# ययाति (yayāti)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/yayati

ययाति (yayāti) is a Sanskrit word meaning name of a celebrated monarch of the lunar race, a monarch of India, the fifth of the lunar race, a king, the fifth of the lunar dynasty, name of an ancient patriarch, son of Nahusha, the name of a king, yayāti, an ancient patriarch, son of Nahusha. Its 13 recorded definitions are grouped into 4 contexts, among them King Yayāti: General Identity and Legendary Attributes, King Yayāti: In-depth Epic & Puranic Stories, Vedic Yayāti: Textual Analysis.

- **Roots:** यत् (yat), या (yā)
- **Etymology:** E. यस्य वायोरिव याति- सर्वत्र रथगतिरस्य । — E. yasya vāyoriva yāti- sarvatra rathagatirasya
- **SLP1:** `yayAti`  **IAST:** yayāti  **Devanagari:** ययाति
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayati
- **Declensions:** 72 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/yayati/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### King Yayāti: General Identity and Legendary Attributes (8 definitions)
- Name of a celebrated monarch of the lunar race  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 847,1] ययाति (yayāti) m. ( prob. fr. √ यत् (yat) ) N. of a celebrated monarch of the lunar race (son of king Nahuṣa whom he succeeded; from his two wives came the two lines of the lunar race, Yadu being the son of Devayānī, daughter of Uśanas or Śukra, and Puru of Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣa-parvan; Yayāti Nāhuṣa is also represented as the author of Ṛg-veda (Title) ix, 101, 4 - 6 ), Ṛg-veda (Title); MaitrUp.; MBh.; Kāv. &c. [ ID=170614 ]
- Name of an ancient patriarch, son of Nahusha.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 242-2 ] ययाति (yayāti) ya-yā́t-i, m. [Striver: √yat], N. of an ancient patriarch, son of Nahuṣa. [ ID=14731 ]
- A monarch of India, the fifth of the lunar race  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 682 ] ययाति (yayāti) m. ( - तिः (-tiḥ) ) A monarch of India, the fifth of the lunar race. [ ID=31314 ]
- A king, the fifth of the lunar dynasty  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 610-b ] ययाति (yayāti) ( तिः ) ((tiḥ)) 2. m. A monarch, the fifth of the lunar race. [ ID=30875 ]
- The name of a king  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 0736-b ] ययाति (yayāti) yayāti, m. The name of a king, Śāk. d. 82. [ ID=11720 ]
- Name of an ancient patriarch.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 429 ] ययाति (yayāti) m. N. of an ancient patriarch. [ ID=25867 ]
- Yayāti, an ancient patriarch, son of Nahusha  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 224-b ] yayā́ti, m. Yayāti, a patriarch of the olden time, son of Nahusha. [perhaps ‘The Striver,’ √yat, cf. 1155. 2c: or from √yā, 1157. 1c.] [ ID=3416 ]
- the name of a celebrated monarch of the lunar race  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 0811-a ] ययाति (yayāti) yayāti, m., N. of a celebrated monarch of the lunar race (son of king Nahuṣa, whom he succeeded; he first married the daughter of Uśanas or Śukra, Devayānī, who had been thrown into a well by Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣa-parvan; Yayāti having found her and wedded her, she de- manded that Śarmiṣṭhā, who had ill-treated her, should become her handmaid; this was granted, but Yayāti then fell in love with the handmaid and secretly married her, for which the father of Deva- yānī inflicted on him premature decay; from the two wives of Yayāti came the two lines of the lunar race, Yadu being the son of Devayānī, and Puru of Śarmiṣṭhā; Yayāti Nāhuṣa is represented as the author of Ṛg-veda IX. 101, 4-6). —Yayāti-carita, am, n. the history of Yayāti; N. of a drama in seven acts by Rudra-deva (celebrating the amours of Yayāti and Śarmiṣṭhā). —Yayāti-patana, am, n. ‘fall of Yayāti,’ N. of a place of pilgrimage. —Yayāti- vijaya, as, m. ‘Yayāti's victory,’ N. of a work. [ ID=38424 ]

### King Yayāti: In-depth Epic & Puranic Stories (3 definitions)
- A monarch of India, the fifth of the lunar race and son of Nahusha.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 585-b ] ययाति (yayāti) m. ( - तिः (-tiḥ) ) A monarch of India the fifth of the lunar race and son of NAHUSA. At first he married Devajāni, the only child of SŪKRA, the preceptor of the demons and subsequently ŚARMISHṬHĀ the daughter of VRISHAPARVAN, who was ordered by her father to attend on Devajāni as a servant, as a punishment for her throwing her in a well. For his marrying and making love to ŚARMISHṬHĀ Yajāti became old and infirm before his time through the curse of SUKRA, but having appeased his father-in-law obtained permission to transfer his decrepitude to any one who would consent to take it. Out of his five sons PURU complied with his father's wishes. The King being endowed with renovated youth, passed his time in the enjoyment of pleasures for a full thousand years, and after which he restored his youth to PURU and resuming his own decrepitude departed to the wood of penance. E. यस्य वायोरिव याति - (yasya vāyoriva yāti-) सर्वत्र रथगतिरस्य । (sarvatra rathagatirasya.) [ ID=32546 ]
- An ancient king, son of Nahusha  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 773-2 ] Yayāti, an ancient king, son of Nahuṣa. § 3 (Anukra- maṇik.): I, 1, 47 ( °īkṣvākuvaṃśaḥ ).—§ 5 (do.): I, 1 α, 222 bis (in Nārada's enumeration).—§ 61 (Janamejaya): I, 55, †2109 ( °-Māndhātṛ-samaprabhāva, sc. Janamejaya).— § 143 (Nahuṣa): I, 75, 3155 (second son of Nahuṣa), 3156 (became king), 3158 (his sons).—§ 144 (cf. Yayātyup.): Having, after 1,000 years, been attacked with decrepitude, Y. asked his sons, one by one, to give him their youth and take upon them his decrepitude, but only the youngest, Puru, yielded to his wish, and taking upon himself the old age of Y. he ruled the kingdom, while Y., as strong as a tiger, enjoyed the company of his two wives and, in the Caitra- ratha wood, of Viśvācī, but without becoming satiated. He then recited some verses (vv. 3174—3177) and took back from his son his own decrepitude, giving him back his youth. He then installed Pūru on the throne, saying that he was his true heir, and should continue the lineage which should be named after him. Y. then retired to Bhṛgutuṅga, and having spent a long time in ascetism, observing the vow of fasting, he died and ascended to heaven with his wives (I, 75 ): I, 75, 3164, 3171, 3172.—§ 145 (Kaca): I, 76, 3183 ( daśamo yaḥ Prajāpateḥ ), 3185, 3186 ( Devayānyāś ca saṃyogaṃ Y°er Nāhuṣasya ca ).—§ 146 (Devayānī): I, 78, 3292 ( Nahuṣātmajaḥ ), 3301; 81, (3366), (3369), (3372), 3372, (3374), (3376), (3378), (3381), (3383), 3387, (3390), 3394 ( Y. married Devayānī and promised not to cohabit with Śarmiṣṭhā).—§ 147 (do.): I, 82, 3397, (3410), (3414), (3416) (Śarmiṣṭhā prevailed upon Y. to beget sons on her); 83, 3432 (the sons of Y. were the foll.: with Devayānī Yadu and Turvasu, with Śarmiṣṭhā Druhyu, Anu and Pūru), 3434, 3450, 3452, (3455), 3460 ( Nāhuṣaḥ ), (3461), (3463) (Uśanas cursed Y. to be overcome with decrepitude, etc.).—§ 148 (cf. Yayātyup.): Y. transferred his decrepitude to Pūru, etc. (cf. § 144) and cursed his other sons, Yadu (b ), Turvasu (c), Druhyu (d), Anu (e ) (I, 84 ). Y. sported with Viśvācī in the Nandana wood and in Alakā, and in the northern summit of Meru. Y. then recited some verses (v. 3510 foll.) and installed Pūru as king (cf. § 144). The offspring of Yadu (b), Turvasu (c), Druhyu (d), Anu (e ), and Pūru (f ) (I, 85 ): I, 84, 3466, (3467), (3474), (3478), 3481, (3482), (3485), (3488), (3490), (3492), (3498), 3499; 85, 3500 ( Nahuṣātmajaḥ ), 3504, 3517 ( Nāhuṣaḥ ), (3522).—§ 149 (i.e. Uttara-Yayātyupākhyāna, cf. Sambhavap.): Having installed Pūru on the throne, Y. entered the wood to lead the life of a hermit for 1,000 years and then ascended to Svarga (I, 86 ), where he was reverenced by the gods, the Sādhyas, Page774-a+ 63 the Maruts, and the Vasus, wandering about in Devaloka and Brahmaloka. One day Indra asked him what he had said to Pūru when he bestowed the kingdom upon him. Y. answered that he had said: “The whole country between the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā is thine, this is the central region of the earth, the outlying regions will be the dominions of thy brothers. Those without anger are ever superior to those under its sway, etc.” (I, 87 ). As Y. said that he did not know his equal in ascetic austerities among men, gods, Gandharvas, and maharṣis, Indra declared that, owing to this haughtiness, he should fall from heaven, yet he should fall among the virtuous. When falling, he was beheld by the rājarṣi Aṣṭaka (I, 88 ), of whom he was the maternal grandfather; Y. spoke disapprovingly of haughtiness, etc., and told that, leaving earth, he had obtained many high regions for 1,000 years, then he had dwelt in the town of Indra (having 1,000 gates and extending 1,000 yojanas all around) for 1,000 years, then for 1,000 years in the world of Prajāpati, then in the abode of Devadeva (i.e. Viṣṇu); he had also dwelt in Nandana for 100 ayutas of years, assuming any form at will, sporting with the Apsarases; then there had come a messenger of the gods with a grim visage, who thrice had shouted to him “fall”; then he had fallen from Nandana, hearing, while falling, the compassionate exclamations of the gods, who had directed him to fall to the sacrificial place of Aṣṭaka and his companions (I, 89 ). Y. continued: Those who speak of their own merits after having dwelt for 60,000 or 80,000 years in heaven, are doomed to suffer the pains of the hell called bhauma (i.e. existence on the earth), and are attacked by certain Rākṣasas with sharp teeth. Y. then taught the lore of transmigration and emancipation (I, 90 ). Y. explained the duties of gṛhasthas, bhikṣus, brahmacārins, and vānaprasthas, and the different kinds of munis and mauna (vows of silence) (I, 91 ). Y. then said: “I now shall fall into the bhauma hell, the Lokapas of Brahmán hasten me thither.” The kings Aṣṭaka, Pratardana (I, 92 ), Vasu- manas Auṣadaśvi, and Śibi Auśīnara, offered him their “lokas” and volunteered to go to hell ( naraka ) in his place; Y. did not accept the offer. Then appeared five golden chariots, in which they all five ascended to heaven, Śibi leaving the others behind him. Y. told them that he was their maternal grandfather, that he had given the whole earth with her horses, etc., to brahmans, and that the earth and the firmament and fire existed owing to his truth. *(I, 93 ): I, 86, 3535 ( Nākuṣo rājā ), 3541, 3543, 3544 ( Nāhuṣaḥ ); 87, 3553, (3555); 88, †3564, (3565), (†3567), †3568, †3569; 89, (†3577), †3577 ( Nahuṣasya putraḥ Pūroḥ pitā ), (†3580), †3589, (†3591), †3598; 90, (†3601), (†3603), (†3606), (†3609), (†3613), (†3617), (†3621); 91, (†3628), (3635), (3637); 92, (3646), (†3651), (†3654), (†3656), (†3659), (†3661), †3663; 93, (†3665), (†3667), (†3670), (†3672), (3674), (3676), (3678), (3681), (†3684), †3684 ( Nahuṣasya putraḥ Pūroḥ pitā ).—§ 156 (Pūruvaṃś.): I, 95, ††3760 (son of Nahuṣa, husband of Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā, enumeration of his sons).—§ 267 (Yamasabhāv.): II, 8, 319 (in the palace of Yama).—§ 273 (Rājasūyārambhap.): II, 14, 570 ( °es tv eva Bhojānāṃ vistaro guṇato mahān ).—§ 296 (Dyūtap.): II, 56, 1930 ( yathā ).—§ 320 (Saubhavadhap.): III, 21, 841 ( prapatataḥ Y°eḥ kṣīnapuṇyasya svargād iva ). —§ 345 (Nalopākhyānap.): III, 57, 2235 ( īje cāpy aśva- medhena Y°ir iva Nāhuṣaḥ ).—§ 376 (Tīrthayātrāp.): III, 85, 8268 ( yathā ).—§ 377 (Dhaumyatīrthak.): III, 89, 8363 ( Viśvāmitranadī…yāsyās tīre satāṃ madhye Y°ir Nahu- Page774-b+ 63 ṣātmajaḥ papāta sa punar lokāṃl lebhe dharmān sanātanān, cf. § 149).—§ 378 (Tīrthayātrāp.): III, 92, 8444 ( yathā ).— § 402 (do.): III, 120, †10260 ( nāthāḥ Śaibyādayaḥ… yathā Y°eḥ, all. to § 149).—§ 409 c (Plakṣāvataraṇag.): Y. competed with Indra. On the place where he performed his sacrifice the ground is studded with places for the sacrificial fires of various forms, and the earth seems subsiding under the pressure of Y.'s pious works: III, 129, 10516 ( Nāhuṣasya ), 10517.—§ 409 (do.): III, 129, 10524 ( Nāhuṣaḥ, performed sacrifices, at which Indra was pleased). —§ 412 (Aṣṭāvakrīya): III, 133, †10637 (in times of old Y. alone performed sacrifices).—§ 464 (Mārkaṇḍeyas.): Mārkaṇḍeya continued: Once when King Y. Nāhuṣa was sitting on his throne, there came a brahman who asked him for wealth for his preceptor, with whom he had made the appointment always to question the giver with what feelings he would give him what he asked for. Y. answered that he always felt happy when giving, etc., and gave him 1,000 kine: III, 195, ††13256 ( Nāhuṣaḥ ).—§ 486 (Pativratop.): III, 215, 14047 ( rājā Y°ir dauhitraiḥ patitas tārito yathā, all. to § 149).—§ 512 (Ghoṣayātrāp.): III, 237, 14787 ( °m iva Nāhuṣaṃ ).—§ 516 (Duryodhanayajña): III, 257, 15329 (had performed the Vaiṣṇava sacrifice).—§ 545 (Pativratāmāhātmyap.): III, 294, 16675 ( iva ).—§ 552 (Goharaṇap.): IV, 56 ζ, 1768 (came to see the encounter). —§ 562 (Bhagavadyānap.): V, 90 ν, 3146.—§ 565 (Gālava- carita): V, 114, 3903 ( Nāhuṣaḥ ), 3905 (residing in Prati- sthāna); 115, 3918 ( sarva-Kāśīśaḥ ) (gave his daughter Mādhavī to Gālava); 120, 4037, 4039, 4041, 4045 ( Y., ascending to heaven after death and falling down therefrom, cf. § 149).—§ 566 (do.): As Y. was falling headlong towards the earth, while the kings and Si. and Aps. laughed, there came, at the command of Indra, a person whose business it was to hurl down those whose merits were exhausted, and told him that his pride had caused his fall. Y. uttered the wish that he might fall among the righteous. He fell down among his daughter's sons Pratardana, Vasumanas, Śibi, and Aṣṭaka, in the Naimiṣa wood, where they performed a vājapeya sacrifice. They gave him their merits ( puṇya, dharma, etc.), and the result of all their sacrifices. Mādhavī also came and gave him the moiety of hers, likewise Gālava, who gave him the eighth part of his (V, 121 ). As soon as Y. was recognized by those virtuous persons, he rose again to heaven without touching the surface of the earth, and his four daughter's sons, in a loud voice, repeated the gift of their merits ( Aṣṭaka had performed hundreds of puṇḍarīka, gosava, and vājapeya sacrifices, Śibi had never spoken a false- hood) (V, 122 ). Y. was honoured in heaven by G., Aps., D.-r,-R.-ṛ, and the gods. Brahmán explained to him that it was his vanity alone that had been able to destroy all his merit (cf. also § 149). Nārada continued: “Such was the distress into which Y. fell in consequence of vanity and Gālava owing to his obstinacy. Make peace with the sons of Pāṇḍu” (V, 123 ): V, 121, 4052, 4053, 4059, 4062 ( rājarṣiḥ ), (4065), 4065 ( rājarṣiḥ ), (4067), 4070; 122, 4079, 4094; 123, 4097, (4107), 4116.—§ 567 b (Bhagavad- yānap.): Y., the son of Nahuṣa, was the sixth in descent from Soma. Y. had five sons: Yadu, the son of Devayānī, and thus the grandson of Śukra Kāvya was the eldest, while Pūru, the son of Śarmiṣṭhā (the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan ) was the youngest. Yadu (the progenitor of the Yādavas ) humiliated all the kṣatriyas. He did not obey the injunc- tions of his father, but insulted his father and brothers. He Page775-a+ 62 established himself in the city named after the elephant ( nāgāhvaye, i.e. Hāstinapura). Y. cursed him and expelled him from the kingdom. He also cursed his other sons who were obedient to Yadu, and placed his youngest son, Pūru, on the throne (cf. also §§ 144 and 148): V, 149, 5042 ( Somāt …ṣaṣṭaḥ…Nahuṣātmajaḥ ), 5049 ( Nahuṣātmajaḥ ), 5050.—§ 574 (Jambūkh.): VI, 9 αα, 314.—§ 576 (Bhagavad- gītāp.): VI, 17 β, 645.—§ 595 (Ṣoḍaśarāj.): Y., the son of Nahuṣa, performed 100 rājasūya sacrifices, he gave to the brahmans the whole of the wealth in the possession of Mlecchas, etc.; he sided with the gods against the Asuras; having divided the earth into four parts, he gave it away to four persons (i.e. four ṛtvijes, Nīl.). His wives were Devayānī, daughter of Uśanas (Auśanasyāṃ ), and Śarmiṣṭhā; he roved through the celestial woods, at last he installed [his son] Pūru on the throne and retired into the forest (VII, 63 ): VII, 63, 2292 ( Nāhuṣaṃ ), 2300.—§ 599 (Jayadrathavadhap.): VII, 94 ε, 3450.—§ 599 e (Śini): VII, 144, 6029 ( rājarṣiḥ, son of Nahuṣa), 6030 (father of Yadu).—§ 600 (Ghaṭotkacavadhap.): VII, 157, 6927 ( °m iva Nāhuṣaṃ ).—§ 604 (Karṇap.): VIII, 9, 250 (do.). —§ 615 (Baladevatīrthayātrā): IX, 41, 2350 ( Nāhuṣasya ), 2351, 2352 ( rājñaḥ, performed sacrifices in Yāyātaṃ tīrthaṃ). —§ 628 (Rājadh.): XII, 24, 700 ( °r iva Nāhuṣaḥ ).—§ 630 (do.): XII, 26, 780 ( gāthā gītā Y°inā, some verses (vv. 781—3) sung by Y. quoted).—§ 632 b (Ṣoḍaśarāj., cf. § 595): XII, 29, 987 ( Nāhuṣaṃ ), 990 ( Nahuṣātmajaḥ ) (repetition from § 595).—§ 638 b (Rāmopākhyāna): XII, 49, 1772 ( °patane, all. to § 149).—§ 641 (Rājadh.): XII, 92, 3467 ( °m iva Nāhuṣaṃ ); 93, 3520 ( evaṃ rājopaniṣadaṃ Y°iḥ smāha Nāhuṣaḥ ).—§ 652 b (Indrota-Parīkṣitīya): XII, 152, 5643 ( gāthāṃ gītāṃ Y°inā, a verse (v. 5644) sung by Y. quoted).—§ 656 (Khaḍgotpattik.): XII, 166 δ, 6194 (received the sword from Nahuṣa, from Y. it passed over to Pūru).—[§ 659 (Mokṣadh.): XII, 178, 6643 ( Nāhuṣaḥ, questioned Bodhya)].—§ 706 (do.): XII, 310, 11540 ( °iḥ kṣīṇapuṇyo 'pi dhṛtyā lokān avāptavān, cf. § 149).—§ 713 (Śukakṛti): XII, 327, 12291 ( gāthāḥ purā gītāḥ…Y°inā, some verses (vv. 12292—99) sung by Y. quoted).—§ 723 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 6 α, 324 ( purā Y°ir vibhraṣṭaś cyāvitaḥ patitaḥ kṣitau | punar āropitaḥ Svargaṃ dauhitraiḥ puṇyakarmabhiḥ, cf. § 149).—§ 746 (do.): XIII, 81 λ, 3806. —§ 751 b (Śapathavidhi): XIII, 94 α, 4551, (4573).—§ 761 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 115 γ, 5662 (abstained from meat during the month of Kārttika).—§ 768 b (Kṛṣṇa Vāsudeva): XIII, 147, 6832 (son of Nahuṣa and father of Yadu).— § 775 (Ānuśāsanik.): XIII, 166 η, 7674.—§ 776 (do.): XIII, 167, 7698 ( iva ).—§ 778 b (Saṃvartta-Maruttīya): XIV, 5, 103 ( iva ). Cf. also the following synonyms:— Nāhuṣa (“the son of Nahuṣa”): I, 3156 ( Y° ), 3161, 3186 ( Y° ), 3293, 3302, 3315, 3362, 3377, 3379, 3388, 3408, 3459, 3460 ( Y° ), 3517 ( Y° ), 3531, 3535 ( Y° ), 3544 ( Y° ); III, 2235 ( Y° ), 8777 (error in B., C. has Nahuṣeṇa ), 10515, 10524 ( Y° ), 10546 ( uttarāṇāṃ sarveṣām ṛṣīṇāṃ N°sya ca, sc. saṃvādaḥ ), ††13256 ( Y° ), 14787 ( Y° ); V, 3903 ( Y° ), 3907, 4038, 4090; VII, 2292 ( Y° ), 2295 (only B.), 6927 ( Y° ); VIII, 250 ( Y° ); IX, 2350 ( Y° ); XII, 700 ( Y° ), 987 ( Y° ), 3467 ( Y° ), 3520 ( Y° ), 6643. Nahuṣātmaja (do.): I, 3292 ( Y° ), 3300, 3389, 3400, 3500 ( Y° ); III, 8363 ( Y° ); V, 4043, 4055, 5042 ( Y° ), 5049 ( Y° ); XII, 990 ( Y° ). Page775-b+ 62 Sarvakāśīśa (“lord of all the Kāśis”): V, 3918 ( Y° ). [ ID=12607 ]
- A legendary king, son of Nahusha, husband of Sharmishtha and Devayani, father of Yadu and Puru, known for exchanging his old age for his son's youth and eventually ascending to heaven.  
  *The Purana Index*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 3-017 ] Yayāti — the middle son of Nahuṣa and Virajā, the mind- born daughter of Ajyapas: married Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, 1 and had three sons by her; pleased with him Indra gave him a golden chariot yoked with swift horses and which became the ratha of the Paurava kings. 2 Became king after his father: desire for more territory; placed his Page3-018+ 44 younger brothers in charge of the four quarters of the king- dom; nature of his good rule described; in the course of a hunting expedition, he heard the cry of a girl coming out of a well and going near it found a girl inside standing help- less and naked; he gave her his upper cloth to wear and lifted her up. She was Devayānī, the daughter of Śukra and she became his wife and bore him two sons, Yadu and Turvasu. Śukra in offering his daughter to the king asked him not to share his bed with Śarmiṣṭhā. In a weak moment, forgetting his promise, he yielded to the entreaties of Śarmiṣṭhā and on this Devayānī departed to Śukra's place. Yayāti followed her and was cursed by Śukra to become old; but Śukra said that he could take the youth of somebody by exchanging it for his old age. He enquired of all his sons and all except Pūru refused to comply with his request. With Pūru's youth he enjoyed for long the company of Devayānī; narrated to her an old story of an ewe found in a well, loving a ram, who was not faithful at first but who spent ultimately a long time of enjoyment with her. He compared himself to that ram and said that he should thereafter bestow his thought on Hari. So he returned his youth to Pūru and led a life of penance at Bhṛgutunga after anointing Pūru on the throne and appoint- ing his other sons in different parts of the kingdom; dis- courses of, to Pūru on gentleness and friendliness to all; was devoted to Hari. Parīkṣit compared to Yayāti for his dharma. 3 Cursed that Yadu and his line be debarred from succeeding to the throne, though five dynasties of his sons are distinguished like the sun's rays. 4 Tenth in genera- tion from Prajāpati. 5 Went to heaven but Indra sent him back; one version is that he stands in the antarikṣa and the other is that he went back to heaven; met Indra and narrated Pūru's coronation: Indra told him of the completion of his righteousness and hence birth on the earth. 6 Falling down, met Aṣṭaka and the other grandsons, who cleared him of his doubts regarding the course of fate and man's helpless- ress, the fruits of karma, the worlds enjoyed by him, the Page3-019+ 26 bhauma naraka, the means to get samjñā, and the duties of four āśramas and munis. 7 These with Pratardana, Vasuman and Śibi offered a part of their puṇyam to make Yayāti enjoy heaven. Śibi leading Yayāti to heaven in a golden chariot as a result of their good deeds and truthfulness. 8 [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. VI. 6. 32; Br. III. 10. 95; 68. 12-4; M. 15. 23; Vā. 1. 143; 73. 46.] [ Footnote: 2) Ib. 93. 16-20.] [ Footnote: 3) Bhā. IX. ch. 18 (whole); 19. 1-25; XII. 3. 10; X. 60. 41; I. 12. 24; Br. III. 68. 14-105; M. 24. 50, 66; 27. 14-22; chh. 30-35; 34. 4-7; 36. 6-13; Vā. 93. 13-16 and 20-76.] [ Footnote: 4) Bhā. X. 45. 13; 74. 36; Br. III. 71. 202; 74. 275; Vā. 93. 76-102.] [ Footnote: 5) M. 25. 4.] [ Footnote: 6) Ib. 35. 4-5; chh. 36-37.] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. chh. 38-40.] [ Footnote: 8) Ib. 42. 13-28; 273. 80.] [ ID=11222 ]

### Vedic Yayāti: Textual Analysis (1 definition)
- An ancient sacrificer and descendant of Nahusha in Vedic literature.  
  *The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects*
  > ययाति (yayāti) [Printed book page 2-187 ] Yayāti is mentioned twice in the Rigveda, 1 once as an ancient sacrificer, and once as Nahuṣya, ‘descendant of Nahuṣa, ’ apparently a king. There is no trace whatever of his connexion with Pūru, as in the Epic, 2 the tradition of which must be deemed to be inaccurate. [ Footnote: 1) i. 31, 17; x. 63, 1.] [ Footnote: 2) Cf. Ludwig, Translation of the Rigveda, 3, 147; Muir, Sanskrit Texts 12, 232.] [ ID=2565 ]

### Yayāti as a Yāma Deva (1 definition)
- a Yama deva  
  *The Purana Index*
  > [Printed book page 3-019 ] Yayāti (II) — a Yāma deva. Br. II. 13. 92. [ ID=11223 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; The Vedic Index of Names and Subjects; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546