Puru

Who Puru is

Puru was the youngest son of King Yayati, born of Sharmishtha. When Yayati was cursed with sudden old age by Shukracharya and asked his sons to take it from him in exchange for their youth, the elder sons refused. Puru alone accepted, and lived as an old man for a thousand years while his father enjoyed his youth. Yayati at last returned it, and made Puru his heir over his elder brothers; from Puru came the Paurava line, the ancestors of the Kurus and Pandavas.

“I gave away my youth for my father. I can give away a pawn for the future.”

How Puru plays chess

Generous and selfless: willing to give up the initiative now for a greater future.

The Classicist: Sound, balanced chess: develops, castles and takes what the position offers.

Opening repertoire: Queen's Gambit Accepted, Main (Long) · Italian, Evans Declined (Main) · Catalan, Open (Bb4+)

Defeat Puru in a full game from the normal starting position to earn the achievement The Gift of Youth and open the way to the next guardian.

Sources

• Mahabharata, Adi Parva
• Bhagavata Purana, Book 9

Placement on the path reflects chess difficulty only — a game-design choice, not a ranking of anyone's spiritual standing.