Yayati

[Guest guest]

Chapter 2 verse 94

" Desire is never extinguished by enjoyment of desired

objects; it only

grows stronger like the fire fed with clarified

butter."

 

The Story of Yayati as in Sri. C. Rajagopalachari's

Book:

 

" Emperor Yayati was one of the ancestors of the

pandavas. He had never

known defeat: He followed the dictates of the sastras,

adored the gods and

venerated his ancestors with intense devotion. He

became famous as a

ruler devoted to the welfare of his subjects.

 

"However, he became prematurely old by the curse of

Sukracharya for having

wronged his wife Devayani. In the words of the poet

of the Mahabharata:

"yayati attained old age which destroys beauty and

brings on miseries."

 

"Yayati, who found himself suddenly an old man, was

still haunted by the

desire for sensual enjoyment. He had five beautiful

sons, all virtuous

and accomplished. Yayati called them and appealed

piteously to their

affection:"the curse of your grandfather Sukracharya

has made me

unexpectedly and prematurely old. I have not had my

fill of the joys of

life; for, not knowing what was in store for me, I

lived a life of

restraint, denying myself even lawful pleasures. One

of you ought to bear

my burden of my old age and give his youth in return.

He who agrees to

this and bestows his youth on me will be the ruler of

my kingdom. I

desire to enjoy life in the full vigor of youth."

 

"He first asked his eldest son. That son replied: "O

great king, women

and servants will mock at me if I were to take upon

myself your old age.

I cannot do so. Ask my younger brothers who are

dearer to you than

myself." When the second approached, he gently

refused with the words:

"father you ask me to take up old age which destroys

not only strength and

beauty but also -as I see-wisdom. I am not strong

enough to do so.

 

The third and fourth sons also refused. "Yayati was

struck with sorrow at

the refusal of the four sons. Still, hoping against

hope, he supplicated

his last son who had never yet opposed his wishes:"You

must save me. I am

afflicted with this old age with its wrinkles,

debility and grey hairs as

a result of the curse of Sukracharya. It is too hard

a trail! If you

will take upon yourself these infirmities, I shall

enjoy life for just a

while more then give you back your youth and resume my

old age and all its

sorrows. Pray, do not refuse as your elder brothers

have done. Puru, the

youngest son, moved by filial love, said: "Father I

galdly give you my

youth and relieve you of the sorrows of old age and

cares of state. Be

happy. Hearing these words Yayati embraced him."

 

"Yayati enjoyed life for long, and not satisfied, went

later to the garden

of Kubera and spent many years with an aspara maiden.

Afetr long years

spent in vain efforts to quench desire indulgence, the

truth dawned on

him. Returning to pure, he said:

 

(Note, since I cannot use bold font, I am using

capital leters to

highlight the key point. Please do not mistake it for

shouting.) (I am

explicating this because on a previous occasion a

bhagavata mistook the

use of capital letters for shouting.)

 

"DEAR SON, SENSUAL DESIRE IS NEVER QUENCHED BY

INDULGENCE ANY MORE THAN

FIRE IS BY POURING GHEE IN IT. I HAD HEARD AND READ

THIS, BUT TILL NOW I

HAD NOT REALISED IT."

 

This goes to show, repeated exposure to truths can

never be fruitless; it

will only help to make the manifestation of this truth

fuller.) Note, if

this knowledge (truth ) had already manifested fully,

we would all be

leading our life in accordance with the dharmasAstrAs.

 

 

Adiyen ramanuja dasan,

Venkat

KrishNarpaNam

 

 

Talk to your friends online with Messenger.

http://im.