Shloka 2
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 85: Āṣṭaka–Yayāti संवादः
Merit-Exhaustion, Rebirth, and the Critique of Pride
ययातिरुवाच जरा वली च मां तात पलितानि च पर्यगुः । काव्यस्योशनस: शापान्न च तृप्तोडस्मि यौवने,ययातिने कहा--तात! कविपुत्र शुक्राचार्यके शापसे मुझे बुढ़ापेने घेर लिया; मेरे शरीरमें झुर्रियाँ पड़ गयीं और बाल सफेद हो गये; किंतु मैं अभी जवानीके भोगोंसे तृप्त नहीं हुआ हूँ
yayātir uvāca jarā valī ca māṃ tāta palitāni ca paryaguḥ | kāvyasyośanasaḥ śāpān na ca tṛpto 'smi yauvanena ||
Yayāti disse: “Meu querido filho, a velhice me alcançou — surgiram rugas e meus cabelos ficaram grisalhos. Por causa da maldição de Kāvya Uśanas (Śukrācārya), fui tomado pela senescência; e, no entanto, ainda não me saciei dos prazeres da juventude.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the insatiability of sense-desire: even when old age arrives, craving may remain. It also underscores moral causality—one’s actions can invite consequences (here, a curse) that abruptly alter life’s course.
King Yayāti addresses his son, lamenting that due to Śukrācārya’s curse he has suddenly become old—wrinkled and grey-haired—while his longing for youthful enjoyment remains unfulfilled.