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Mahabharata
Sambhava Parva (VII)
History of Yayati.
Vaishampayana said:
Having thus received the youth of Puru, Yayati the son of Nahusha, that best of kings, was exceedingly delighted. He again indulged in the pleasures of life.
He enjoyed himself to the full extent of his desires and to the full limit of his powers, as much as he desired and as the seasons called forth. But, O king, he did nothing against the precepts of religion.
He pleased the celestial, by performing sacrifices, the Pitris by Shraddhas, the poor by charities and the good Brahmana by fulfilling their desires.
The guests by food and drink, the Vaishyas by protection, the Sudras by kindness and the robbers by proper punishments. Yayati pleased all classes of his subjects by ruling over them virtuously like Indra.
That king was as powerful as the lion. He was young and enjoyed all the pleasures of life. He enjoyed unlimited happiness without violating the precepts of religion.
The king (Yayati) became exceedingly happy in thus being able to enjoy all the best objects of enjoyments. That king of men was only sorry (in remembering) that one thousand years would soon come to an end. That royal sage, learned in the mystery of time and possessed of great prowess, having obtained youth for one thousand years and watching proper Kalas and Kashthas. Sported with Vishvachi (Apsara), some time in the garden (of Indra) Nandana, sometimes in Aloka and sometimes on the summit of the Meru Mountain. That virtuous king then found that the fixed time (one thousand) years had come to an end. He then called Puru and addressed him thus.
O son, O chastiser of foes, I have enjoyed with your youth to the full extent of my desires and to the fall limit of my powers and all 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.
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 (of enjoyments), which is difficult to be cast off by the wicked, which does not fail even with falling life, is truly a fatal disease in man. To get rid of this thirst is real happiness.
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.
Therefore, I shall get rid of it. I shall fix my mind on Brahma and becoming peaceful and having no attachment, I shall pass the rest of my days in the forest with the innocent deer.
O Puru, I am exceedingly pleased with you. Take (back) your own youth. Prosperity be to you. Receive my kingdom. You are my son who has done my favourite work.
Vaishampayana said:
Yayati, the son of Nahusha, then received back his own old age and his son Puru also received back his youth.
Yayati became desirous of installing his youngest son Puru on the throne. But the four orders of his subject with Brahmanas at their head thus addressed him -
"O lord, how can you install Puru on the throne, passing over your eldest son Yadu, born of Devayani and grandson of Shukra?
Yadu is your eldest son, after him was Turvasu. Then Sharmishtha's son Druhyu, Anu and last Puru.
How it would be proper to pass over all the elders and install the youngest? We represent this to you, act according to the precepts of religion.
Yayati said:
Hear all of you of the four orders of the caste with the Brahmanas at their head, why my kingdom should not be given to my eldest son.
My commands were disobeyed by my eldest son. The opinion of the wise men is that the son disobeys his father is no son at all.
The son who obeys the commands of his father and mother, who is humble and a well-wisher of his parents and who loves them, is the best of sons.
I have been slighted by Yadu and Turvasu; much have I been slighted by Druhyu and Anu.
Only Puru obeyed my commands and much have I been honoured and respected by him. He accepted my old age and therefore, though he is the youngest, yet he should be made king.
Puru is a great friend of mine and he did what was agreeable to me. And the son of Kavi, Ushanas, Shukra himself, granted me this boon. The son who would obey me would become the king and the lord of the earth. Therefore, I entreat you, let Puru be installed on the throne.
The people said:
O king, it is true that, the son who is accomplished and who seeks the good of his parents, deserves all prosperity, though he is the youngest.
Therefore, Puru, who has done good to you, deserve, to have the kingdom. As Shukra has granted this boon, we have no power to say any thing.
Vaishampayana said:
Having been thus addressed the contented people the son of Nahusha (Yayati) installed his son Puru on the throne.
Bestowing the kingdom on Puru he resolved to live in the forest and he left his capital with Brahmanas and ascetics.
The son of Yadu are known as the Yadavas, those of Turvasu as the Yavanas, those of Druhyu as the Bhojas and those of Anu as the Mlecchas,
Those of Puru as the Pauravas, in which dynasty, O king, you are born to rule the country for one thousand years.
Vaishampayana said:
Having thus installed his dear son Puru on the throne, the son of Nahusha king Yayati, became very happy and accepted the Vanaprastha mode of life.
He lived in the forest with the Brahmanas, becoming self-controlled and living on fruits and roots. Thus patiently bearing privations of all sorts, he at last ascended to heaven.
Having thus ascended heaven, the king lived there in bliss. But some time after, he was hurled down (from heaven) by Indra. I have heard that having thus fallen from heaven, he stayed in the sky and did not fall on the earth.
I have heard that some time after, he again ascended heaven in company with greatly powerful Vasumana, Ashtaka, Pratardana and Shibi.
Janamejaya said:
I desire to hear in detail why that king, after entering heaven, was hurled down from it and why he again gained admittance.
O Brahmana, let this be narrated by you before all these Brahmana Rishis. The lord of the earth Yayati was like the king of the celestial (Indra). He was the progenitor of the exhaustive Kuru race; he was as effulgent as the sun. He was illustrious, world-wide famous and a man of wonderful achievements. I desire to hear in full the story of his life both here in this world and in heaven.
Vaishampayana said:
I shall narrate to you the excellent history of Yayati's exploits both here on earth and in heaven. The story is sacred and it destroys all the sins of those that hear it.
The son of Nahusha, king Yayati, having installed his youngest son Puru on the throne, went to the forest to lead the life of a recluse. He passed over the claims of his other sons with Yadu at their head and he lived in the forest on fruits and roots.
He brought his mind and his passions under complete control. He pleased the Pitris and celestial by performing sacrifices. He poured libations according to the prescribed rites of men leading the Vanaprastha.
The illustrious king entertained the guests and strangers with fruits of the forest and ghee. He supported himself by eating only the scattered corn seeds.
The king thus passed full one thousand years. He passed thirty years, living on water only and observed the vow of silence with mind under complete control. He passed full one year in fasting, living on air alone and having no sleep. He passed another one year in the midst of four fires and the burning sun overhead. He stood for six months continually on one leg. (Having thus passed his life in austere penances), the king, (Yayati) the doer of sacred deeds, ascended heaven.
Vaishampayana said:
When that great king was living in heaven, he was adored by the celestial, the Sadhyas, the Marutas and the Vasus.
That doer of pious acts (Yayati) often went from the region of the celestial to the region of Brahma. It is heard that he lived in heaven for a long time.
ADI PARVA
263
One day the best of kings, Yayati, went to Indra and in the course of conversation the lord of earth was asked by Indra.
Indra said:
O king, what did you say when Puru took your old age on earth and when you gave him his kingdom?
Yayati said:
I told him the whole country between the rivers Ganges and the Yamuna which is in fact the central region of the earth, is yours. Your brothers will have the outlying regions.
I told him, the men having no anger are superior to men with anger; men having forgiveness are superior to men having no forgiveness. Man is superior to animals and the learned to the ignorant.
If wronged, you should not wrong in return. One's anger, if not subdued, burns one's own self. If subdued, it procures the virtues of the doers of good acts.
You should never give pain to others by cruel words. Never defeat your enemies by despicable means. Never utter such sinful and burning words as may give pain to others.
He who pricks another by the thorns of cruel words holds in his mouth a persecuting Rakshasa. Lakshmi (prosperity) leaves the man who casts his eyes on even such a man.
You should always keep the virtuous man before you as your model. You should always compare your acts with those of the virtuous. You should always disregard the cruel words of the wicked.
He who keeps the arrows of cruel words in his lips weeps day and night. The cruel words strike at the inmost part of the body. The wise men never fling such arrows (of cruel words) at others.
There is nothing in the three worlds with which you can worship the deities as kindness, friendship, charity and sweet words.
Therefore, you should always utter sweet words that give pleasure and not pain. You should always give and never beg. You should show respects to those that deserve your respect.
Indra said:
O king, O son of Nahusha, O Yayati, after accomplishing all your duties, you went to the forest, .leaving your home. I ask you, tell me like whom you are in ascetic merits.
Yayati said:
O Vasava (Indra), I do not find among men, the celestial, the Gandharvas and great Rishis, any one equal to me in ascetic merits.
Indra said:
O king, as you disregard those that are your superiors, those that are your equals and those that are your inferiors, your virtues, therefore, suffer a diminution and thus you must fall from heaven.
Yayati said:
O king of the celestial, if my virtues have really been diminished (by my pride), let me fall at least among men who are virtuous and honest.
Indra said:
O king, you shall fall among those that are virtuous and honest. You shall also gain great renown. O Yayati, after your this experience, never again disregard any one, your superiors, your equals or even your inferiors,
Vaishampayana said:
Thereupon Yayati fell from the region of the holy. And he was seen when thus falling by that royal sage, Ashtaka, the protector of religion. Seeing him he asked.
Ashtaka said:
Who are you, young as you are, as handsome as Indra, as prominent by your own splendour as that of fire? Who are you falling like the foremost ranger of the sky, the sun, driving away the dark masses of clouds?
Seeing you fall from the region of the sun, as effulgent as the fire or the sun, all men are asking themselves, "What is this that falls?" They are deprived of their consciousness.
Seeing you in the path of the celestial, as effulgent as Surya, Indra or Vishnu, we have all come to you to ascertain the truth.
O enviably handsome one, we would not have been guilty of incivility by first asking you who you are, if you would have asked us first who we are. We ask you, (tell us) who you are and why you come here?
O Indra-like great one, let your fears be dispelled, let your woes and afflictions cease. You are now in the presence of the virtuous and the wise. Even Indra, the slayer of Bala, cannot do you any harm.
O Indra-like great one, the honest and the virtuous are the support of their brethren. Here are assembled the protectors of the movable and the immovables of the world, the honest and the virtuous. You are now with such ones.
As Agni is the lord that gives heat, as earth is the lord that holds the seed (and produces corn), as sun is the lord that dispels darkness, so is a guest the lord of the honest and the virtuous.
Yayati said:
I am Yayati, the son of Nahusha and the father of Puru. I am falling down from the region of the celestial, the Siddhas and the Rishis, for the diminution of my virtues. (I am falling), because I disregarded every creature on earth.
As I am older than in age, I did not salute you first. He who is older in age or superior in learning or asceticism is revered by Brahmanas.
Ashtaka said:
O king, you say that he, who is older in years, deserves the respect and reverence of others. But it is said that he is truly worthy of respect is superior in learning and asceticism.
Yayati said:
It is said that sin destroys the merit of all virtuous acts. Vanity contains the element of that which leads to hell. The virtuous never follow the path of the sinful.
They act in a way as to increase their virtue. I myself had great religious merits, but all is now gone. I shall never be able to regain them with my best efforts. He, who will take lesson from my this fate, will be wise and virtuous.
He who, having acquired great wealth performs sacrifices, who, having acquired all kinds of learning, remains humble, who, having studied the entire Vedas, devotes himself to asceticism, goes to heaven.
No one should be proud of his great wealth; no one should feel exalted, because he has studied the entire Vedas. Men are of different dispositions in the world, but Destiny is supreme. Power and exertion are both futile and useless. Knowing Destiny to be supreme (over all), the wise should neither feel pride nor grief.
Remembering that Destiny is supreme (over all), creatures should know that happiness and misery depend on Destiny and not on their own exertion and power.
The wise should always live contented, without grieving for misery or exalting for happiness. When Destiny is supreme, both grief and exaltation are useless.
O Ashtaka, I never feel terrified with fear, nor do I ever feel grief, for I know that I shall be on earth exactly what the great Ordainer has made me.
The Insects, the worms, all the oviparous, creatures, vegetables, crawling animals, vermins, fishes, stones, wood, in fact all created things, are united with the Prakriti when they are freed from their acts.
Happiness and misery are transitory, O Ashtaka, knowing this, why should I grieve?
We never know how we are to act to avoid misery. Therefore, grief must be cast off.
Vaishampayana said:
King Yayati, possessed of every accomplishment, who was the maternal grand father of Ashtaka, was again asked by him to tell him the account of his living in heaven.
Ashtaka said:
O king of the world, tell me in detail the account of all those regions which you have visited and in which you passed your time in bliss. (Tell me also) the period for which you thus lived.
Yayati said:
I was a great king on earth, ruling over the whole world as my kingdom. I acquired many high regions by my religious merits. I lived fall one thousand years on earth and then I ascended to a very high region.
It is the abode of Indra. It is very beautiful; it has one thousand gates and it extends one hundred Yojanas all around. Here lived I for another one thousand years. And then I ascended to a higher region.
This is the region of supreme beatitude, the abode of the Prajapati, the lord of the earth, a region very difficult to attain. Here lived I for another on thousand years. And I then ascended to a higher region.
It is the abode of the god of gods, (Vishnu), where I lived for many years in supreme bliss. I have lived in various regions and I was adored by the celestial and I possessed splendour and prowess like the celestial.
I was capable of assuming any form at will; I sported for many millions of years with the Apsaras in the gardens of Nandana, under innumerable beautiful trees clad in flowery garb and spreading delicious perfume.
I lived there in celestial happiness for many years, when a celestial messenger of grim visage thrice shouted to me in a loud and deep voice, "Ruined, Ruined, Ruined."
O best of kings, this much I remember that I fell from Nandana and all my religious merits were gone. O king of men, I heard the voices of the celestial in the sky exclaiming in grief.
"What misfortune! The virtuous and meritorious Yayati is falling! His all religious merits are destroyed!" And when I was falling, I asked them, "Where are those wise ones amongst whom am I to fall?"
They pointed out to me this sacred sacrilicial region belonging to you. I am hastily coming to this your sacrificial ground, seeing the curls of smoke that rise from the sacrificial fire and blacken the sky. I smelt the perfume of the sacrificial ghee.
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