Yayati is perhaps a complete case study of how even following dharma, one can be caught in the web of vasanas, kama and samsara. He provides a unique deep insight into the human behavior and consequences. Yayati story is extensively narrated in the Mahabharata, Adi Parva. We got an idea of the incidents preceding Yayati in Lessons from Yayati – Prelude.
Storytime:
Quarrel: Indra excited with Kacha’s achievement gathered all the Devas and blended in as wind. At a lake, similar to Kubera’s lake Chitraratha, many maidens were sporting and this wind mixed their garments. Vrishaparva’s daughter, Sarmishta who was sporting with her friends, picked up Devayani’s garments by mistake. A quarrel ensued between the friends, as they exchanged heated arguments. Sarmishta mocked that Shukracharya was an ordinary mortal in her father’s payroll. Ridiculing her father to be living on alms, she pushed Devayani, who was holding to her clothes, into a well. Believing that she was dead for a punishment that fit the situation, Sarmishta left for the palace.
Nahusha’s son, Yayati came on a hunting expedition, was looking for water. As he arrived at this waterless well, he was surprised to see a beautiful maiden, angry and sad at the same time. Responding to his queries, she introduced herself as Shukracharya’s daughter. She wondered loudly that Yayati appeared to be from a respectable background. So she raised her right hand and sought him to lift her up. As he bid her safe journey, she declared that he was her husband as he grasped her right hand.
Devayani’s interpretation was shocking. He declared that a mixed varna marriage was not acceptable. Besides, Shukracharya being the Guru respected in all lokas, she must proceed without any fear for her safety. Devayani understood his fear for dharmic boundaries and declared that she will marry him with her father’s blessings, as they parted for their respective destinations.
Angry fallout: Devayani overwhelmed by sorrow and anger took shelter under a tree. Shukracharya, disturbed by her delay, sent her caretaker in search. Finding her after a great search, she sent the message for her dad expressing her inability to come to Vrishaparva’s city. The anxious father was greeted with the drama that happened. Shukracharya said since it takes two for an argument, for her part, she had to undergo this rough part. Furious Devayani was upset more by her father being abused, despite reviving the dead asuras for Vrishaparva.
Shukracharya informed her that the entire world including Indra, Vrishaparva, Yayati and others know his piety and his command on mṛta-sañjīvini mantra. A sadhu who speaks proud of his own skills will meet misery, hence he cannot talk more about himself. Due to his tapasya, the world is getting good rains and lots of medicinal herbs. He expounded a lot on the importance of being anger free.
Patiently tolerating others’ abuses is a sign of great internal growth.
One who can control his anger is considered as victorious over all.
Just like snake shedding its skin, a virtuous person drops anger with his kshama.
A person without anger is superior to one who is doing yajna nonstop for a hundred years.
Anger destroys the Daana, Yajna and Tapasya.
Anger destroys all relationships. One will lose son, servant, friend, brother, spouse, Dharma and Satya to anger.
Shukracharya recalled the repeated abuse of Kacha and the bad treatment of Devayani was the last straw. He decided to stay with his daughter and renounce the King and his city. Vrishaparva unable to reconcile with Shukracharya declared that only falling into an ocean or fire were the only viable options for the asuras. This made no dent in Shukracharya who was feeling miserable for his daughter’s plight. His offer to give all the wealth was countered by Shukracharya, who wanted peace for his daughter’s mind.
Vrishaparva desired to placate Devayani. Still feeling the sting of Sarmishta’s words, she declared that Sarmishta and another thousand maidens must wait upon her and must continue this relationship even after she gets married. Sarmishta felt that it was a huge price that her father had to pay due to Shukracharya and Devayani leaving, on her account. She immediately arrived at Devayani’s place with a thousand maidens to be at her service and another thousand to wait upon her. On thinking loud how a princess became a servant, Sarmishta said that it is the duty to wipe the misery of the relatives and hence she will follow her even after her marriage. The pacified Devayani now led her father back to the city.
Yayati again: The girls in due course of time, went back to the same garden when Devayani had met Yayati. The girls were having a great time when Yayati arrived there and wondered the center of attraction – Devayani and Sarmishta. Though both the maidens were stunning, he seemed more interested in Sarmishta. Devayani informed that she was her friend and servant who serve her with a thousand other girls, besides another thousand in her service. This confused Yayati wanted more details and Devayani merely stated that all are bound by their fate (karma). To her query on his background, Yayati informed that he was a King and had mastered the Vedas. Having realized, she proposed him to marry her. He refused on the grounds of Dharma and her varna. He clarified that in addition another person’s wife, sisters, same gotra, daughter-in-law, fallen ones, beggars and chronically sick are not suitable for marriage.
A gentle debate broke out between Yayati and Devayani on marriages between Kshatra Dharma and Brahmana Dharma. The prudent Devayani having understood that Yayati was frozen due to fear of her father and Dharmas. She sent for her father to be fetched immediately. Yayati greeted him with great respect, while Devayani informed that he had already took her right hand in a time of distress and she can only marry him. Shukracharya acknowledged Yayati’s objections, but said that he is voluntarily giving his duaghter’s hands in marriage to him. To Yayati’s query of the papa of violating the dharma guidance, Shukracharya blessed him that he will not be touched by that papa. Shukracharya reminded that Sarmishta must always be treated with utmost respect as she will follow Devayani and Yayati must never interact with her alone or touch her or treat her like a spouse. Yayati married Devayani and returned with the two thousand maidens and Sarmishta.
Yayati and Sarmishta: Yayati had a wonderful marriage with Devayani. He created a nice abode in the nearby garden for Sarmishta, per Devayani’s suggestion and let her thousand servants take care of her needs. Devayani visited and sported with her friend regularly. In due time, Devayani gave birth to her first son, Yadu. Frustrated by the ticking biological clock, Sarmishta found herself trapped, unable to get a good husband or bear children. She found Yayati alone and pleaded that he alone is qualified to be her husband and she was soliciting in her season. Yayati informed her that he was always thinking about her, but Shukracharya’s words were preventing his affection. Inflamed by her desire, Sarmishta reminded that this situation was acceptable by Dharmashastras to tell a lie. Yayati was not ready to compromise. She said that being subservient to Devayani and also being her friend, all her needs must be met only by Yayati. While all her other needs were taken care, she wanted only him. To give what is asked is only dharma.
A combination of his strong liking for her and her wonderful arguments resulted in their obvious union. In due course, the pregnancy news brought a worried Devayani. She was genuinely concerned for her friend losing her life to infamy, driven by lust. The clever Sarmishta informed that her husband was a Rishi, not easily accessible to others. Devayani was happy for her friend’s cause. In due course, Devayani gave birth to her second son, Turvasu. Sarmishta gave birth to three sons – Dhruhyu, Anu and Puru.
Infidelity and consequences: One day, Devayani encountered three beautiful children, while Yayati was with her and was curious about their lineage. The children pointed to Yayati as father and Sarmishta as mother. Shocked at the discovery, she confronted Sarmishta, who denied lying to her as Yayati was a Rajarishi. In reality, Yayati was an expert in Vedas and also a Raja. Sarmishta declared that she had chosen Yayati as her husband the very first time she saw him. She argued that according to Dharmashastras choosing a friend’s spouse as one’s own is acceptable. Also Shukracharya had given both the women to Yayati for taking care of their needs. Furious and ashamed at the betrayal, she went to her father’s abode. Yayati went after her pleading her return. Shukracharya moved by his daughter’s plight cursed Yayati to beget crippling decrepitude. Yayati’s pleaded that he was cornered by the dharma of being approached by a maiden in season, who demanded her to be treated as a wife that cannot be turned down.
The suddenly aged Yayati pleaded for compassion as he had not yet enjoyed his youth with his wives and Shukracharya gave him the option to exchange his old age with his son’s youth. Yayati also added that the son who exchanges his youth will get the kingdom and lots of fame.
Exchanging youth: Upon arriving to his palace, the aged Yayati appealed to his children, in their order of age. He proposed to exchange their youth for his old age, which he will return after enjoying it. Yadu declined citing the ills of old age, frailty, dependency and inability to enjoy anything. Yayati said that Yadu and his lineage will never become rulers. (One can recall that Krishna born in Yadu’s lineage was only a kingmaker and never the ruler).
Turvasu rejected the request stating that old age ruins enjoyment, strength, beauty and also moves one closer to death. As Turvasu’s mind was too much bent away from dharma, Yayati cursed him that he will become the leader of mlechchas, steeped in adharma, eating meat and have all low tamasic characters and so will his lineage.
Dhruhyu was the next to reject, as he opined that the aged cannot ride elephants or chariots or horses, nor can he enjoy women. Yayati cursed him that his desires will never get fulfilled and he and his lineage will always be on the run.
Anu came with a different excuse that old age pulls one away from doing even agnihotra, besides expounding on the shortcoming of old age. Yayati cursed that he and his lineage will fall prey for the same faults he found in old age and they will leave the path of dharma.
Yayati now appealed to his youngest son, Puru, who responded that he was not just a father, but also his Guru. Following Guru’s words is the highest dharma. If one gets blessed by one’s Guru, achieving the seemingly impossible becomes very easily attainable. Yayati blessed that in Puru’s rule, everyone will achieve all desires and proceeded to exchange his old age for Puru’s youth.
Endless desire: Yayati used his borrowed youth wisely. He proceeded to do yajnas, sraadhas and daanas. He enjoyed not only with his wives, but also devoted a significant time in strengthening his dharmic roots. Thus he was leading an ideal happy married life.
After the promised thousand years, Yayati came back and addressed his son on the nature of desires. Just like adding fuel to fire only grows it, desires never get satiated. No matter how many times one enjoys their object of desire, it still remains a strong source of attraction and attachment. Every fulfilled desire only gets replaced with more desires.
Yayati turned his youth back to Puru and blessed him to have his youth as long as he desires. As he proposed the coronation of Puru, objections were raised as it violated the tradition. Yayati reminded them of the boon from Shukracharya. Besides, children who violate the dharmic parents’ words are not even considered as children. Character alone decides who the ideal son is, not the birth order. He allowed the creation of kingdoms for his first four sons at the borders of his kingdom. Yadu gave rise to Yadavas, Turvasu gave rise to Yavanas (western migration?), Dhruhyu’s sons were Bhojas and Anu’s sons became mlechchas. Puru went on to become a powerful dharmic ruler with all his passions in his control.
Metaphorical connection:
The metaphorical lessons from this episode is tremendous. Yayati represents the Jivatma and also the Manas. By his background and training, Yayati is very educated, disciplined, dharmic and cultured. Devayani represents the senses. During his very first contact, Devayani wants to marry him for his wondrous qualities. Yayati is able to hold on to his higher path. The senses always want the best for itself to enjoy.
Sarmishta represents the vasanas. There is always a tug of war between vasanas and the senses. They cannot separate from each other. One feeds the other. That is why Sarmishta and Devayani remain as friends, with one serving the other. She also goes along with her marriage. The interesting insight is both have a thousand servants. The senses are constantly fed by thousands of sensory object feeds. The vasanas also get strengthened constantly by different experiences in the present and the past.
Shukracharya represents the Buddhi. His advice to Devayani fails, as senses have their own way to circumvent Buddhi. He warns Yayati to stay with just the senses, bound by dharma. The dharma bound senses provide constant joy to the Jiva/manas. The vasanas under the appropriate conditions get stronger and stronger. They approach the dharmic manas and appeal with tempting logic and desires. When dharma bound senses are not around to rein in, the vasanas get a free license to express themselves and control the direction of the manas. All the discipline fly out of the window, especially if Buddhi is not constantly monitoring or like in this case, Buddhi’s words get overpowered.
The consequences of doing a dharmic karma leads to punya and an adharmic one leads to papa. In this metaphor, dharma lead actions with Devayani were sanctioned, but vasana driven ones with Sarmishta, who is also indicated as an asura’s daughter, was not. The overpowering ability of vasanas is enormous and most times, simple will, discipline, our dharmic training or Buddhi may not be sufficient to stop it. Being alert is critical.
The karmaphala leads to endless desire craving cycle, which is signified by Yayati wanting to enjoy the pleasures on borrowed youth. This is akin to many janmas one is taking to repeatedly enjoy the karmaphala. Yet unlike Yayati, who started doing more dharma and also developed viveka and vairagya treated his renewed youth as a Vanaprastha, most of us don’t. Though he was perpetually chasing Kama, there was also a strong proclivity to Dharma. We will read more insights in the upcoming episode.
Practical applications:
Anger: Shukracharya’s insight into anger and its avoidance.
Karmaphala: Sarmishta’s angry actions brought sad consequences for herself. Though she took it in stride, Devayani continued with bad action of making her a dasi. This had consequences in her marriage, only due to her making. Yayati also felt the consequences of his desire driven actions.
Guru: Puru was the only one who was able to see his father as a Guru. Only by serving his Guru, despite the odd request of exchanging his youth, he remained rooted in Dharma.
Vasanas: These are very powerful forces which continuously weaken us and also strike us the hardest when we are down. Yet it is critical to defeat these internal forces, despite the odds against every Jiva.
As we continue the saga of Yayati in the upcoming episodes, the most important point to retain is repeatedly pondering over the similarities, especially in the metaphor. We need the grace of shastras, guru and Bhagawan to back us in this battle against the vasanas and in realizing our real nature.
ॐ तत् सत
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