76 - Yayātatirtha and other Holy Centres 

Brahmä said: 

1. The next holy centre is Yayāta where lord Siva is called Kālañjara. It is the dispeller of all sins. Its glory is being recounted now. 

2. King Yayati, son of Nahuşa was like another Indra. He had two wives embellished by nobility of birth and good characteristics. 

3. The senior queen was the splendid daughter of Shukra, Devayani by name. The second one was Sharmişth, the daughter of Vrusaparvan. 

4. Although she was a brahrain lady, the beautiful lady of slender waist, the highly intelligent Devayāni became the wife of Yayati by the grace of Shukra. 

5-8. Sarmisth, the daughter of Vruşaparvan too, was his wife, Devayāni the daughter of Shukra gave birth to two sons viz. Yadu and Turvasu. They were like the sons of gods. 

Sarmishthā gave birth to three sons resembling Devas viz Druhyu, Anu and Puru. 

The sons of Devayani, O brahmin, were like Shukra in form and features. 

Sarmishtha's sons had the lustre of Indra, Agni and Varuna. Once the distressed Devayāni spoke to her father.

 Devayāni said: 

9. O father, scion of the family of Bhrugu, I am unfortunate. I have only two sons. My servant woman is fotunate. She has three sons. 

10. Thinking about this I have become very sad, O preceptor of Dānavas. I will die as a result of the insult committed by Yayāti. Death is far better than injury to the honour of an intelligent person.

 Brahmā said: 

11. On hearing these words of his beloved daughter Shukra of great valour became angry. He came to Yayāti hurriedly and spoke thus.

 Shukra said: 

12-14. O great king, you are proud of your handsome features. That was why this unpleasant treatment has been accorded to my daughter. Hence, you will become old. 

You will be overwhelmed by sensual objects which you will be incompetent to enjoy. Nor will it be possible for you to cast them off. You will be heaving sighs and gasping for breath; your intellect will be confounded. You will be mentally longing for sensual pleasures. 

Old age alone is death to the embodied beings though they be (physically) alive. Hence, O king, quickly attain the extremely unbearable old age.

 Brahmā said: 

15. On hearing this curse of the intelligent Shukra, king Yayati spoke to him with palms joined in reverence. 

Yayāti said: 

16-18. I have committed no offence. I am not angry. I do not commit any sin. Indeed the sinners alone who commit evil should be admonished by the noble. 

How is it that you have cursed me although I continue to perform pious rites, C excellent brahmin? Devayani has said something about me without any basis. Hence, O great brahmin, it does not behove you to curse me thus. 

If even lcarned mcn, out of delusion, were to be angry with blameless persons, what fault is there in fools whose minds are scorched by the fire of hatred?

Brahmā said: 

19-20. On hearing the words of Yayati, Shukra remembered what had been committed by his daughter, how she had become fierce and committed things unpleasant to him many times by day and night. After saying "My anger has gone" Shukra spoke to the king.

Shukra said: 

21-22. I never tell lies knowingly or unknowingly. I never utter falsehood intentionally. Listen, o king, I shall convert this curse into a blessing. I grant you this boon, O bestower of honour, that you can transfer this old age to anyone of your sons as you wish. Brahma said: 

23-25. Once again Yayāti spoke humbly to Shukra, his father-in-law, thus.

Yayāti said: 

Let this be permitted, O preceptor of Daityas. Only that son shall be the king, who devoutly receives the old age transferred by me. 

I shall curse that son, O preceptor of Daityas, who does not approve of my suggestion. O preceptor, permission should be granted by you in this regard.

Brahmā said: 

26. The son of Bhrugu said to the king, "Let it be so". Thereupon, Yayati called his son and spoke these words. 

Yayāti said: 

27. O Yadu, you are my son. Receive the old age that has befallen me due to the curse. You are my eldest son. You are mature and conversant with all affairs. You are the seniormost of my sons. A father can be said to be blessed with a son only when that son is obedient to his father. 

Brahma said: 

28-33. Yadu said "No" to his father, Yayāti who used to distribute much by way of gifts. Yayāti then cursed Yadu and spoke to Turvasu about his desire. 

Turvasu also did not like to receive the old age of his father. After cursing him he spoke to Druhyu, "Receive this old age of mine". 

Druhyu also did not like to receive the old age transferred by his father, the old age that destroys the beauty of form, 

The king said to Anu also, "Receive this old age of mine." Then Anu said "No". After cursing him, he spoke to Puru. Then Puru approved the suggestion of his father and accepted his old age for a thousand and one years. Then his father became glad. Contented with the youthful age of his son, Yayāti happily enjoyed the different pleasures that could be enjoyed in the course of youth. Then the king, the son of Nahuşa, was satisfied with regard to all worldly pleasures. Then out of delight he called his son Puru and said:

 Yayati said: 

34. O sinless one, I am fully satiated in regard to all worldly pleasures due to your youth. Dear son, receive your youthful age, give me back my old age that is foul and ignominious. 

Brahmā said: 

35-37. "No", said Puru then. “Dear father, the inevitable aberrations of the emotions of all embodied beings are being gradually destroyed by one through this old age. Old age that befalls one forcibly at the due period can be well endured by all embodied beings. If that has been accepted to help one's elderly (father), how can it be forsaken? To the embodied beings,  death is preferable to the sin of casting away what is accepted. Or. O king, I shall destroy the old age by means of penance."

Brahmä said: 

38. After saying this to his father he went to Ganga and performed a penance on the southern bank of that sacred river. 

39. After a great deal of time lord Siva became pleased. The most excellent Deva said, "What shall I give you?" to Puru who was bedecked in excellent jewels of magnificent qualities, far superior to what are seen ordinarily in the world. 

Puru said: 

40-45. O lord, O chief of Devas, O lord of Devas, be pleased to destroy old age acquired by my father due to the curse. Please rid my brothers of their curses. They have been cursed by my father due to anger. O lord, worshipped by Devas, release them from their curses. 

Brahmä said: 

Saying "So be it" the lord of the universe destroyed old age that was caused by the curse. The lord of the worlds made his brothers free from their curses. 

Thenceforth that holy centre destroys old age and sickness. Merely by being remembered it dispels premature old age. 

It is well known by his name. It is cited as Kälañjara. It is also known as Yayāta, Nāhuşa, Paura, Saukra and Sarmişhtha. 

There are onehundred and eight holy centres like this there. O highly intelligent one, it should be known as conducive to the achievement of all spiritual powers. 

Holy bath in them, offering of charitable gifts there, listening and reading the text describing it suppresses all sins. They yield worldly pleasures and salvation.