A wise teacher once spoke to a king, imparting lessons about the nature of virtue and wickedness. He explained that strength lies in forgiveness, for it is the strong who forgive while the weak succumb to anger. The wicked despise the good, and the powerless resent the powerful. In the same way, the ugly hate the beautiful, the poor envy the wealthy, the idle resent the active, and the unrighteous abhor the righteous. This, he said, is the mark of the wicked: hatred toward virtue. The opposite—love and respect for the noble—is the mark of the good. He reminded the king that regardless of one’s station—whether a Brahmin, a king, a merchant, or even a servant—those who are devoted to noble qualities are praised and considered illustrious. Therefore, he urged the king to set his mind upon the noble, for those who fail to do so live in ignorance. He pointed out that even the king’s brothers, lacking devotion to the noble, were misguided. The teacher then addressed the king’s knowledge of dharma and his claim to supreme righteousness, asking him to recount again the highest tale of worldly conduct. He taught that one who does not get angry is superior to one who does; patience is greater than impatience. Among all creatures, humans are foremost, and among humans, the learned are the highest. He explained that when insulted, a patient person refrains from harsh words, thereby burning the abuser and gaining merit. One should neither revile others nor speak cruelly, nor take from those who are inferior. If one's words disturb another, they should not be spoken, for harsh and blameworthy speech brings ruin to the speaker. Those who wound others with sharp words, whose mouths are filled with verbal thorns, are the most unfortunate among people and bear ruin upon their lips. The virtuous honor such people from the front and protect them from behind, enduring the excessive words of the wicked and adopting the conduct of the noble. Words, he said, are like arrows; when they strike another’s vital points, grief follows day and night. A wise person should never release such arrows upon others. Nowhere in the three worlds is there greater harmony than in compassion, friendship toward all beings, generosity, and sweet speech. Thus, one should always speak soothing words, honor those worthy, give to others, and never beg. As the story continued, the king was reminded that he had completed his duties, left his home, and entered the forest. The teacher asked the king, son of Nahusha, by what austerity he was equal to Yayati. Among gods, humans, gandharvas, and sages, he claimed none equaled him in austerity. Yet, when Yayati disregarded those who were his equals, superiors, or inferiors—whose power was unknown—his worlds came to an end, and his merit was exhausted. Because his heavenly realms perished due to disrespecting gods, sages, gandharvas, and men, Yayati wished, deprived of the world of the gods, to fall among the virtuous. The teacher comforted Yayati, saying he had fallen among the virtuous and regained his standing. He advised Yayati never to disregard those who are his equals or superiors again. At this moment, as Yayati was falling from the blessed worlds once enjoyed by the king of the immortals, the royal sage Ashtaka, protector of righteous conduct, spoke. Seeing Yayati, radiant like fire, falling from the darkness of the storm clouds, Ashtaka and others were bewildered, wondering what it was that was descending. They approached Yayati, seeing him with a splendor equal to Indra, the sun, and Vishnu, eager to know the truth of his descent. Yet, neither dared to ask first, nor did Yayati ask them who they were. Ashtaka finally spoke, asking Yayati to share his identity and the reason for his arrival. He reassured Yayati, telling him to abandon fear, sorrow, and confusion. Even Indra, though powerful, could not endure Yayati dwelling among the virtuous. The virtuous are a refuge for those deprived of happiness, always like the king of the immortals among the good. Whether stationary or moving, Yayati was established among equals, among the virtuous. Ashtaka continued, saying that Agni is sovereign in burning, the earth in sustaining, the sun in shining, and among the virtuous, the guest is sovereign. Yayati revealed his identity: he was Yayati, son of Nahusha and father of Puru, cast down from the worlds of gods, siddhas, and sages, fallen because he disrespected all beings, now descending with his merit exhausted. He explained that he was older than Ashtaka in age and thus did not offer him salutation; among the twice-born, honor is given to those elder by knowledge, austerity, or birth. Ashtaka replied that age confers superiority, but among the twice-born, only knowledge and austerity are truly worthy of honor. They agreed that acting against righteousness is sinful, leading to evil realms. The good do not follow the ways of the wicked, but act as is proper for the virtuous. Yayati lamented that once he had great wealth, but now it was gone, and though he strove, he could not regain it. Thus, one who is steadfast in seeking his own good and acts accordingly truly understands life. He explained that one who performs great sacrifices with abundant wealth, whose mind is disciplined in all branches of knowledge, who studies the Vedas and dedicates his body to austerity, attains heaven free from delusion. Thinking that destiny is powerful, Yayati advised acting with understanding. Whether happiness or sorrow, it is experienced by fate, not by one’s own power; therefore, one should neither grieve nor rejoice excessively. The wise remain even-minded, knowing destiny is powerful, and avoid being tormented by sorrow or exulting in happiness. Yayati stated that he was never bewildered by fear nor suffered mental distress; as the Creator ordained, so he would become. He reflected that all beings—born from sweat, eggs, sprouts, reptiles, worms, fish, stones, grass, and wood—return to their own nature when their allotted time ends. Knowing the impermanence of happiness and suffering, Yayati asked why he should be distressed. What could he do or not do that would cause pain? Thus, he remained attentive and avoided sorrow. As Yayati spoke thus, Ashtaka, full of curiosity, questioned him again, asking his grandfather, endowed with all virtues, to tell him truly of his experience dwelling in heaven.