Shloka 20
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 85: Āṣṭaka–Yayāti संवादः
Merit-Exhaustion, Rebirth, and the Critique of Pride
ययातिरुवाच यत् त्वं मे हृदयाज्जातो वयः स्व॑ न प्रयच्छसि । तस्माद् द्रुह्मो प्रियः कामो न ते सम्पत्स्यते क्वचित्,ययाति बोले--ट्रह्मो! तू मेरे हृदयसे उत्पन्न होकर भी अपनी जवानी मुझे नहीं दे रहा है; इसलिये तेरा प्रिय मनोरथ कभी सिद्ध नहीं होगा
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca: Yayātir uvāca—yat tvaṃ me hṛdayāj jāto vayaḥ svaṃ na prayacchasi | tasmād druhmo priyaḥ kāmo na te sampatsyate kvacit ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: Winika ni Haring Yayāti: “Ikaw, Druhma, bagama’t isinilang mula sa aking puso, ay hindi mo ibinibigay sa akin ang iyong kabataan. Kaya ang hangaring pinakamamahal mo ay hindi kailanman matutupad saanman.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between personal desire and familial obligation: refusal to support a rightful request (here, the transfer of youth) provokes a moral consequence framed as a curse—unchecked self-interest can lead to the frustration of one’s own cherished aims.
In Vaiśaṃpāyana’s narration, King Yayāti addresses Druhma, reproaching him for not giving up his youth despite being ‘born from my heart,’ and in anger declares that Druhma’s beloved wish will never be accomplished.