Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/289

Rh cited in secret by a woman full of desire and in season, goeth not unto her, loseth virtue and is called by the learned a killer of the embryo. O son of Bhrigu, for these reasons, and anxious to avoid sin, I went unto Sharmishta.' Sukra then replied, "Thou art dependent on me. Thou shouldst have awaited my command. Having acted falsely in the matter of thy duty, O son of Nahusha, thou hast been guilty of the sin of theft.

Vaisampayana continued, "And Yayati the son of Nahusha, thus cursed by the angry Usana, was then divested of his youth and immediately overcome by decrepitude. And Yayati said, 'O son of Bhrigu, I have not yet been satiated with youth or with . Therefore, O Brahmana, be graceful unto me so that decrepitude might not touch me.' Sukra then answered, 'I never speak an untruth. Even now, O king, art thou attacked by decrepitude. But if thou likest, thou art competent to transfer this thy decrepitude to another.' Yayati said, 'O Brahmana, let it be commanded by thee that that son of mine who giveth me his youth shall enjoy my kingdom, and shall achieve both virtue and fame.' Sukra replied, 'O son of Nahusha, thinking of me thou mayst transfer this thy decrepitude to whomsoever thou likest. That son who shall give thee his youth shall become thy successor on the throne. He shall also have long life, wide fame, and a large progeny.

Thus ends the eighty-third Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.

 

( Sambhava Parva continued. )

Vaisampayana said, "Yayati then, having been overcome with decrepitude, returned to his capital, and summoning his eldest son Yadu who was also the most accomplished, addressed him thus:—'Dear child, from the curse of Kavya called also Usana, decrepitude and wrinkles and whiteness of hair have come over me! But I have not been gratified yet with the enjoyment of youth. Thou, O Yadu, take this my weakness along with my decrepitude. I shall enjoy with thy youth.