Pleased with his son Puru’s devotion and conduct, King Yayati spoke warmly to him: “Puru, my son, you have brought me great satisfaction. Because of this, I grant you a blessing—your descendants will flourish in this kingdom, and all your desires shall be fulfilled.” Having thus spoken, the great ascetic Yayati, mindful of the boon received from Kavi (Shukra), at that moment transferred his old age to the noble Puru. With the vigor and youth restored to him by this exchange, Yayati, son of Nahusha, became once more a handsome and youthful prince. Filled with delight, he joyfully indulged in all pleasures befitting a king. He enjoyed life as he wished, with enthusiasm and happiness, always at the proper time and without ever straying from righteousness. Yayati performed sacrifices to satisfy the gods, made offerings to his ancestors, gave gifts to the poor, and rewarded the best of the twice-born as they desired. He honored guests with food and drink, protected his people, showed compassion to the lowly, and restrained wrongdoers. He ruled over all his subjects with justice and affection, like another Indra on earth, winning the love and respect of his people. Strong and lion-like in valor, Yayati, now youthful and master of his realm, moved freely within the bounds of dharma, enjoying supreme happiness without opposition. Having fulfilled all his desires and yet feeling a sense of weariness, the lord of men remembered the time limit set for his enjoyment—a thousand years. Knowing the passage of time, Yayati, powerful and wise, counted the moments and hours as a thousand years of his youth passed. He delighted himself with the celestial nymph Vishvachi, shining in the Nandana grove, and spent time in the heavenly city of Alaka and on the northern peak of Mount Meru. When the righteous king realized that his allotted time was complete, he considered his enjoyment fulfilled and spoke to his son Puru: “O subduer of foes, I have experienced pleasures as I wished, with all my energy, and at the proper time, through my youth, for your sake. But know this—desire is never quenched by enjoyment of objects; like a fire fed with clarified butter, it only grows stronger. “All the rice, barley, gold, cattle, and women on earth are not enough for even one man; therefore, one should abandon craving. That craving, which is so hard to give up by the foolish and does not age even as the body ages, is the fatal disease—happiness comes to the one who gives it up. For a full thousand years, my mind was attached to pleasures, yet every day my craving only increased. “Therefore, giving this up, I will set my mind on Brahman, becoming free from duality and possessiveness, and shall live in the forest with the deer. Puru, I am pleased with you—may good befall you! Take back your youth, and also accept this kingdom. Enjoy your youth as long as you wish, and rule with a long life, for you are my beloved son.” Having spoken thus, King Yayati, son of Nahusha, accepted old age once more, and Puru, self-controlled and dutiful, took back his own youth. When it was decided to anoint Puru, the youngest son, as king, the Brahmins and other respected orders questioned this choice, saying, “O lord, how is it that, passing over Yadu, the eldest son of Devayani and grandson of Shukra, you give the kingdom to Puru? Yadu was born first, then Turvasu, and from Sharmishtha came Druhyu, then Anu, and finally Puru. How can the youngest deserve the kingdom, passing over his elders? We ask you to consider this and uphold righteousness.” Yayati then addressed all the orders, with the Brahmanas at their head: “Listen to my words. The kingdom must never, under any circumstance, be given to the eldest simply because of birth. My eldest son, Yadu, did not obey my command; a son who acts contrary to his father is not regarded as a true son by the virtuous. A son who follows the words of his mother and father, who is devoted and acts for their welfare, is truly a son and behaves as a son should toward his parents. “‘Puti’ is the name of hell, known as suffering. Therefore, for protection from hell, people desire a son in this world and the next. A son who resembles himself, who honors father, gods, and sages, and who is a source of many virtues—he alone is called the eldest son. A mute, blind, deaf, or leprous son, one who does not follow his duty, a thief, or a sinful son—even if he is the eldest—is not called the eldest. A virtuous son who possesses qualities, who brings honor in this world and the next, who takes the share of the eldest, he alone is truly a son; not another who is unworthy. The knowers of dharma declare this as the law concerning sons for the sake of the ancestors. “The Veda declares that the son is born from myself, from my heart; all that is born from him is myself—so says the scripture. I was disrespected by Yadu, and likewise by Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu; they all greatly dishonored me. But Puru obeyed my command and honored me especially; though he is the youngest, he is my heir, by whom my old age is supported. My wish was fulfilled by Puru, who acted as a friend, and by the boon granted by Shukra, the sage Usanas himself. “The son who follows his father is the king, the lord of the earth; among sons, the one who is obedient is the true son and inherits the share. A son endowed with virtues, who always acts for the good of his mother and father—even if he is the youngest and most excellent—deserves all prosperity; this has been declared by sages in the Vedas and in the treatises on dharma and artha. Puru is worthy of this kingdom, for he is a son who has acted kindly toward me; and no answer can be given against the boon granted by Shukra.” Hearing these words, the citizens and countrymen, satisfied, accepted Yayati’s decision. Thus, Yayati, son of Nahusha, consecrated his own son Puru as king over his realm.