Yayati

Yayati centres on the life of its eponymous hero, Yayati, the king
of Hastinapur. Disillusionment characterises Yayati's early life. His
faith in motherly love is shattered when he learns that his mother
weaned him for fear of losing her beauty. Later, he experiences
cruelty and passion that challenge his manhood. He then has a
fleeting experience of carnal love.
When Yayati has to leave the security of the palace for
Ashvamedha Yajna (a horse sacrifice ritual in Hindu tradition), he
meets his elder brother, Yati, who has become an ascetic and
abandoned all material pleasures. After this he meets Kacha, in
whom he sees the model of a happy, peaceful life. But Yayati is
traumatised when his father, Nahusha, dies, and for the first time
he realises the destructive power of death. He is gripped by fear
and helplessness. In this state of mind, he encounters Mukulika, a
maidservant in the palace. Yayati's attempts to bury his grief in
carnal pleasure constitute a critical period in his life. He later
meets Alaka and experiences sisterly love. But Alaka ultimately
falls prey to the Queen Mother's cruelty. Precisely at this time,
Yayati learns of a curse that foretold that his father, and his
father's children, would never be happy.
The second part of the narrative recounts Yayati's married life.
This section reveals Devayani's love for Kacha, and Kacha's quiet
but firm refusal. Devayani seeks revenge on Kacha by making
advances to Yayati, whom she ultimately succeeds in marrying.
Sharmishtha, originally a princess, is now living with Devayani as
her maidservant. At this time, Sharmishtha comes into contact
with Yayati. Where Devayani is unable to establish any rapport
with Yayati, Sharmishtha finds union with him both in body and in
mind. A son is born to them, and for a time Yayati is happy. But,
one stormy night, Sharmishtha runs away from Hastinapur. Yayati
now suffers both estrangement from Devayani and the loss of
Sharmishtha. The resulting vacuum in his life hastens him along a
path of moral degradation.
Over an 18-year period, Yayati neglects his royal duties and leads
a life of pleasure, with women like Madhavi and Taraka. Even

when Hastinapur is attacked by its enemies, Yayati continues to
neglect his duties out of anger with Devayani and pursuit of a
hedonistic lifestyle. His son Yadu is imprisoned. Puru, Yayati's
younger son, secures Yadu's release. Then Devayani's father,
Shukracharya, seeing his daughter's unhappy marriage and
Yayati's degradation, lays a curse of old age on Yayati.
When Yayati finds himself suddenly grown old, his unfulfilled
desires trouble him. He asks his sons to lend him their youth. His
son Puru comes to his aid and meets his request. But Puru and
Sharmishtha's undemanding love for him help Yayati to realise his
mistakes. Within a few minutes of accepting Puru's youth, he
resolves to return it. Devayani also undergoes a change of heart.
At the end of the novel, Yayati hands over responsibility for
government to Puru with his blessing, and seeks to retire to a life
in the forest with Devayani and Sharmishtha. This completes
Yayati's journey from attachment to detachment.