Mahabharata – 119

by 

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                                   Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Devyani learned that her husband Yayati had children by her friend & maid Sarmistha.She became angry thereby & rushed to her father.Her husband followed her & reached the great Sukracharya,his father – in – law. And seeing her father,Devyani stood before him in tears,after due salutations.And Yayati also immediately after saluted and worshipped Sukracharya.

 Devayani said, 'Oh Father! virtue has been outdone by vice. The inferior have risen and the superior have fallen.I have been offended again by Sarmishtha, the daughter of Vrishaparva.Three sons have been born to Sarmishta by this king Yayati.But,Oh Father!,I am unlucky. I have  only two sons.Oh Father!,this king is renowned for his knowledge of scriptures. Even then he has deviated from the path of righteousness.

Sukrachrya, hearing all this, said, 'Oh King!, You are fully aware of what constitutes virtue.Despite that you have insulted your brahamin wife & transgressed virtue because of your affection. Henceforth you will be crippled with senility & impotence. Old age & degeneration shall paralyse you.

Yayati answered, Oh Lord! I was solicited by the daughter of the demon king to satisfy the thirst of her season. I did it from a sense of virtue and not from other motives.The male person who being solicited by a woman in her season does not grant her wishes, is called by those conversant with the Vedas,a killer of the embryo. I have taken a vow to grant the wishes of any one. Sarmishtha has been given to me by your honour. How can I say no to her.She can not go for another husband than me. She is a virtuous lady.

  Sukracharya then replied, ---- You are dependent on me. You should have waited for my command. Having acted falsely in the matter of your duty you have deviated from virtue. You have been guilty of the sin of theft.'

'Yayati, thus cursed by the angry Sukracharya, was then deprived of his youth.Presently he was  overcome by old age & debility.

And Yayati said, 'O son of Bhrigu, I have not yet been satisfied with  youthful  Devayani. Therefore, be graceful to me so that the old age & debility do not touch me.'

Sukracharya then answered, 'I never speak an untruth. Oh king!,  you are  already attacked by old age & debility. But if you like, you are competent to transfer this your old age & debility to another.' Yayati said, 'Oh great sage! let it be granted by you  that the  son of mine who could give me his youth shall enjoy my kingdom, & shall achieve both virtue and fame.' Sukracharya replied, 'Oh Yayati! If you meditate on me with all your heart you may transfer this old age & debility to whomsoever you like. That son who shall give you his youth shall become your successor to the throne. He shall also have long life, wide fame, and numerous progeny.