01.081
departed towards the north
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus King Yayati, descendant of Nahusha, joyfully consecrated his chosen son on the throne and then became a forest-dwelling sage. (01-81-1)
Having spent his days residing in the forest together with the Brāhmaṇas, leading a life eating fruits and roots and practicing self-control, he departed from here to heaven just so. (01-81-2)
He went to the abode of the gods and lived there joyfully, but after not much time, he was cast down again by Śakra (Indra). (01-81-3)
He, falling and cast down from heaven but not reaching the earth's surface, remained in the sky; this is what I have heard. (01-81-4)
It is said that from that very cause, he again went to heaven, together with King Vasumata, Ashtaka, Pratardana, Shibi, and other mighty ones, after gathering in the assembly. (01-81-5)
Janamejaya said.
By what action did the king regain heaven? I wish to hear all of this in full truth from you, O brāhmaṇa, as you recount it in the assembly of brāhmaṇa-sages. (01-81-6)
Yayāti, the king of the earth, was truly equal to Indra, a promoter of the Kuru dynasty, and matched the fire in brilliance. (01-81-7)
I wish to hear, entirely, the deeds of that great-souled one of vast and true fame, both here and in heaven. (01-81-8)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Indeed, I will tell you the later story of Yayāti, which, both in heaven and on earth, brings merit and destroys all sins. (01-81-9)
Then, King Yayati, son of Nahusha, having gladly anointed his youngest son Puru on the throne, departed to the forest. (01-81-10)
Having placed his sons, led by the Yadus, at the boundaries, the king lived in the forest for a long time subsisting on fruits and roots. (01-81-11)
With a disciplined mind and subdued anger, satisfying the ancestral deities and ritually offering oblations into the fires according to the code of the forest-dweller. (01-81-12)
He, the powerful one, honored guests with offerings of forest produce; following the practice of a gleaner, he ate food made from leftovers. (01-81-13)
The king, thus conducting himself, remained so for a full thousand years. For thirty autumns he lived only on water, with his speech and mind controlled. (01-81-14)
Then, subsisting only on air and without fatigue, the king observed austerities for a year amidst the five fires. (01-81-15)
Puṇyakīrti stood on one foot and lived on air for six months; then, enveloping heaven and earth, he went to heaven. (01-81-16)
