---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 59"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-59"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 59

> श्रुत्वा तूशनसं क्रुद्धं तदार्तो नहुषात्मजः।  
> जरां परमिकां प्राप्य यदुं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ १॥

Hearing the words of Uśanā uttered in rage, the penitent son of Nahuṣa, Yayāti, then possessed of ripe old age said to Yadu: (1)

> यदो त्वमसि धर्मज्ञो मदर्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम्।  
> जरा परमिका पुत्र भोगै रंस्ये महायशः॥ २॥

‘O Yadu, my son of a great fame, you are righteous, accept for my sake my old age, may I enjoy the objects of desire. (2)

> न तावत् कृतकृत्योऽस्मि विषयेषु नरर्षभ।  
> अनुभूय तदा कामं ततः प्राप्स्याम्यहं जराम्॥ ३॥

‘I have not been satisfied with the pleasure of senses. O bull among men, having experienced the joy of senses, I shall again attain my old age’ (3)

> यदुस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच नरर्षभम्।  
> पुत्रस्ते दयितः पूरुः प्रतिगृह्णातु वै जराम्॥ ४॥

Hearing these words of Yayāti, Yadu replied to the bull among men (Yayāti), ‘Pūru is your dear son, may he accept the old age. (4)

> बहिष्कृतोऽहमर्थेषु संनिकर्षाच्च पार्थिव।  
> प्रतिगृह्णातु वै राजन् यैः सहाश्नासि भोजनम्॥ ५॥

‘O King, I have been deprived of the objects of desire and wealth and also your company. He alone among men with whom you take your food, can accept it.’ (5)

> तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा पूरुमथाब्रवीत्।  
> इयं जरा महाबाहो मदर्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम्॥ ६॥

Hearing these words spoken by him, Yayāti, the king then said to Pūru: ‘O one of long-arms, please accept this old age.’ (6)

> नाहुषेणैवमुक्तस्तु पूरुः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत्।  
> धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि शासनेऽस्मि तव स्थितः॥ ७॥

Thus requested by Yayāti, the son of Nahuṣa, Pūru with folded hands said: ‘I am fortunate and feel obliged to you, I am at your command.’ (7)

> पूरोर्वचनमाज्ञाय नाहुषः परया मुदा।  
> प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे जरां संक्रामयच्च ताम्॥ ८॥

Having heard the word of Pūru, the son of Nahuṣa, Yayāti, was highly pleased, and transferred that old age to him. (8)

> ततः स राजा तरुणः प्राप्य यज्ञान् सहस्रशः।  
> बहुवर्षसहस्राणि पालयामास मेदिनीम्॥ ९॥

Then the youthful king, having performed a thousandfold sacrifices ruled over the earth for many thousand years. (9)

> अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य राजा पूरुमथाब्रवीत्।  
> आनयस्व जरां पुत्र न्यासं निर्यातयस्व मे॥ १०॥

Then after a long time the king spoke thus to Pūru: ‘O dear son, bring forth my old age, return that which was deposited in you as trust. (10)

> न्यासभूता मया पुत्र त्वयि संक्रामिता जरा।  
> तस्मात् प्रतिगृहीष्यामि तां जरां मा व्यथां कृथाः॥ ११॥

‘O son! the old age which was in the form of deposit, was transferred to you; therefore, now I shall take back my old age, do not feel pained. (11)

> प्रीतश्चास्मि महाबाहो शासनस्य प्रतिग्रहात्।  
> त्वां चाहमभिषेक्ष्यामि प्रीतियुक्तो नराधिपम्॥ १२॥

‘O one of long-arms, I am pleased by your acceptance of my command, I shall also consecrate you with joy as a ruler of the subjects among men.’ (12)

> एवमुक्त्वा सुतं पूरुं ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः।  
> देवयानीसुतं क्रुद्धो राजा वाक्यमुवाच ह॥ १३॥  
> राक्षसस्त्वं मया जातः क्षत्ररूपो दुरासदः।  
> प्रतिहंसि ममाज्ञां त्वं प्रजार्थे विफलो भव॥ १४॥

Thus having spoken to his son Pūru, Yayāti, the son of Nahuṣa, in anger uttered these words to the son of Devayānī: ‘By me, you are born a Rākṣasa (demon) in the form of Kṣatriya. As you defy my orders you lose chance to rule over the subjects. (13-14)

> पितरं गुरुभूतं मां यस्मात् त्वमवमन्यसे।  
> राक्षसान् यातुधानांस्त्वं जनयिष्यसि दारुणान्॥ १५॥

‘As thou showest disrespect to me, your father and preceptor, you will create the cruel Rākṣasas and Yātudhānas (evil spirits). (15)

> न तु सोमकुलोत्पन्ने वंशे स्थास्यति दुर्मतेः।  
> वंशोऽपि भवतस्तुल्यो दुर्विनीतो भविष्यति॥ १६॥

‘Your progeny will not belong to the family originating from the race of Soma, the moon. O evil-minded one, your family will also be wicked as you are.’ (16)

> तमेवमुक्त्वा राजर्षिः पूरुं राज्यविवर्धनम्।  
> अभिषेकेण सम्पूज्य आश्रमं प्रविवेश ह॥ १७॥

Thus admonishing Yadu then, honouring Pūru, the enhancer of the royal suzerainty with consecration, entered the other Āśrama (Vānaprastha). (17)

> ततः कालेन महता दिष्टान्तमुपजग्मिवान्।  
> त्रिदिवं स गतो राजा ययातिर्नहुषात्मजः॥ १८॥

Then after a long time approaching his destiny as desired, the king Yayāti (the son of Nahuṣa) departed to heaven. (18)

> पूरुश्चकार तद् राज्यं धर्मेण महता वृतः।  
> प्रतिष्ठाने पुरवरे काशिराज्ये महायशाः॥ १९॥

Pūru the mighty one ruled with great righteousness in the famous city of Pratiṣṭhāna in the kingdom of Kāśī. (19)

> यदुस्तु जनयामास यातुधानान् सहस्रशः।  
> पुरे क्रौञ्चवने दुर्गे राजवंशबहिष्कृतः॥ २०॥

Yadu produced Yātudhānas (evil beings) in thousands, in the forest of Krauñcavana, difficult to traverse, banished as he was from the royal family. (20)

> एष तूशनसा मुक्तः शापोत्सर्गो ययातिना।  
> धारितः क्षत्रधर्मेण यं निमिश्चक्षमे न च॥ २१॥

This is how the mighty curse that was uttered by Uśanā, which fell on Yayāti, was borne by him according to the code of conduct of the Kṣatriyas, and which Nimi could not forbear. (21)

> एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं दर्शनं सर्वकारिणाम्।  
> अनुवर्तामहे सौम्य दोषो न स्याद् यथा नृगे॥ २२॥

“All this has been narrated to you; we shall grant audience to all who come for action, so that we do not commit the fault that was committed by the king, Nṛga.” (22)

> इति कथयति रामे चन्द्रतुल्याननेन  
> प्रविरलतरतारं व्योम जज्ञे तदानीम्।  
> अरुणकिरणरक्ता दिग् बभौ चैव पूर्वा  
> कुसुमरसविमुक्तं वस्त्रमागुण्ठितेव॥ २३॥

As Rāma with moon-like face narrated this, the sky with fading stars appeared. The eastern quarter shone with red rays as if enveloped with a red garment. (23)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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