Shloka 43
Śukra’s Ultimatum and Devayānī’s Demand (शुक्र-प्रतिज्ञा तथा देवयानी-वर-याचना)
ते न तस्य प्रत्यगृह्नन् यदुप्रभूतयो जराम् । तमब्रवीत् ततः पूरु: कनीयान् सत्यविक्रम:,राजाके ऐसा कहनेपर भी वे यदु आदि चार पुत्र उनकी वृद्धावस्था न ले सके। तब सबसे छोटे पुत्र सत्यपराक्रमी पूरने कहा--'राजन्! आप मेरे नूतन शरीरसे नौजवान होकर विषयोंका उपभोग कीजिये। मैं आपकी आज्ञासे बुढ़ापा लेकर राज्यसिंहासनपर बैदूँगा'
te na tasya pratyagṛhṇan yadupṛbhūtayo jarām | tam abravīt tataḥ pūruḥ kanīyān satyavikramaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Yadu and the other elder sons did not accept their father’s old age. Then Pūru, the youngest, of true valor, spoke to him: “O King, become youthful again with my fresh body and enjoy the objects of desire. By your command I shall take on your old age and sit upon the royal throne.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights filial duty and self-sacrifice as ethical ideals: when others refuse a burdensome obligation, the truly dutiful son accepts it, thereby becoming worthy of kingship and legacy.
After the elder sons (led by Yadu) refuse to take their father’s old age, the youngest son Pūru offers to exchange his youth for the king’s senescence, enabling the king to regain youth while Pūru bears old age and is positioned to inherit the throne.