A SHORT NOTE ON EMPEROR YAYATI

 

A SHORT NOTE ON EMPEROR YAYATI

As mentioned the Mahabharata emperor Yayati was one of the ancestors of the Pandavas.  He had never suffered defeat.  He was a staunch follower of the dictates of the sastras, worshipped the gods, venerated his ancestors with flawless devotion. As a result of all these qualities and his immense dedication to the welfare of the people, he became a renowned emperor far and wide.

Unfortunately, he became old by the curse of Sukracharya for having wrong his wife Devayani.  Consequently, he attained that old age which destroys beauty and brings on miseries.

Yayati thus became an old man but not with submission to his fate.  His desire for sensual enjoyment remained in him very strongly. He had five beautiful, virtuous and accomplished sons.  He told them that the curse of their grandfather Sukracharya had him prematurely old.  He also added that he had lived a life of restraint and had denied himself even legitimate pleasures.

Yayati then requested that one of his sons should agree to bear the burden of his old age and give his youth to him.

One by one four of his sons refused to obey their father. The first one said:”women and servants will mock at him, if he were take old age upon him.” The second one replied: “Father you ask me take upon myself which destroys not only strength and beauty but also wisdom.” The answer of the third son was: “An old man cannot ride a horse or an elephant.” Even the fourth son rejected the request by saying that an old man becomes dependent upon others and has to seek the help of o thers even to keep his body clean.

It was the fifth and the youngest son Puru who agreed to fulfil his father’s desire as he had never opposed his wishes. His words were: “Father, I gladly give you my youth and relieve you of the sorrows of old age and cares of State. Be happy.” Yayati received these words with inexplicable joy and embraced Puru. Yayati became youthful as he touched his son and thereafter enjoyed life for long but not satisfied. He spent many years with an apsara maiden who could not quench his thirst for sensual pleasures and the king found that his efforts to achieve this end had remained futile.

What is important in this story are the last words of Yayati recorded in the Mahabharata.  C.Rajagopalachari (1878-1972), the last Governor General of India, translated them as follows in his book Mahabharata:

“Dear son, sensual desire is never quenched by indulgences any more than fire is by pouring ghee in it.  I had heard and read this, but till now I had not realized it. No object of desire ---corn, gold, cattle or women ---nothing can ever satisfy the desire of man.  We can reach peace only by a mental poise beyond likes and dislikes.  Such is the state of Brahman.  Take back your youth and rule the kingdom wisely and well.” 

“With these words Yayati took his old age.  Puru, who regained his youth, was made king by Yayati who retired to the forest.  He spent his time there in austerities and, in due course, attained heaven.”