Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/264

230 rava. Then the wrath of the great Rishis was excited, and the avaricious monarch, who, intoxicated with power, had lost his reason, was immediately destroyed by their curse.

"It was Pururava who first brought from the region of the Gandhavrvas the three kinds of fire (for sacrificial purposes.) And he brought thence the Apsarā Urvarsi also. And the son of Ila begat in Urvasi six sons who were called Aya, Dhimān, Amavasu, and Dhridhayu, and Vanayu, and Shatayu. And it is said that Ayu begat four sons, named Nahusha,, Rajingaya, and Anenā, in the daughter of Sharvanu. And, O monarch, Nahusha, of all the sons of Ayu, was gifted with great intelligence and prowess. And he ruled his extensive kingdom virtuously. And king Nahusha supported evenly the Pitris, the celestials, the Rishis, the Brahmanas, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, the Rakshasas, the Kshatrias, and the Vaisyas. And he suppressed all robber gangs with a mighty hand. But he made the Rishis pay tribute and carry him on their backs like beasts of burden. And conquering the very gods by the beauty of his person, his asceticism, prowess, and energy, he rule as if he were Indra himself. And Nahusha begot six sons, all of sweet speech, named Yati, Yayati, Sanyati, Ayäti, Ayati, and Dhruva. Yati betaking himself to asceticism became a Muni like unto Brahmā himself. Yayäti became a monarch of great prowess and virtue. He ruled the whole earth, performed numberless sacrifices, worshipped the Pitris with great veneration, and always respected the gods. And he brought the whole world under his sway and was never vanquished by any foe. And the sons of Yayãti were all great bowmen and resplendent with every virtue. And, O king, they were begotten in (his two wives) Devayani and Sharmishtã. And in Devayãni were born Yadu and Turvasu, and in Sharmishta were born Drahyu, Anu, and Puru. And, O king, having virtuously ruled his subjects for a long time, Yayãti was attacked with hideous decrepitude destroying his personal beauty. And attacked by decrepitude, the monarch then spoke, O Bharata, unto his sons Yadu and Puru and Turvashu and Drahyu and Anu these words:—'O dear sons, I wish to be a young man and to gratify my appe-