And, O king, they were begotten upon (his two wives) Devayani and
Sarmishtha. And of Devayani were born Yadu and Turvasu, and of Sarmishtha
were born Drahyu, Anu, and Puru. And, O king, having virtuously ruled his
subjects for a long time, Yayati was attacked with a hideous decrepitude
destroying his personal beauty. And attacked by decrepitude, the monarch
then spoke, O Bharata, unto his sons Yadu and Puru and Turvasu and Drahyu
and Anu these words, 'Ye dear sons, I wish to be a young man and to
gratify my appetites in the company of young women. Do you help me
therein.' To him his eldest son born of Devayani then said, 'What needest
thou, O king? Dost thou want to have your youth?' Yayati then told him,
'Accept thou my decrepitude, O son! With thy youth I would enjoy myself.
During the time of a great sacrifice I have been cursed by the Muni
Usanas (Sukra). O son, I would enjoy myself with your youth. Take any of
you this my decrepitude and with my body rule ye my kingdom. I would
enjoy myself with a renovated body. Therefore, ye my sons, take ye my
decrepitude.' But none of his sons accepted his decrepitude. Then his
youngest son Puru said unto him, 'O king, enjoy thyself thou once again
with a renovated body and returned youth! I shall take thy decrepitude
and at thy command rule thy kingdom.' Thus addressed, the royal sage, by
virtue of his ascetic power then transferred his own decrepitude unto
that high-souled son of his and with the youth of Puru became a youth;
while with the monarch's age Puru ruled his kingdom.
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