Purûravas | Âyus | −−+−−−−−−−−−−−−−−+−−−−−−−−−−+−−−+−−−−−−−−+−−−−−−−−−+−− | | | | | Nahusha Kshatra−vridha Raji Rabha Anênâ | −−+−−−−−−−−−−−−−−+−−−−−−−−−−−−−−+−−−−−−−−+−−−−−−−−−+−−−−−−−+−− | | | | | | Yati Yayâti Saryâti Âyati Viyati Kriti Śarmistha was the daughter of the Dânava king Vrishaparvan. Devayâni was the daughter of Sukra, the preceptor of the Dânavas. They quarrelled whilst playing with each other and Śarmistha threw Devayâni into a well. King Yayâti happened to pass by the way and he rescued her. She became attached to the king and married him. Sukra became displeased with the Dânavas for the ill treatment of his daughter by Śarmistha. And to please the preceptor and his daughter, Vrishaparvan had to make over his daughter and her companions to Devayâni as her constant attendants. So they accompanied Devayâni to the place of Yayâti. Sukra warned Yayâti however not to have any intercourse with Śarmistha. But the king did not heed the warning. He had two sons Yadu and Turvasu by Devayâni and three sons, Druhya, Anu and Puru by Śarmistha. Devayâni complained to Sukra and by the curse of the Rishi the king was attacked with the infirmities of old age. The Rishi was subsequently pleased to say that the king might exchange his infirmities with another. Yayâti called his sons one by one and they all declined to comply with his request except the youngest son Puru. So he exchanged his infirmities with Puru and lived as a young man. At last he found that no amount of gratification of the senses produced satiety and being disgusted with the pleasures of life, made over to Puru his youth and took upon himself his own infirmities. He made over the south east to Druhya, the east to Yadu, the west to Turvasu and the north to Anu. He then made Puru his successor and went into the forest. SKANDHA IX. CHAP. 20.