Yayati 7- The Epilogue Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

(48)

The Legacy
Of Yayati lingers on.

(49)

Santhanu, his descendant, had
Ganga of divine birth, as his wife
To them was born Devavrata
Who grew up as a handsome prince.

When Ganga left him,
Santhanu fell for Satyavati
A girl born to a fisherman
Already mother of Vyasa
By sage Parasara, and denied
Devavrata his rightful throne.

Such is lust.

(50)

Chitrangada born to Satyavati
Died young, fighting for vanity.
His brother married two damsels
Died of consumption, young
leaving no issues, but young widows
who bore children by Vyasa,
Pandu was born frail and weak
Dhritarashtra, the elder, blind.

Dhritarashtra fathered sons
A hundred. Pandu died young.
His wives had sons-the Pandavas-
Born to men they chose.
Pandavas staked claim on the crown
Rightfully of their cousins.


(51)

Fierce war ensued.

The entire world divided in two
Took sides and fought one another
All Dhritarashtrans were killed
And the Pandavas won the war
Only women and children remained
And the elderly Pandavas.

Such is the outcome of lust.