And may you stay forever young. BOB DYLAN, 1965

"dheerGAyushmAnbhava"

there are a number of mythological stories in India about ageing and the fear with which it is  looked upon.

There once lived a King named Yayaati who lived for a full one thousand years of enjoying all the pleasures a King of his position could command. Guru Shukracharya's daughter Devayani was his wife. Guru Shukracharya cursed him to become old because he had intimate relations with a maid servant named Sarmistha. He asked for forgiveness. Shukracharya took pity on him and favourably modified his curse, so that Yayaati could regain his youth if anyone of his sons is ready to get his old age in return. He had still a great desire to enjoy all royal pleasures for some more years, he asked each of his sons (Yadu, Turvasu, Druhyu and Anu), one by one, to take upon himself this old age and give him his youth in return, assuring that after one thousand years he would return the youth and take back his decrepitude. Not one of them was willing to accept the offer except his youngest son named Puru.

Puru gave his youth to his father and got in return old age and its consequent weakness. Yayaati, being exceedingly delighted with his new youth, began to indulge again in sensual pleasures. He enjoyed himself to the full limit of his powers and as much as he desired without violating the precepts of religion. He was very happy, but only one thought troubled him. And that was the thought that the one thousand years would come to an end. He was not satisfied even when the fixed time came to an end. He came to his son Puru and addressed him thus: "0 son, I have enjoyed with your youth to the full limit of my powers and all pleasures, according to their seasons.

“ But desires never die. They are never satiated by indulgence. By indulgence they flame up like the sacrificial fire with ghee poured into it."

न जातु कामः कामानुपभोगेन शाम्यति ।
हविषा कृष्णवत्मैर्व भुय एवाभिवर्धते

जैसे अग्नि में घी डालने से वह अधिक प्रज्वलित होती है, वैसे भोग भोगने से कामना शांत नहीं होती, उल्टे प्रज्वलित होती है ।

He said, "If one becomes the sole lord of all the earth, with its paddy, oats, gems, beasts and women, still it will not be considered by him enough. Therefore, the thirst for enjoyment should be abandoned. The thirst for enjoyment which is difficult to cast off by the wicked, which does not fail even with failing life, is truly a fatal disease in man. To get rid of this thirst is real happiness.

Yayaati's experience is very useful to mankind. He continued, "My mind was attached to the pleasures of life for full one thousand years. My thirst for them, however, without being abated, is daily being increased."