and indulge in unnatural copulation.
33.15
*Śaunaka said:
Having thus cursed his own son Turvasu, Yayāti
spoke these words to Druhyu, the eldest son of Śarmiṣṭhā:
33.16
*Yayāti said:
Druhyu, take this old age that destroys complexion and beauty
for a thousand years; give your youth to me!
33.17
When the thousand years are complete, I will give youth back to you,
and take back my own misery along with old age.
33.18
*Druhyu said:
An old man does not enjoy a kingdom, a chariot, a horse, nor a woman;
and he has no passion; therefore I do not desire your old age.
33.19
*Yayāti said:
Since you, who were born from my heart, do not give your youth,
therefore, Druhyu, your beloved desire will never be fulfilled anywhere.
33.20
Where travels are ever undertaken across waters by boats,
there you, together with your lineage, will be known by the title of a kingless Bhoja.
33.21
*Yayāti said:
Anu, take this misery along with old age;
let me wander for one thousand years with your youth!
33.22
*Anu said:
An old man takes food at the [proper] time like an impure child,
and he does not offer oblations into the fire at the [proper] time; I do not desire that old age.
33.23
*Yayāti said:
Since you, who were born from my heart, do not give your youth,
you will experience the defect of old age which you have described.
33.24
Your offspring, having attained youth, will surely perish, Anu;
and you too will become one whose sacred fire has fallen away.
33.25
*Yayāti said:
Pūru, take this misery along with old age;
you are my dearest son, you shall become the foremost.
33.26
Old age, wrinkles, and grey hairs have overcome me, son,
because of the curse of Kāvya Uśanas, and I am not yet satiated in youth.
33.27
I would indulge in sense pleasures for some time with your youth;
when the thousand years are complete, I will give youth back [to you],
and I will take back my own misery along with old age.
33.28
*Śaunaka said:
Addressed in this way, Pūru replied to his father straightforwardly:
As you say, great king, so will I carry out your command.
33.29
I will take your misery along with old age, O king;
take youth from me and enjoy pleasures as you desire!
33.30
Veiled by old age, bearing your age and appearance,
having given my youth to you, I will live as you wish.
33.31
*Yayāti said:
Pūru, I am pleased with you, child, and I grant you this boon:
your progeny will be endowed with the fulfillment of all desires.
Translations (1)
- The Matsya Puranam — A Taluqdar of Oudh 1916, English
Linked texts (1)
- Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit