Let us recount the story of the illustrious King Yayāti, whose fame shone brightly in both heaven and earth, and whose deeds brought merit and destroyed sin. After his time as ruler, Yayāti, son of Nahusha and enhancer of the Kuru lineage, joyfully placed his youngest son Pūru upon the throne. Entrusting his elder sons to Pūru’s care, Yayāti departed for the forest, where he lived for many years, subsisting on fruits and roots. In the forest, Yayāti practiced severe austerities. He restrained his senses and conquered anger, offering oblations to the ancestors and gods according to the ascetic tradition. He honored guests with whatever the forest provided, adopting the gleaner's way of life, eating only what remained after others had partaken. For a thousand years, Yayāti lived thus; for thirty autumns, he subsisted solely on air, restraining both speech and mind. Then, for a year, he lived untiringly on wind, and performed austerity amidst five fires. He stood on one foot for six months, sustained by air alone. Renowned for his virtue, Yayāti then ascended to heaven, traversing earth and sky. Having reached heaven, Yayāti dwelt in the abode of the gods, honored by the Thirty, the Sādhyas, the Maruts, and the Vasus. He roamed the worlds of the gods and of Brahma, living there for a long time in virtue and self-control. Once, Yayāti came to Indra, king of the gods, and after their conversation, Indra questioned him: “When your son Pūru took on your form and bore your old age, ruling the earth as you gave him the kingdom, what did you say to him? Tell me truly.” Yayāti replied, “Between the Ganges and Yamuna, this entire realm is yours, Pūru. In the middle of the earth you are king, and your brothers rule the outer lands. A man should not act out of dejection, deceit, or anger; nor should he cause defeat, envy, or enmity anywhere. The wise should never despise their mother, father, elder, learned man, ascetic, or the patient one. He who is strong always forgives; the weak man becomes angry. The wicked hate the good, and the powerless hate the powerful. The ugly hate the beautiful, the poor hate the wealthy; the idle hate the active, and the unrighteous hate the righteous. The unvirtuous hate the virtuous—this, my son, is the mark of the wicked; the opposite is the mark of the good. Whether Brahmin, king, merchant, or servant—if they are devoted to the noble, they are praised as illustrious. Therefore, a man should set his mind on the noble; those not devoted to the noble are ignorant, as are your brothers. You know the law and boast of supreme righteousness; tell me again today the highest tale of worldly conduct. He who does not get angry is superior to the angry; the patient is superior to the impatient. Among non-humans, humans are foremost; the learned are foremost among the unlearned. When insulted, the patient man does not respond with harsh words; he burns the abuser and attains merit. One should not revile nor speak cruel words; nor should one take from those who are inferior. If one’s speech disturbs another, one should not utter such harsh, blameworthy words. A reviler, whose words are sharp and wound others with verbal thorns, bears ruin bound upon his mouth. He should be honored and protected by the virtuous, and always endure the excessive words of the wicked, adopting the conduct of the virtuous and following the noble path. Words like arrows emerge from mouths; those struck by them grieve day and night. Those that strike another’s vital points, a wise person should not release upon others. Nowhere in the three worlds is there harmony greater than compassion, friendship toward beings, generosity, and sweet speech. Therefore, one should always speak soothing words, never harsh words. One should honor those worthy of honor, give to others, and never beg from anyone.” Indra then asked Yayāti, “Having completed all duties, you have left your home and gone to the forest. By what austerity are you equal to Yayāti?” Yayāti replied, “Among gods, humans, gandharvas, and great sages, I do not see anyone equal to myself in austerity, O Vasava.” But Indra said, “When you disregarded those who were your equals, superior, or inferior, whose power was unknown, your worlds have come to an end; with your merit exhausted, you have fallen today, O King. Because my heavenly realms have perished due to disrespecting gods, sages, gandharvas, and men, I wish, deprived of the world of the gods, to fall among the virtuous.” Indra reassured Yayāti, “You have fallen among the virtuous, O King, where you have regained your standing. Knowing this, do not again disregard those who are your equals or superiors.” At that moment, seeing Yayāti falling from the blessed worlds he had enjoyed, the foremost royal sage Ashtaka, protector of righteous conduct, spoke to him, marking the next chapter in Yayāti’s journey.