Shloka 38
आदि पर्व — अध्याय ८३: ययाति-इन्द्र-संवादः तथा अष्टक-प्रश्नः
Yayāti–Indra Dialogue and Aṣṭaka’s Inquiry
ययातिरुवाच अतृप्तो यौवनस्याहं देवयान्यां भृगूद्वह । प्रसाद कुरु मे ब्रह्म॒ज्जरेयं न विशेच्च माम्,ययाति बोले--भृगुश्रेष्ठ! मैं देवयानीके साथ युवावस्थामें रहकर तृप्त नहीं हो सका हूँ; अतः ब्रह्मन! मुझपर ऐसी कृपा कीजिये, जिससे यह बुकढ़ापा मेरे शरीरमें प्रवेश न करे
yāyātir uvāca | atṛpto yauvanasyāhaṃ devayānyāṃ bhṛgūdvaha | prasāda kuru me brahman jareyaṃ na viśec ca mām ||
Yayāti dit : « Ô le plus éminent des Bhṛgu ! Bien que j’aie goûté la jeunesse auprès de Devayānī, je demeure inassouvi. Aussi, ô brāhmane, accorde-moi ta grâce : que cette vieillesse n’entre pas en moi. »
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that indulgence does not necessarily bring contentment; craving can remain ‘unsated’ even amid enjoyment. Ethically, it points to the danger of resisting natural limits (like aging) through special favors, which often leads to further moral compromise and consequences.
King Yayāti addresses a Bhṛgu-descended brāhmaṇa (implicitly Śukra, Devayānī’s father), confessing that he is not satisfied even after enjoying youth with Devayānī. He requests a boon that old age should not enter his body, setting up the later episode of exchanging old age and youth.