Myths Collection

Search by title and refine by origin, characters, tags, and sort order.

King Yayati and the Sacrifice of Puru

OriginHindu Mythology

King Yayati is cursed to old age after betraying his wife Devayani with the princess Sharmishtha. Desperate for youth, he asks his sons to trade their vitality for his infirmity, a request only his youngest son Puru accepts. After a thousand years of sensory indulgence, Yayati realizes that desire can never be satisfied by fulfillment, returns Puru's youth, and retires to the forest.