THE DESIRE OF INDULGENCE

The Pandavas’ ancestor was Yayati. A man, if not a perfectionist, was a fairly effective ruler who increased the wealth and prosperity of his Kingdom. He had wed Devayani, a powerful Asura tutor named Sukracharya’s daughter. Early married life was always happy, but as time went on and things changed, he was forced to accept Sharmishta as one of his wives.

Devayani turned to her father Sukracharya for advice after being struck by the pangs of misery. He was immediately motivated to curse Yayati by his fatherly concern.

“Let the King’s aging process take its course. Let his beauty fade with age, graying, and illness.”

The council hall only needed a short while to recognize that their King had grown old.

Even walking back into his personal room required too much physical effort for Yayati. He suffered from the frailty of old age. He cried out to his five sons for advice with a sorrowful heart.

He started weeping as he turned to face his sons.

“See the cost I’ve incurred because of your grandfather. His affection has obscured what he is thinking. I have lost all of my youth and am the King of this kingdom. How will I run the kingdom when old age rules? I realize that all of you are still too young to control the affairs of this Kingdom. Therefore, I think that if any of you are willing to give up your youth to me, I will reign the kingdom, indulge my indulgent wants for a while, and then give it back to you,” he said.

He approached his first son and requested for his youth in exchange to the old age.

“Oh, father! I realize that such a terrible misfortune should not have befallen you. It deeply hurts me. But if you have already governed the Kingdom for a certain amount of time, youth is of little use to you. I am aware of how much my younger brothers value you.” He said, “Please ask them for it.”

The identical query was posed to his second son as he turned to face him.

“It is depressing to observe you in this condition. But how am I supposed to assume blame for your own error?” He said, “Please be fair in your advice and ask my younger brother.”

The third son begged his father not to ask for his beauty and vigor.

Yayati was enraged to no end by his sons’ rudeness. He told his fourth son that if he agreed to give him his youth, he would even give up the Kingdom.

“I love my youth as much as I love you,” the fourth son declared. “Please pardon me because I won’t let you simply take away my youth.”

Puru, the youngest son, was affected by his father’s grief. Puru uttered the request before Yayati even marched to ask him: “Please take my youth. All I want is for you to continue to be happy.”

Yayati had changed into his younger years as soon as Puru touched his father. Puru accepted old age as a result of his enduring affection for his father. Yayati resolved to live a life of sensuous pleasure after giving his kingdom to his son Puru to rule.

He allegedly spent a considerable amount of time with a lovely Apsara damsel in Kubera’s gardens. He had physical delights for many years while spending time with women. Days later, he realized the truth.

With a sorrowful heart, he returned to his country and told Puru what had happened.

“I have read that physical satisfaction never satisfies a man’s wants since it is fleeting. I just realized that despite having your youth, I still haven’t managed to achieve any kind of mental health. By forcing my mind to expand past the limitations of preferences, I have made the decision to achieve the state of Brahman. I only want to be at peace and quiet. Please give me my old age back so I can go to the forests. I want to commit to severe penance and find the supreme God.

After saying this, Puru got back his younger self and gained great fame.
(Popular story adapted from the Mahabharata)
WRITTEN BY ANITHA CHAKRAVARTHY SRIRAM