Matsyapurana 34
English (machine translation) 34
- Language
- English
34.1
*Śaunaka said:
Having spoken thus, that royal sage, remembering Kāvya of great vows,
transferred his old age at that time unto his high-souled son.
34.2
With Pūru's youth, Yayāti, the son of Nahuṣa,
best of men, full of joy, indulged in delightful pleasures of the senses,
34.3
as he wished, as he had energy, at the proper time, and happily,
such as were not opposed to dharma, as befitted the lord of kings.
34.4
He satisfied the gods with sacrifices, and the ancestors with śrāddha rites,
the destitute with favored kindnesses, and the best of the twice-born with gifts.
34.5
He [pleased] guests with food and drink, the vaiśyas with protection,
the śūdras with non-cruelty, and robbers with suppression.
34.6
Delighting all his subjects properly in accordance with dharma,
protecting them, Yayāti was like another Indra in visible form.
34.7
That king, endowed with the valor of a lion, young, enjoying worldly objects,
enjoyed supreme happiness without conflict with dharma.
34.8
Having obtained splendid pleasures, satiated and tired, the earth's lord,
the king of men, remembered the time at the end of the thousand years.
34.9
Reflecting on the time, knowing the divisions of time, that hero,
thinking the time to be complete, then spoke to his son Pūru:
34.10
Desire is never extinguished by the enjoyment of desires;
it grows ever greater, like a fire with clarified butter.
34.11
Whatever rice, barley, gold, cattle, and women exist on earth—
all that is not enough for one man; knowing this, one should attain peace.
34.12
Pleasures of the senses have been enjoyed by me with your youth,
O subduer of foes, as I wished, with energy, and happily, my son.
34.13
Pūru, I am pleased, may blessings be upon you; take this your own youth,
and take this kingdom, for you are the son who brings me joy.
34.14
*Śaunaka said:
King Yayāti, the descendant of Nahuṣa, then took back old age;
Pūru took back his own youth once again.
34.15
When the king wished to consecrate Pūru, his youngest son,
the social classes led by the brāhmaṇas spoke these words:
34.16
How, O lord, bypassing the eldest, Yadu, the grandson of Śukra
and son of Devayānī, will you give the kingdom to Pūru?
34.17
Yadu is your eldest son, after him is Turvasu;
Śarmiṣṭhā's son is Druhyu, then Anu, and then Pūru.
34.18
How does the youngest deserve the kingdom, bypassing the eldest?
We remind you of this: maintain your own dharma!
34.19
*Yayāti said:
Let all social classes headed by the brāhmaṇas hear my word,
why the kingdom should by no means be given to the eldest:
34.20
My command was not carried out by my eldest, Yadu;
and he who is adverse to his father is not considered a son by the virtuous.
34.21
The son who obeys the words of his parents, who is beneficial and wholesome,
he is a son, and he who behaves like a son towards his father and mother.
34.22
I was disrespected by Yadu, and likewise by Turvasu,
and so Druhyu and Anu showed great disrespect.
34.23
My word was carried out by Pūru and honored especially;
he is my younger heir, by whom my old age was taken.
34.24
My desire was fulfilled by Pūru in the form of a son,
and a boon was granted by Śukra, by Kāvya Uśanas himself:
34.25
"The son who complies with you, he shall be king, the lord of the earth."
May you grant consent: let Pūru be consecrated in the kingdom!
34.26
The subjects said: / A son who is endowed with virtues and always devoted to his parents' welfare / deserves every blessing; even as the youngest, he is capable of ruling.
34.27
This kingdom belongs by right to Pūru, who is dear to you and acts for your delight. / Because of Śukra's boon, no counterargument can be spoken.
34.28
Śaunaka said: / Thus addressed by the contented citizens and countryfolk, the son of Nahuṣa then, / having anointed Pūru, his own son, upon the throne,
34.29
and having given the kingdom to Pūru, consecrated himself for dwelling in the forest. / The king went forth from the city together with ascetic brāhmaṇas.
34.30
From Yadu were born the Yādavas; the Yavanas were sons of Turvasu; / the Bhojas were the sons of Druhyu; and from Anu came the tribes of Mlecchas.
34.31
From Pūru came the Paurava lineage, in which you were born, O king. / For a thousand years, this kingdom has descended in the Kuru race.
Translations (1)
- The Matsya Puranam — A Taluqdar of Oudh 1916, English
Linked texts (1)
- Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit