YAYATI BECAME PREMATURELY OLD

King Yayati gets cursed by Shukracharya to become Prematurely Old and the Puru era starts

King Yayati; son of King Nahusha married Shukracharya's daughter Devayani. Yayati and Devayani went to his kingdom Mahendrapuri with Sharmishtha and the other one thousand maids. He took accountability for all the maids and provided them with garments meals and shelter there. Devayani used to roam around the Ashok Vatika with Sharmishtha and depart for the palace with the king alone. Devayani gave birth to her first son. After spending one thousand years Sharmishtha reached her youthfulness. 

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One day whilst she was roaming around the garden she requested the Ashok tree to let her see her husband's face. Sharmishtha was curious as she didn't marry anyone and the Ashok tree was regarded to soothe the grief of anybody so she asked the tree what was she supposed to do at that time. She thought Devayani became the mother of a son while Sharmishtha's adolescence is wasted. She preferred to choose the king as her husband just like Devayani. She wished to see him in seclusion. All of a sudden king came from his palace and stopped near the garden seeing Sharmishtha there. Sharmishtha went closer to the king and pleaded with him for a baby.

King Yayati remembered the stipulations of Shukracharya as earlier referred to in my post, he did not desire to touch her considering the fact that  Shukracharya had earlier made him clear not to intimate with Sharmishtha. Sharmishtha requested justice. She said, "Since I stay here with Devayani and serve her, there is nothing wrong with marrying me. Shukracharya surrendered me along with his daughter Devayani to you. So it is your duty to treat me fairly as having shelter and food is not what I only wish for." King was convinced. They enjoyed each other's company. He impregnated Sarmistha. She gave birth to a son.

After listening to this Devayani was anxious and asked Sharmishtha how could she commit such a sin. Sharmishtha instructed her it was a spiritual sage who blessed her with a son. He was glorious and Sharmishtha could not ask him for his identification at that time. Devayani believed her and she left for the palace. Devayani gave birth to her second son. Both of her sons were named Yadu and Turbasu. Sharmishtha also gave birth to King's son. Her son was Drihu Anu and PURU.

One day while the boys of Sharmishtha were playing, perplexed Devayani asked one of them related to his father. They indicated king yayati there. When Devayani wondered what Sharmishtha related to the sage, she answered she had chosen king yayati as her spiritual sage husband who blessed her by doing justice. Saddened Devayani left the kingdom and went to her father. King Yayati followed her toward Shukracharya's hermitage. After hearing everything from his daughter Shukracharya cursed him to grow to be prematurely old. Yayati explained to him from the factor of view of a king how could he Sharmishtha that time as it was the king's responsibility to fulfil her wish. Shukracharya mentioned to him that he could wait for Shukracharya's advice also. As a result of the curse, king yayati grew to be old at that time. He pleaded with Shukracharya for the solution. As per his request, Shukracharya answered him he could transfer his oldness to one of his sons. Later that son of him would be mighty and long-lived.

One by one king asked all his sons to take the oldness from him for one thousand years. Yadu denied it as it could cease all his youthful desires, looks, and power. Seeing his son saying such king cursed Yadu that none of his sons would rule any kingdom. Then he asked Turbasu who also refused to take it by means of giving equal explanations similar to his brother. King cursed Turbasu that he would rule animal eater chandals solely and that all his sons would die in the future.

King then requested Sharmishtha's sons. Drihu additionally denied by means of saying it would not be feasible for him to ride horses, elephants, or any carts as well as relishing life with his spouse. King cursed him his preferred works would never be fruitful and his dynasty people would be called bhojs, not kings. King then asked Anu who was also turned down by way of saying "Old people consume at the end like a kid, they never perform agnihotra, they emerge as unholy." King cursed him that he would collect all the guilts, he would give up performing Agnihotra simply like an old man and his son would die young.

King then requested Puru. He agreed by announcing he would be obliged to obey his elders. He additionally referred to his father, "You switch your oldness to me and I will observe your advice. You take my youth ness and young age."

King Yayati was thrilled with his son Puru. He granted him the boon that he would rule his kingdom. All his desires would be successful. By remembering Shukracharya king transferred his agedness to his son Puru. King Yayati became young and fierce. He enjoyed his adolescence until one thousand years and after the completion of a specified period, he gave the youth back to his son Puru. Despite being the youngest son Puru was crowned as the king. King Yayati went to the forest. The Puru dynasty started. Kshatriya Yadav from Yadu, Yavan from Turbasu, bhoj from Drihu, and Mlech from Anu were born.

There is another story related to King Yayati falling by Indra dev from heaven because of losing his saintly acts. As he considered his Ascetic energy to be supreme over other deities and humans. It is recognized that Yayati as per his request to Indra, fell close to other saints and he later earned his holiness back, became pious, and again went to heaven after the sradh performed for him via his dauhitra.

Ref: Mahabharata book Adi Parva

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