Yayati, son of Nahusha, was an eminent king of the lunar
dynasty. He was so wise, just and righteous that his realm was free from
passion and decay.
Once, while he was returning from the hunt, he heard a wail
from a well. He went to help and rescued a girl who, however became enamored of
him and disclosed herself as Devayani, daughter of Shukracharya, the teacher of
demons.
She explained that she had been pushed into the well by
Sharmistha, daughter of the king of demons. In order to appease Shukracharya for the
insult perpetuated on Devayani, the demon king had to surrender his daughter
Sharmistha to work as a servant of Devayani.
Devayani prevailed upon her father to give her in marriage to Yayati.
Both the maidens (Devayani and her servant Sharmistha) went with Yadu to
his palace.
Two sons, Yadu and Turvasu, were born to Devayani and
Yayati, of whom Yadu became the founder of the Yadava dynasty.
Later, however, Yayati, succumbed to the charms of the maid
Sharmishta, who bore him three sons, Druhya, Anudruhya and Puru.
Devayani was highly incensed at coming to know of the
infidelity of her husband and in anger returned to the household of her father,
Shukracharya.
The enraged Shukracharya cursed Yayati with premature old
age, at which the penitent Yayati begged to be condoned for his offense.
Shukracharya relented and decreed that he could transfer his old age to another
who was willing to accept it.
Only, Puru, the third son of Sharmistha, accepted the old
age of his father, who, thereby, regained his youth. After leading a life of
lust for a thousand years, Yayati realized that lust was never quenched. He got
back his old age from his son Puru and made him the king. He then lived a life
of piety and renunciation and ultimately ascended to heaven.
The dutiful son Puru became the founder of the Paurava
dynasty to which belonged the Bharatas, Kauravas and Pandavas.