श्रीशुक उवाच
स इत्थमाचरन्कामान् स्त्रैणो ऽपह्नवमात्मनः ।
बुद्ध्वा प्रियायै निर्विण्णो गाथामेतामगायत ॥ १ ॥
straino 'pahnavam atmanah
buddhva priyayai nirvinno
sri-sukah uvaca-Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; sah-Maharaja Yayati; ittham-in this way; acaran-behaving; kaman-in regard to lusty desires; strainah-very much attached to woman; apahnavam-counteraction; atmanah-of his own welfare; buddhva-understanding with intelligence; priyayai-unto his beloved wife, Devayani; nirvinnah-disgusted; gatham-story; etam-this (as follows); agayata-narrated.
Sukadeva Gosvami said: O Maharaja Pariksit, Yayati was very much attached to woman. In due course of time, however, when disgusted with sexual enjoyment and its bad effects, he renounced this way of life and narrated the following story to his beloved wife.