Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/218

204 Vaisampayana said, "Yayati then, 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 Usanas, decrepitude and wrinkles and whiteness of hair have come over me! But I have not been gratified yet with the enjoyment of youth. Do thou, O Yadu, take this my weakness along with my decrepitude ! I shall enjoy with thy youth! And wben a full thousand years will have elapsed, returning to thee thy youth, I shall take my weakness with this decrepitude !

"Yadu replid, -'There are innumerable inconveniences in decrepi. tude, in respect of drinking and eating. Therefore, O king, I shall not take thy decrepitude. This is, indeed, my determination. White hair on the head, cheerlessless and relaxation of the nerves, wrinkles all over the body, deformities, weakness of the limbs, emanciation, incapacity to work, defeat at the hands of friends and companions—these are the consequences of decrepitude. Therefore, O king, I desire not to take it. O king, thou hast many sons some of whom are dearer to thee. Thou art acquainted with the precepts of virtue! Ask some other son of thine to take thy decrepitude I

"Yayati replied, 'Thou art sprung from my heart, O son, but thou givest me not thy youth! Therefore, thy children shall never be kings.' And he continued, addressing another son of his, 'O Turvasu, take thou this weakness of mine along with my decrepitude. With thy youth, O son, I like to enjoy the pleasure of life. After the expiration of a full thousand years I shall give back to thee thy youth, and take back from thee my weakness and decrepitude !!!

"Turvasu replied, 'I do not like decrepitude, O father, it takes away all appetites and enjoyments, strength and beauty of person, intellect, and even life !' Yayati told him.-'Thou art sprung from my heart, O son ! But thou givest me not thy youth! Therefore, O Turvasu, thy race shall be extinct! Wretch, thou shalt be the king of those whose practices and precepts are impure, amongst whom men of inferior blood procreate children upon women of blue blood, who live on meat, who are mean, who hesitate not to appropriate the wives of their superiors, whose practices are those of birds and beasts, who are sinful, and nonAryan!"

Vaisampayana said,-"Yayati, having thus cursed his son Turvasu, then addressed Sarmishtha's son Drahyu thus:-'O Drahyu, take thou