Yayati

Yayati / ययाति

Yayati was a king of the lunar dynasty, son of Nahush by his wife Ashoksundari. Yayati was married to Devyani, daughter of Shukra.
He also married Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishparva, in secret. By Devyani, he had two sons, Yadu and Turvasu, and by Sharmishtha he had three sons, viz. Anudruhyu, Druhyu and Puru.
Yayati also had a daughter named Madhvi. His infidelity to Devyani brought upon him the curse of old age and infirmity from her father, Shukra.
When Yayati pleaded to be released from the curse, Shukra relented and modified it, saying that Yayati would be able to exchange his old age with the youth of one of his sons.
The elder four sons refused and were cursed by their father. Puru, the youngest son, undertook to resign his youth in his father's favour.
Yayati, after a thousand years spent in sensual pleasures, renounced sensuality, restored his vigour to Puru, and made him his successor.
Yayati, after restoring his youth to Puru, retired to the forest with his wife and gave himself up to mortification. Abstaining from food, he died and ascended to heaven.
Arrogant of his ascetic austerities, Yayati was caused by Indra to fall down to earth from heaven.
He related his tale to his grandsons, Vasuman, Shibi, Pratardan and Ashtak.
These sons of Madhvi offered to him their merits. His daughter Madhvi too offered him hers and so did Galav. Yayati was then raised back to heaven.