A History of Indian Literature v1.c9.s4.22

v1.c9.s4.22

Now Yayāti, after having become suddenly old and wrinkled and grey, asks his sons, one after the other, to relieve him of his old age and to give him their youth, as he has not yet enjoyed life sufficiently. None of the elder sons will agree to this exchange, whereupon they are cursed by their father. Only the youngest, Pūru, declares his willingness. He relieves his father of the burden of old age and gives him his own youth in exchange. Then Yayāti rejoiced in another thousand years of the most blooming youth, and enjoyed the pleasures of life to the very full. Not only did he take delight in his two wives, but also in a heavenly nymph, the beautiful Apsaras Viśvācī ("gracious to all"). But however much he enjoyed, he was never fully satisfied. And when the thousand years had elapsed, he came to the conclusion as expressed in the following verses: