Shloka 38

Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire

Devanagari script

इति लब्धव्यवस्थान: पुत्रं ज्येष्ठमवोचत । यदो तात प्रतीच्छेमां जरां देहि निजं वय: ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

iti labdha-vyavasthānaḥ putraṁ jyeṣṭham avocata yado tāta pratīcchemāṁ jarāṁ dehi nijaṁ vayaḥ

Translation

When Yayāti received this benediction from Śukrācārya, he requested his eldest son: My dear son Yadu, please give me your youth in exchange for my old age and invalidity.

Synonyms

• iti: thus
• iti: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय)

• labdha-vyavasthānaḥ: having obtained an arrangement
• labdha-vyavasthānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: labdha (कृदन्त; √labh लभ्) + vyavasthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘having obtained (labdha) an arrangement/settlement (vyavasthāna)’

• putram: (his) son
• putram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• jyeṣṭham: eldest
• jyeṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of putram)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); superlative sense ‘eldest’

• avocata: said/spoke
• avocata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); ātmanepada form

• yado: O Yadu
• yado: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yadu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• tāta: dear son
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); term of address

• pratīccha: accept
• pratīccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ī (धातु; प्रतीच्छ्)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• imām: this
• imām: Karma (कर्म/Object of pratīccha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• jarām: old age
• jarām: Karma (कर्म/Object—what to accept)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• dehi: give
• dehi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• nijam: your own
• nijam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of vayaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vayaḥ: youth/age
• vayaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object of dehi)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• King Yayāti
• Yadu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about exchanging youth and old age?

In this verse, Yayāti asks his eldest son Yadu to take his old age and give his youth, highlighting the powerful pull of worldly desire and the temporary nature of bodily vigor.

Why did King Yayāti say this to Yadu?

After resolving on a course of action, Yayāti approached his eldest son first, requesting a transfer of youth so he could continue enjoying worldly life—setting up the moral and spiritual lesson that enjoyment cannot satisfy the soul.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Youth and health are fleeting; use them wisely for dharma and spiritual progress rather than postponing inner growth for temporary pleasures.