The king smiling said—"So be it. Even if the enemies admit humiliation by flattering speeches that cannot be resisted". Saying this he repaired to his own city. Satkratu too continued to rule as Indra.
A few days after the king went to heaven, and his sons, being incited by the sage Nārada, demanded the rank of Indra as there hereditary right. When he refused to give them the station the highly powerful princes reduced him to submission and usurped his rank. When some tune had passed, Indra, deprived of his share in the sacrifices of the three worlds, spoke to Vrihaspati in a retired place,—"Give me a little of the sacrificial butter not bigger even than a jujube for I am in want of sustenance".
Vrihaspati said:—"Had you applied to me before I could have done any thing for you; however I will now try to gain back for you your position". Saying this he undertook the celebration of a sacrifice for increasing the power of Indra and bringing about the downfall of Raji's sons by leading them astray. When their understanding was bewildered the princes became haters of the Brahmins, negligent of their duties and regardless of the teachings of the Vedas; when they became devoid of religion and morality, Indra slew them and gained back his sovereignty by the help of the priest of gods. Whoever shall hear of Indra's acquirement of the position, shall always keep his proper place and shall not be guilty of iniquity.
Rambha, the third son of Ayus, had no offspring. Kshatravriddha had a son named Pratikshatrā, whose son was Sanjaya, whose son was Vijaya, whose son was Yajnakrit, whose son was Harshavarddhana, whose son was Sahadeva, whose son was Adina, whose son was Jayasena, whose son was Sankriti, whose son was Kshatradharma. These were the progeny of Kshatravriddha. I will now enumerate those of Nahusha.
SECTION X.
Nahusha had six brave sons namely, Yati, Yayati, Sanyati, Ayati, Viyati and Kriti. Yati declined the throne and therefore Yayati succeeded. He had two wives; Devayani, the daughter of Usanasj and Sarmishthā, the daughter of Vrishaparvan. His genealogy is thus recited—"Devayani gave birth to two sons, Yadu and Tarvasu. Sarmishthā, the daughter of Vrishaparvan, gave birth to three sons, Druhya, Anu and Puru. Owing to a curse of Usanas Yayati became untimely old and decripit. Having propitiated his father-in-law however he got the permission to transfer his old age to any one who would agree to take it. He first called his eldest son Yadu and then said,—Your maternal grand-father has caused this untime decripitude of mine. By his permission I may transfer it to you for a thousand years, I am not still satisfied with worldly enjoyments and wish to enjoy through your youth. Do not refuse compliance with my request". Being thus addressed he did not agree to take the decay upon him for which the king imprecated a curse, saying—"No one in your prosterity shall be the king". He then successively requested Druhya, Turvasu and Anu to give him their youth. They all refused and were accordingly cursed by the king. Lastly he called his youngest son Puru—the son of Sarmisthā and requested him for the same. That youth, of ripe understanding, at once agreed and bowing unto his father said—"I have been highly honored". He then took upon himself his father's infirmities and gave him his youth in exchange.
Being thus gifted with renewed youth Yayati governed the kingdom for the good of his people enjoying such pleasures as were suited to his age and strength and were in consonance with piety. He enjoyed in the company of a nymph Vishwachi day and night thinking that there would be an end of all desires. By continued enjoyment all things began to appear more pleasant to him and he then said—"Desire is never satiated by enjoyment as fire, fed with oil, becomes the more intense. No one is satisfied with barley, gold, cattle or women; therefore renounce excessive desire. When a man does not cherish any sinful feeling towards creatures and looks on all with, an equal eye he then finds everything full of pleasure and delight. The wise become happy by renouncing that desire which the feeble-minded cannot abandon and which grows not old with the aged. With age the hair becomes gray, the teeth fall off but the love of wealth and life is never gratified. A thousand years have expired and still my mind is attached to worldly enjoyments: my desires are excited every day by new objects. I shall therefore renounce all enjoyments of sense and devote myself to the culture of spiritual truth. And renouncing all attachments and not influenced by the alternatives of pleasure and pain I shall roam in the forest with the deer".
Having thus made up his mind Yayati returned the youth to Puru and took up his own decrepitude. He then made his youngest son the sovereign and went to Tapovana (the wood of penance). He appointed as viceroys—Turvasu of the south-east districts, Druhya of the west, Yadu of the south and Anu of the north—and made Puru the supreme monarch of the earth.
SECTION XI.
Parāçara said:—I will first enumerate to you the descendants of Yadu, the eldest son of Yayati—one of whom an incarnate portion of Vishnu—of whom glory cannot be described though chanted for ever to confer the fruit of their desires—whether for virtue, wealth, pleasure or final emancipation—upon all created beings, upon men, saints, Gandharvas, spirits of evil, nymphs, centaurs, serpents, birds, demons, sages, Brahmanas and ascetics. Whoever shall hear of the descendants of Yadu shall be freed from all iniquities, for the supreme spirit—devoid of any form—Vishnu was incarnate in this family.