Shloka 45

Śukra’s Ultimatum and Devayānī’s Demand (शुक्र-प्रतिज्ञा तथा देवयानी-वर-याचना)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त: स राजर्षिस्तपोवीर्यसमाश्रयात्‌ । संचारयामास जरां तदा पुत्रे महात्मनि,पुरुके ऐसा कहनेपर राजर्षि ययातिने तप और वीर्यके आश्रयसे अपनी वृद्धावस्थाका अपने महात्मा पुत्र पूरुमें संचार कर दिया

Transliteration

evaṃ uktaḥ sa rājarṣis tapovīrya-samāśrayāt | sañcārayāmāsa jarāṃ tadā putre mahātmani pūrau ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dijo: Dicho esto, aquel sabio rey (Yayāti), apoyándose en el poder nacido del tapas (austeridad) y del vigor varonil, transfirió entonces su propia vejez a su noble hijo Pūru.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

सःhe

राजर्षिःroyal sage

तपोवीर्यसमाश्रयात्by/through reliance on ascetic power and vigor

संचारयामासcaused to pass/transfer; transferred

जराम्old age

तदाthen

पुत्रेin/onto (his) son

महात्मनिin the great-souled (one)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśaṃpāyana

Yayāti

Pūru

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the potency of tapas (ascetic power) to effect extraordinary changes, while inviting ethical reflection on responsibility: fulfilling personal desire by transferring suffering (old age) to another—even a willing son—creates a moral tension between desire, duty, and rightful conduct (dharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

After being spoken to (in context, following the sons’ responses), King-sage Yayāti uses the power of his austerities and vigor to shift his own senescence (jarā) into his son Pūru, thereby regaining youth for himself while Pūru accepts the burden of old age.