Yayati was a notable
ancestor of the warring cousins. In the Mahabharata his story is told in the
Sambhava Parva of the Adi Parva starting from Section LXXVIII. The following is
a summary from the translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, available online. [1]
The story of Yayati appears in various retellings of the Mahabharata as well as
in independent works of literature.
Devayani was the
daughter of Sukracharya, the preceptor to the Asuras. Sarmishtha was the
daughter of Vrishaparvan, the king of the Asuras. Following a childish squabble
Sarmishtha threw Devayani in a well. King Yayati, who had been hunting in the
area, helped Devayani out. Burning with revenge, Devayani emotionally
blackmailed her father into threatening to withdraw his support to the Asuras
if her wishes were not met.
Vrishaparvan readily
consented to give Devayani whatever she wanted and the brahmin’s daughter
demanded, “I desire Sarmishtha with a thousand maids to
wait on me!” In order to prevent a calamity falling on her clan, Sarmishtha
readily fulfilled Devayani’s wish.
Then Devayani accosted
Yayati in the woods and proposed marriage. Yayati pointed out that she was not
only a brahmin but the daughter of a very learned brahmin. Therefore he would
not be a suitable match for her. He also had misgivings because brahmins were
known for pronouncing curses at will. Devayani clarified that Yayati was the
son of a brahmin and therefore a brahmin. Though not explicitly stated at this
point in the narrative, this refers to Yayati being born due to the blessings
of sage Angiras. This is today interpreted in a literal sense, but more likely
refers to the practice of niyoga or surrogate fatherhood. Ultimately the two
get married. There is no mention of romance or sexual attraction in the
narrative. The whole affair is as cold and calculated as the negotiation of
business deal.
In due course Devayani
bears a son. Perturbed that she will be left childless, Sarmishtha convinces
Yayati that he is duty bound to beget a child from her. Again, there is no
seduction or attraction, only reasoning. Sarmishtha also bears a son. She tells
Devayani that the father of the child was a resplendent ascetic. Thus Yayati
sired Yadu and Turvasu from Devayani and Drahyu, Anu
and Puru from Sarmishtha.
Once Devayani chanced to meet the children
of Sarmishtha and from them learned of their parentage. Devayani went to her
father, who pronounced a curse on Yayati making him lose his youth. The King
immediately became decrepit. Yayati pleaded that he had not yet been satisfied
by youth or Devayani, so Sukracharya added this escape route: “But if thou
likest, thou art competent to transfer this thy decrepitude to another.”
Yayati summoned his
sons and said that he had not yet been gratified with
the enjoyment of youth. He asked one of them to give up his youth for the King’s
old age. Yadu, Turvasu, Drahyu and Anu refused and were handed out various curses.
Puru exchanged his youth for his father’s old age without demur and was
appointed heir and blessed with long life, fame and numerous progeny.
For ‘a thousand years’
Yayati ruled well but also indulged in the pleasures of life. Then he returned
youth to Puru, gave him the throne and ascended to heaven. The tale of Yayati
continues there, but that is another story. The Pandavas and the Kauravas were
from descendants of Puru.
[1] http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/index.htm
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