Shloka 23
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 85: Āṣṭaka–Yayāti संवादः
Merit-Exhaustion, Rebirth, and the Critique of Pride
यत्राश्वरथमुख्यानामश्चानां स्थाद् गतं न च | हस्तिनां पीठकानां च गर्दभानां तथैव च,ययातिरुवाच अनो त्व॑ं प्रतिपद्यस्व पाप्मानं जरया सह । एकं वर्षसहसत्रं तु चरेयं यौवनेन ते तदनन्तर ययातिने [अनुसे] कहा--अनो! तुम बुढ़ापेके साथ मेरा दोष ले लो और मैं तुम्हारी जवानीके द्वारा एक हजार वर्षतक सुख भोगूँगा
yatrāśvarathamukhyānām aśvānāṃ sthād gataṃ na ca | hastināṃ pīṭhakānāṃ ca gardabhānāṃ tathaiva ca || yayātir uvāca: ano tvaṃ pratipadyasva pāpmānaṃ jarayā saha | ekaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu careyaṃ yauvanena te ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Havia um lugar onde os melhores cavalos e carros não podiam nem firmar-se nem mover-se; o mesmo valia para os elefantes, para os carregadores e também para os jumentos.” Então Yayāti disse: “Ó Anu, toma sobre ti o meu pecado juntamente com a minha velhice. Com a tua juventude, viverei e gozarei por mil anos.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical problem of shifting the consequences of one’s condition and conduct onto another: Yayāti seeks prolonged enjoyment by transferring old age and its associated moral burden (pāpmān) to someone else, raising questions about responsibility, consent, and the limits of desire.
In Vaiśaṃpāyana’s narration, a difficult, immobilizing situation is described (where even horses, chariots, elephants, and donkeys cannot proceed). Immediately after, Yayāti addresses Ano, asking him to accept Yayāti’s old age and sin so that Yayāti may live for a thousand years using Ano’s youth.