for a thousand years my decrepitude destructive of complexion and personal beauty and give me thy youth! When a thousand years have passed away, I shall return thee thy youth and take back my own weakness, and decrepitude. To this Drahyu 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 fulfilled! Thou shall be king, only in name, of that tegion 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 "O Anu, take my weak. ness 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 cannot pour libations upon fre in proper times. Therefore, I do not like to take thy decrepitude. Yayati told him,-'Thou art sprung from my beart, thou givest not thy youth. Thou findest so many faults in decrepitude. Therefore, decrepitude shall 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 fire !
"Yayati at last turned to his youngest child, Puru, and addressing him said, 'Thou art, O Puru, my youngest son 1 But thou shalt be the first of all I Decrepitude, wrinkles, and whiteness of hair have come over me in consequence of the curse of Kavya called also Usanas. I have not yet however, been satiated with my 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 back to thee thy youth and cake back my own decrepitude !"
Vaisampayana said, "Thus addressed by the king, Puru answered with humility.-'I shall do, O monarch, as thou bidest me! I shall take, O king, thy weakness and decrepitude ! Take thou my youth and enjoy as thou listest the pleasures of life! Covered with thy decrepitude and becoming old, I shall, as chou commandest, continue to live, giving thee my youth!' Yayati then said.-'O Puru, I have been gratified with thee! And being gratified, I tell thee that the people in thy kingdom shall have all their desires fulfilled I'
"And having said this, the great ascetic Yayati, then thinking of Kavya, trasferred his decrepitude unto the body of the high-souled Puru."
Thus ends eighty-fourth section in the Sambhava Parva of the Adi Parva.
