Yayati Exchanges Old Age for Puru's Youth
Emperor Yayati, cursed with premature old age, begs his five sons to exchange their youth for his decrepitude so he can continue a life of pleasure. When his four elder sons refuse, his youngest, Puru, agrees without hesitation, sacrificing his prime for his father's wish.
Nahusha's son Yayati was devoted to the truth and became an emperor. He ruled over the entire earth, performed many sacrifices, and worshipped the ancestors and the gods, who were always present. He was invincible and showed great kindness towards his subjects.
His sons were great archers who possessed all the qualities. They were born from his two wives: Yadu and Turvasu from Devayani, and Druhyu, Anu, and Puru from Sharmishtha. Yayati ruled over his subjects for a long time in accordance with dharma. Then he was attacked by dreadful old age and lost his beauty.
Overcome by old age, the king told his sons, "O sons! I desire to savour the pleasures of youth. As a young man, I wish to spend my time with young women. Help me."
Yadu, the eldest son, replied, "For what purpose do you want our youth? What act do you wish to perform?"
Yayati told him, "Accept my old age from me. With your youth, I will satisfy my senses. During a long sacrifice, I was cursed by the sage Ushanas. Therefore, I have lost all my powers of enjoying desire. O sons! I am suffering because of this. Any one of you can rule over the kingdom with my body. And I will satisfy my desire by taking up a new and young body."
Yadu and his other brothers — Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu — did not agree to take up his old age.
At this, the youngest son, Puru, always devoted to the truth and powerful, said, "O king! Enjoy yourself with a new and young body. As you command, I will take up your old age and rule over the kingdom."
At these words, the rajarshi used the power of his austerities to transfer his old age to his great-souled son. The king again became a young man with Puru's youth. Puru ruled over the kingdom with Yayati's age.
After a thousand years, the invincible Yayati had still not satisfied his desires. He told his son Puru, "You are my heir. You are the son through whom my lineage will continue. From now on, my lineage will be known in this world as Puru's lineage." Then he instated Puru as the king. After a long time, Yayati himself succumbed to the laws of time.