The Story of Yayati

 

The Story of Yayati

This story, from the Mahabharata, conveys the timeless message of self-control and restraint.

    This is a tale of a father's wish for everlasting youth and a son's supreme sacrifice for his father, Yayati and Puru's story lends an insight into the Chandravanshi bloodline, from which the mighty Kauravas and Pandavas arose.

Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vishaparva, king of the Asuras, and Devayani. the daughter of Shukra, priest of the Asuras, were the best of friends. Then one day, the two girls got into a big fight. Dressing in a hurry after a swim, Devayani put on Sarmishtha's robes by mistake. Sarmishtha took resentment. Not content with calling Devayani a thief and her father a beggar, she went so far as to push her into a well and walked away in a fit of rage. When Devayani managed to get home, she complained to her father, making him promise to teach the Asura princess a lesson.

Shukra announced his decision. "I will not perform any yagnas for the king, until he apologizes on behalf of his daughter for this insult. Alarmed, Vishaparva, the king of Asuras, begged him to change his mind -the yagnas were imperative to maintain the balance of power with the enemy, the Devas.

The princess was punished.

Shukra would not resume the yagnas until the princess had been punished. "Make the princess serve my daughter as her maid. Only then will I return to the sacrificial hall," he stated. Left with no choice, the king made his daughter serve Devayani as her lady-in-waiting. Sarmishtha's humiliation would, however, turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Devayani had been rescued from the well by Yayati, a Chandravanshi king. While helping her out, he had held her hand. Having done so, tradition demanded that he marry her. So, Devayani married Yayati and went with him to his kingdom as his wife. Eager to further humiliate Sarmishtha, Devayani asked her maid to accompany her.

One day, Yayati noticed his wife's maid. Unlike Devayani, who was a priest's daughter, Sarmishtha was a princess, and had the spirit to match. Deep in love, the two got married secretly.

Devayani suspected nothing until one day she heard Sarmishtha's son refer to Yayati as his father. Realizing that she had been deceived by her husband and her maid, the enraged Devayani left Yayati's palace and went back to her maid. Only then will I return to the sacrificial hall," he stated. Left with no choice, the king made his daughter serve Devayani as her lady-in-waiting. Sarmishtha's humiliation would, however, turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Devayani had been rescued from the well by Yayati, a Chandravamshi king. While helping her out, he had held her hand. Having done so. tradition demanded that he marry her. So Devayani married Yayati and went with him to his kingdom as his wife. Eager to further humiliate Sarmishtha, Devayani asked her maid to accompany her.

At her behest, Shukra cursed his son-in-law with old age and impotence. But it soon became clear that Devayani, wife to an old and weak Yayati, was the one to suffer the most.

A curse modified.

Shukra could not undo his curse, but he modified it. "You can regain your youth," he said, "if one of your sons accepts the curse, and hence, old age and impotency on your behalf." Yayati immediately sent for his sons. Yadu, the older, refused outright. Dejected, Yayati then turned to Puru, his younger son. Without any hesitation, Puru accepted the curse, and immediately turned old. Immediately, Yayati rushed out as a young man. He had all the youth and virility to enjoy his life.

After years spent in vain effort to quench his desires by pleasure, Yayati finally came into senses. He returned to Puru and said, "Dear son, sensual desire is never quenched by indulgence any more than fire is extinguished by pouring oil on it. Take back your youth and rule the kingdom wisely and well."

Yayati then returned to the forest and spent the rest of his days in austerities, meditating upon Brahman, the ultimate reality. In due course, he attained heaven.

 

Thus, it was years later, realizing the transient nature of youth, Yayati declared Puru his heir, even though he was the younger of his sons. Yadu, on the other hand, was cursed, "Because you did not help your father, you will never be a king, and neither will your descendants."

As Yayati's heir, Puru became the patriarch of the illustrious Kuru clan. From him descended the Kauravas and Pandavas.

Ref;

A story developed from Mahabharta- The Holy Scriptures