Talk:Lunar Dynasty:Emperor Yayāti & Puru
By Vishal Agarwal
No One Ever Gets Satisfied by Running After Pleasures (From the Matsya Purāṇa)
Many people say there is only one life, so let us enjoy. Who knows if there will be a tomorrow? But Śāstras narrate the story of Emperor Yayāti who was excessively devoted to the pleasures of the senses.
Emperor Yayāti had two wives and many sons. He loved to live a so-called good life, indulging in all kinds of pleasures. When he grew old, he was unable to enjoy those pleasures, but his mind still longed for them. So he asked his sons one by one to exchange their youth for their father's old age.
The first three sons refused. In anger, he cursed them. The fourth son, Puru, was very obedient and agreed to exchange his youth for his father’s old age.
Then, Yayāti lived through another youth and enjoyed pleasures of the senses once more. But when he grew old again, he realized that he was still not satisfied.
Now Yayāti felt very guilty. He had cursed his own sons and deprived his most obedient son of his rightful youth. Even after living a second youth, his desires for physical pleasures were not fulfilled.
He realized the foolishness of what he had done, and spoke the following famous verses, quoted in many Śāstras, including the Brahma Purāṇa 10.40–46:
He who withdraws within himself all pleasures Like the tortoise that draws his limbs within itself Is indeed a person who has attained the state of yog.
Never does desire for pleasure subside by indulging in their enjoyment. Just as the fire blazes all the more when ghee is poured into it, So also it increases at every indulgence.
If one were to possess all the grains of rice and barley on the earth, If one were to possess all the gold, If one were to become the master of all the cattle wealth on the earth, Or if one were to marry all women on the earth He will discover that even this is not sufficient to satiate his thirst.
That being so, one should not be deluded by these things. When one does not have any ill will towards any living being, Whether in mind, in word, or in deed, Then only does one attain Brahman.
When one is not afraid of others, When none is afraid of him, Or when one does not like or dislike others too much, Then alone one attains Brahman.
Happiness befalls a person who eschews greed and covetousness Evils which can never be eschewed by the wicked, Evils which do not become old even when one's own body becomes old and decrepit, Evils which are like an ailment that ends only when the vital airs die out.
When a man becomes old, his hair becomes old, His teeth become old But alas, the hope and greed for wealth and long life never grow old.
The happiness that supposedly arises from indulgence in pleasures, And even the great happiness one attains in heaven All these are not equal to even the sixteenth part Of the happiness one attains when greed is extinguished.
Yayāti then decided to devote the remainder of his life to the worship of Bhagavān, the practice of yog, and the pursuit of truth. And when he died, he attained heaven.
This story shows how a blind pursuit of pleasures of the senses of the tongue, eyes, ears, and so on can make us so selfish that we forget the welfare of even our closest friends and family. Therefore, we should realize that there are more important things in life dharm and Bhagavān. These alone should be our highest goals in life.