# The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section LXXXIV

Section LXXXIV. ( Sambhava Parva continued. )
Vaisampayana said, "Yayati then, having been 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 Usana, decrepitude and wrinkles and whiteness of hair have come over me! But I have not been gratified yet with the enjoyment of youth. Thou, O Yadu, take this my weakness along with my decrepitude. I shall enjoy with thy youth. ​And when a full thousand years have elapsed, returning to thee thy youth I shall take back my weakness with this decrepitude.'
"Yadu replied, 'There are innumerable inconveniences in decrepitude, 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, cheerlessness, a relaxation of the nerves, wrinkles all over the body, deformities, weakness of the limbs, emaciation, 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.'
"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 pleasures of life. And after the expiration of a full thousand years I shall give thee thy youth, and take back from thee my weakness and decrepitude!'
"Turvasu then replied, "I do not like decrepitude, O father! It destroyeth all appetites and enjoyments, strength and beauty of person, the 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 in women of superior blood, who live on meat, who are mean, who hesitate not to appropriate the wives of their superiors, whose practices are as those of birds and beasts, who are sinful, and non-Aryan.'"
Visampayana said, "Yayati having thus cursed his son Turvasu then addressed Sharmishta's son Druhyu thus:—'O Druhyu, take thou for a thousand years my decrepitude destructive of complexion and personal beauty and give me thy youth. And when a thousand years have passed away I shall return thee thy youth and take back my own weakness, ​and decrepitude.' To this Druhyu answered, 'O king, one that is decrepit can never enjoy elephants and cars and horses and women. Even his voice becometh hoarse. Therefore I do not desire (to take) thy decrepitude.' Yayati told him, 'Thou art sprung from my heart, O son. But thou refusest to give me thy youth. Therefore thy most cherished desires shall never be accomplished. Thou shalt be king, only in name, of that region where there are no roads for the passage of horses and cars and elephants, and good vehicles, and asses, and goats and bullocks, and palanquins; where there is swimming only by rafts and floats.' Yayati next addressed Anu and said, Thou, O Anu, take my weakness and decrepitude. I shall with thy youth enjoy the pleasures of life for a thousand years.' To this Anu replied, 'Those that are decrepit always eat like children and are always impure. They can not pour libations on Agni in proper times. Therefore I do not like to take thy decrepitude.' Yayati told him, 'Thou art sprung from my heart. Thou givest me not thy youth. Thou findest so many faults in decrepitude. Therefore shall decrepitude overcome thee. And, O Anu, thy progeny also, as soon as they attain to youth, shall die. And thou shalt also not be able to perform sacrifices before Agni.'
"Yayati at last turned to his youngest child Puru, and addressing him said, 'Thou art, O Puru, my youngest son, But thou shalt be the first of all. Decrepitude, wrinkles, and whiteness of hair have come over me in consequence of the curse of Kavya called also Usana. I have not yet, however, been satiated with youth. O Puru take thou this my weakness and decrepitude! With thy youth I shall enjoy, for some years, the pleasures of life. And when a thousand years have passed away I shall give thee thy youth and take back my own decrepitude.'"
Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by the king, Puru answered with humility, 'I shall do, O monarch, as thou biddest me. I shall take, O king, thy weakness and decrepitude. Take thou my youth and enjoy as thou listeth the pleasures of life. Covered with thy decrepitude and becoming as one old, I shall, as thou commandest, continue to live, giving to ​thee my youth,' Yayati then said, 'O Puru, I have been gratified with thee! And being gratified I tell thee that the people of thy kingdom shall have all their desires accomplished.'
"And having said this, the great ascetic Yayati, then thinking of Kavya, transferred his decrepitude unto the body of the high-souled Puru."
And thus ends the eighty-fourth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.