Pururavas
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Ayus
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Nahusha Kshatra-vridha Raji Rabha Anena
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Yati Yayati Saryati Ayati Viyati Kriti
Sarmistha was the daughter of the Danava king Vrishaparvan. Devayani was
the daughter of Sukra, the preceptor of the Danavas. They quarrelled
whilst playing with each other and Sarmistha threw Devayani into a well.
King Yayati happened to pass by the way and he rescued her. She became
attached to the king and married him. Sukra became displeased with the
Danavas for the ill treatment of his daughter by Sarmistha. And to
please the preceptor and his daughter, Vrishaparvan had to make over his
daughter and her companions to Devayani as her constant attendants. So
they accompanied Devayani to the place of Yayati. Sukra warned Yayati
however not to have any intercourse with Sarmistha. But the king did not
heed the warning. He had two sons Yadu and Turvasu by Devayani and three
sons, Druhya, Anu and Puru by Sarmistha. Devayani 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. Yayati 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.