That विशाल fountain of the royal palace of Pratishthanpur was sad today. Every falling drop of water sounded like someone crying. Vrittakanth rubbed his heavy shell against the stone, as if he was brushing off centuries-old dust.
Narkumi was completely still on the surface of the water today; in her big eyes, the fear of Nahusha's downfall still remained.
"Grandfather…" Narkumi whispered, "after that terrible end of Nahusha, did the Chandravansh come to an end? Was the throne of Pratishthanpur lying empty now?"
A faint old spark flashed in Vrittakanth's eyes. "No, Narkumi. When one star falls, the sky prepares to raise another. Nahusha fell into a cave as a serpent, but now the burden of the entire Aryavarta was on the shoulders of his son Yayati.
Yayati… he was not arrogant like his father, but a devastating warrior and a clever emperor. Yet in his fate was woven such a web of love and curse that the world had never seen before."
Narkumi: "Did Emperor Yayati learn anything from his father's mistake?"
Vrittakanth: "He did learn, but the moves of destiny are very twisted.
One day, when Yayati went hunting in dense forests, he heard a heart-wrenching cry from near a well. When the emperor looked into the well, he saw an extremely beautiful maiden, with torn clothes and flames of anger in her eyes, stretching out her hands for help. She was no ordinary girl, Narkumi… she was Devayani, the proud daughter of the demon-guru Shukracharya."
Narkumi (astonished): "The daughter of the demon-guru? How did she fall into the well?"
Vrittakanth (in a low voice): "Because of ego and jealousy. Devayani and Sharmishtha, the daughter of demon-king Vrishaparva, were friends, but a small dispute turned them into sworn enemies. In anger, Sharmishtha pushed Devayani into that well. When Yayati held Devayani's hand and pulled her out, unknowingly he made such an alliance that changed history."
Narkumi: "What kind of alliance, grandfather?"
Vrittakanth: "Looking into Yayati's eyes, Devayani said, 'O king, you have held my hand, and according to our dharma, the man who holds my hand in this way becomes my husband. Now you must marry me!'"
Narkumi: "But Yayati was a human king and she a princess of demons! Did Shukracharya agree?"
Vrittakanth: "Shukracharya was blinded by love for his daughter. He accepted Yayati, but with a terrible warning. He sent Devayani with Yayati, and along with her, he also sent Sharmishtha as Devayani's maid — the same one who had pushed her into the well. Shukracharya said to Yayati, 'O king! Keep Devayani happy, but remember, do not even raise your eyes toward this maid Sharmishtha. The day you touch her even by mistake, your destruction will begin!'"
Vrittakanth suddenly fell silent. A cold shiver ran through the fountain water.
Narkumi: "Then what happened, grandfather? Did Emperor Yayati keep his promise? Or did the enchanting beauty of that maid lead him astray?"
Vrittakanth (bowing his head): "This is the darkest page of this story, Narkumi. In the glitter of palaces, promises often break. Yayati made such a mistake that not only took away his youth but also cast a shadow over the future of his five sons. It was a conspiracy in which youth itself was going to be traded."
7.2 Forbidden Love
Today the water of the palace fountain looked red like blood, because the rays of the setting sun were merging into it. Vrittakanth took a long breath, his old skin scraping against the cracks of the stone. Narkumi stopped near the edge; she felt that the story to come would not be of flowers, but of thorns.
"Grandfather…" Narkumi asked in a trembling voice, "did Emperor Yayati forget that warning of Shukracharya? Did he touch that maid Sharmishtha, touching whom was the gateway to his destruction?"
Vrittakanth (in a deep, heavy voice): "Narkumi, a man's ego and the attraction of a beautiful face often place a veil over wisdom. Devayani was the queen of the palace, and Sharmishtha lived as her maid. But that maid was no ordinary woman — she was the daughter of a demon king. There was a fire in her eyes that Devayani's jealousy did not have. One night, in the solitude of the Ashoka grove, Sharmishtha stopped Yayati's path."
Narkumi: "Did she tempt the emperor?"
Vrittakanth: "She challenged his pride. She said, 'O king! You are a brave man — will you reject a woman just because a sage has frightened you? I too am a princess; is accepting my love a sin for you?' Yayati's restraint broke. He crossed the boundary drawn by Shukracharya. He secretly married Sharmishtha and had three sons with her, while Devayani had no knowledge of it."
Narkumi: "But truth always comes out one day, grandfather!"
Vrittakanth: "Truth erupted like a volcano, Narkumi. One day Devayani saw children playing in the garden who looked exactly like Yayati. When she learned that they were the children of her maid Sharmishtha and her own husband, the insult within her turned into the fire of revenge. Crying, she went to her father Shukracharya. His anger was so fierce that lightning seemed to crack in the sky."
Narkumi (holding her breath): "Then what happened? Did Shukracharya sentence the emperor to death?"
Vrittakanth: "Death would have been too easy, Narkumi. Shukracharya stood before Yayati, raised his kamandalu, and thundered, 'O lustful emperor! You insulted my daughter for the pleasure of your senses? Go, the youth you are so proud of shall leave you this very moment. Become old and worn-out right now!'"
Narkumi: "What? Old age in a moment?"
Vrittakanth: "Yes! In an instant, Yayati's black hair turned white, his teeth fell out, the strength of his arms vanished, and his skin filled with wrinkles. That mighty emperor became a helpless old man who could not even stand properly. Yayati pleaded and begged for forgiveness. Then Shukracharya placed a strange condition: 'Yayati, my curse will not return, but if any one of your sons willingly gives you his youth, then you may become young again.'"
Narkumi: "Would any son give his youth to his father? That is impossible!"
Vrittakanth: "From here began the greatest test of the Chandravansh. Yayati called all his five sons. One by one, he asked his four elder sons for their youth, but all refused. Finally, he looked at his youngest son, Puru — in whose eyes there was deep devotion for his father."
Vrittakanth paused and pointed toward a stone in the water. "That night, this fountain witnessed how a son smilingly took upon himself his father's old age and gave his shining youth to his emperor."
7.3 The Attachment to Youth
The sound of the palace fountain now felt like a deep sob. The moon hid behind clouds, as if it too did not want to see that father who had taken his own son's youth. Vrittakanth closed his eyes, as if trying to erase that scene from his memory.
Narkumi (trembling): "Grandfather… did Prince Puru really give his shining youth to his father? Did wrinkles appear on his body? Did he become old in a moment?"
Vrittakanth (seriously): "Yes, Narkumi. The sight was so heart-breaking that even the palace walls trembled. As soon as Puru touched his father's feet, by the power of mantras, Puru's youth entered Yayati's body and Yayati's old age settled into every part of Puru. Puru's black hair turned white, his back bent, yet his face held divine peace. He said, 'Father, it is my duty that your desire remains unfulfilled.'"
Narkumi: "And Emperor Yayati? Did he become happy after becoming young again?"
Vrittakanth: "Yayati began to roar like a lion again. Strength returned to his arms. He thought he would now enjoy worldly pleasures for centuries. For a thousand years, he indulged in luxury — dancing with beautiful women, immersed in wine and wealth. But Narkumi, as time passed, his desire did not decrease; it kept increasing."
Narkumi: "Even after thousands of years, was he not satisfied?"
Vrittakanth: "That is the greatest truth of this story. One day Yayati sat alone by this very fountain. He saw that his youth had returned, but his mind was still hungry. He realized that he was trying to fill a pit that had no end. He understood that indulgence is like pouring ghee into fire — 'the fire does not extinguish, it blazes even more.'"
Narkumi: "Then what did he do? Did he return Puru's youth?"
Vrittakanth: "Yayati's ego shattered. He ran to Puru, who sat old yet calm. Yayati fell at his feet and said, 'Son! Forgive me. I enjoyed pleasures for thousands of years, yet I found no peace. Youth is not in the body, but in contentment. Become young again and take charge of this vast empire. I have learned that renouncing desire is true liberation.'"
Narkumi: "So did Puru become young again?"
Vrittakanth: "Yes! Yayati took back his old age and returned Puru's youth. He exiled his four elder sons, who had not obeyed him, and handed over the empire to his youngest son Puru. From Puru, this lineage came to be known as the Paurava dynasty, in which later the great emperor Bharat was born."
Vrittakanth paused and looked at his reflection in the water. "Yayati renounced the throne and went to the forests for penance. He proved that a human may make mistakes, but truly great is the one who corrects them and recognizes the truth."