Shloka 17
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 85: Āṣṭaka–Yayāti संवादः
Merit-Exhaustion, Rebirth, and the Critique of Pride
ययातिरुवाच द्रह्मो त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व वर्णरूपविनाशिनीम् । जरां वर्षसहसतरं मे यौवनं स्वं ददस्व च,ययातिने कहा--द्रुह्ञे! कान्ति तथा रूपका नाश करनेवाली यह वृद्धावस्था तुम ले लो और एक हजार वर्षोंके लिये अपनी जवानी मुझे दे दो
yayātir uvāca—druhyo tvaṁ pratipadyasva varṇarūpavināśinīm | jarāṁ varṣasahasrataraṁ me yauvanaṁ svaṁ dadasva ca ||
Yayāti said: “O Druhyu, take upon yourself this old age that destroys complexion and beauty; and give to me your own youth for a thousand years.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between personal desire and rightful conduct: youth and beauty are transient, and attempting to evade aging by shifting its burden to another—especially one’s own child—raises questions of dharma, responsibility, and the consequences of unchecked craving.
King Yayāti addresses his son Druhyu and requests an exchange: Druhyu should accept Yayāti’s old age, while Yayāti takes Druhyu’s youth for a thousand years, so that the king may continue to enjoy youthful life.