दिवसस्याष्टमे भागे मन्दीभवति भास्करे। स कालः कुतपो नाम पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्
When the sun is in the eighth part of the day, its light is subdued; that time is called kutapa, and what is given then to the ancestors is imperishable.
तिलाः पिशाचाद्रक्षन्ति दर्भा रक्षन्ति राक्षसात्। रक्षन्ति श्रोत्रियाः पङ्क्तिं यतिभिर्भुक्तमक्षयम्
Sesame seeds protect from evil spirits, darbha grass protects from demons, and the learned Brahmins protect the line; what is eaten by ascetics is imperishable.
लब्ध्वा पात्रं तु विद्वांसं श्रोत्रियं सुव्रतं शुचिम्। स कालः कालतो दत्तं नान्यथा काल इष्यते
Having found a worthy recipient—learned, versed in the Veda, of good vows, and pure—one should give at the proper time; no other time is considered right.
एवमुक्त्वा ययातिस्तु पुनः प्रोवाच बुद्धिमान्। सर्वे ह्यवभृथस्नातास्त्वरध्वं कार्यगौरवात्
Having spoken thus, the wise Yayāti again said: All of you, having completed the concluding bath, hasten now out of respect for the importance of the task.
आतिष्ठ स्वरथं राजन्विक्रमस्व विहायसम्। वयमप्यनुयास्यामो यदा कालो भविष्यति
Mount your chariot, O King, and ascend to the sky; we too shall follow when the time comes.
सर्वैरिदानीं गन्तव्यं सह स्वर्गजितो वयम्। एष नो विरजाः पन्था दृश्यते देवसद्मनः
Now we must all go together, we who have won heaven; this is the stainless path we see leading to the abode of the gods.
अष्टकश्च शिबिश्चैव काशेयश्च प्रतर्दनः। ऐक्ष्वाकवो वसुमनाश्चत्वारो भूमिपास्तदा। सर्वे ह्यवभृथस्नाताः स्वर्गताः साधवः सह
Aṣṭaka, Śibi, Kāśeya, and Pratardana—the four kings of the Ikṣvāku line, Vasumanas—all these, having bathed after the sacrifice, have gone to heaven together, noble ones.
तेऽधिरुह्य रथान्सर्वे प्रयाता नृपस्तमाः। आक्रमन्तो दिवं भाभिर्धर्मेणावृत्य रोदसी
All of them mounted their chariots and departed, those best of kings, ascending to heaven in radiance, enveloping earth and sky with righteousness.
अहं मन्ये पूर्वमेकोऽस्मि गन्ता सखा चेन्द्रः सर्वथा मे महात्मा। कस्मादेवं शिबिरौशीनरोऽय- मेकोऽत्यगात्सर्ववेगेन वाहान्
I thought I alone would go first, and that my friend Indra, the great soul, would certainly be with me; but why did Śibi, the king of the Uśīnaras, surpass us all, urging his steeds with all his might?
अददद्याचमानाय यावद्वित्तमविन्दत। उशीनरस्य पुत्रोऽयं तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठोहि वः शिबिः
He gave to all who asked, as much wealth as he found; this is the son of Uśīnara—therefore, Śibi is the best among you.
दानं तपः संत्यमथाऽपि धर्मो ह्रीः श्रीः क्षमा सौम्यमथो विधित्सा। राजन्नेतान्यप्रमेयाणि राज्ञः शिबेः स्थितान्यप्रतिमस्य बुद्ध्या
Giving, austerity, truth, and also righteousness, modesty, prosperity, forgiveness, gentleness, and the desire to act—these immeasurable virtues, O King, were established in the incomparable mind of Śibi.
एवं वृत्तो ह्रीनिषेवश्च यस्मा- त्तस्माच्छिबिरत्यगाद्वै रथेन
Because he was thus conducted and devoted to modesty, therefore Śibi surpassed us, riding his chariot.
पृच्छामि त्वां नृपते ब्रूहि सत्यं कुतश्च कश्चासि सुतश्च कस्य। कृतं त्वया यद्धि न तस्य कर्ता लोके त्वदन्यः क्षत्रियो ब्राह्मणो वा
I ask you, O King, tell me truly: from where are you, who are you, and whose son? What you have done—no other kṣatriya or brāhmaṇa in the world has accomplished.
ययातिरस्मि नहुषस्य पुत्रः पूरोः पिता सार्वबौमस्त्विहासम्। गुह्यं चार्थं मामकेभ्यो ब्रवीमि मातामहोऽहं भवतां प्रकाशम्
I am Yayāti, son of Nahusha, father of Puru, lord of all the earth here; I reveal this secret matter openly to you—I am your maternal grandfather.
सर्वामिमां पृथिवीं निर्जिगाय दत्त्वा प्रतस्थे विपिनं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः। मेध्यानश्वानेकशतान्सुरूपां- स्तदा देवाः पुण्यभाजो भवन्ति
I conquered this entire earth and, having given it to the brāhmaṇas, set out for the forest; a hundred excellent, pure-bred horses I gave—then the blessed gods become recipients of merit.
अदामहं पृथिवीं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः पूर्णामिमामखिलां वाहनेन। गोभिः सुवर्णेन धनैश्च मुख्यै- स्तदाऽददं गाः शथमर्बुदानि
I gave the whole earth, filled and entire, to the brāhmaṇas, with conveyances, cows, gold, and foremost treasures; then I gave a hundred million cows.
सत्येन मे द्यौश्च वसुन्धरा च तथैवाग्निज्वर्लते मानुषेषु। न मे वृथा व्याहृतमेव वाक्यं सत्यं हि सन्तः प्रतिपूजयन्ति
By my truthfulness, both heaven and earth, and likewise the fire that burns among men, are upheld; no word of mine is ever spoken in vain, for the virtuous always honor truth.
यदष्टक प्रब्रवीमीह सत्यं प्रतर्दनं चौषदश्विं तथैव। सर्वे च लोका मुनयश्च देवाः सत्येन पूज्या इति मे मनोगतम्
Whatever I declare here, O Aṣṭaka, is truth, and so also to Pratardana and Uśadaśvi; all the worlds, sages, and gods are honored by truth—this is my conviction.
यो नः स्वर्गजितः सर्वान्यथावृत्तं निवेदयेत्। अनसूयुर्द्विजाग्र्येभ्यः स लभेन्नः सलोकताम्
Whoever among us, the conquerors of heaven, would report anything otherwise, without envy, to the foremost brāhmaṇas, he would not attain our world.
एवं राजा स महात्मा ह्यतीव स्वैर्दौहित्रैस्तारितोऽमित्रसाह। त्यक्त्वा महीं परमोदारकर्मा स्वर्गं गतः कर्मभिर्व्याप्य पृथ्वीम्
Thus, that great-souled king, carried across by his own grandsons, having renounced the earth and performed supremely noble deeds, went to heaven, having filled the earth with his actions.
पुत्रं ययातेः प्रबूहि पूरुं धर्मभृतां वरम्। आनुपूर्व्येण ये चान्ये पूरोर्वंशविवर्धनाः
Tell me of Yayati’s son Puru, foremost among the righteous, and also, in order, of the others who increased Puru’s lineage.
विस्तरेण पुनर्ब्रूहि दौष्यन्तेर्जनमेजयात्। संबभूव यथा राजा भरतो द्विजसत्तम
Describe in detail again, O best of twice-born, how from Janamejaya, son of Dushyanta, the king Bharata was born.
पूरुर्नृपतिशार्दूलो यथैवास्य पिता नृप। धर्मनित्यः स्थितो राज्ये शक्रतुल्यपराक्रमः
Puru, the tiger among kings, was just like his father, ever devoted to righteousness, established in his kingdom, and equal to Indra in valor.
प्रवीरेश्वररौद्राश्वास्त्रयः पुत्रा महारथाः। पूरोः पौष्ट्यामजायन्त प्रवीरो वंशकृत्ततः
From Puru were born three mighty sons—Pravira, Ishvara, and Raudrashva—great chariot-warriors, through his queen Paushtya; Pravira became the founder of the line.
मनस्युरभवत्तस्माच्छूरसेनीसुतः प्रभुः। पृथिव्याश्चतुरन्ताया गोप्ता राजीवलोचनः
From him was born Manasyu, the powerful son of Shuraseni, lotus-eyed protector of the earth bounded on all sides.
शक्तः संहननो वाग्मी सौवीरीतनयास्त्रयः। मनस्योरभवन्पुत्राः शूराः सर्वे महारथाः
Shakta, Samhanana, and Vāgmī—three sons of Manasyu by the daughter of the Sauvira king—were all heroic and great chariot-warriors.
अन्वग्भानुप्रभृतयो मिश्रकेश्यां मनस्विनः। रौद्राश्वस्य महेष्वासा दशाप्सरसि सूनवः
Raudrashva had ten intelligent sons by the Apsaras Misrakeshi, beginning with Anvagbhanu, all great archers.
यज्वानो जज्ञिरे शूराः प्रजावन्तो बहुश्रुताः। सर्वे सर्वास्त्रविद्वासः सर्वे धर्मपरायणाः
All were sacrificers, heroic, prolific, learned in many branches, skilled in all weapons, and devoted to righteousness.
ऋचेयुरथ कक्षेयुः कृकणेयुश्च वीर्यवान्। स्थण्डिलेयुर्वनेयुश्च जलेयुश्च महायशाः
Richeyu, Kakshiyu, Krikaneyu the mighty, Sthandileyu, Vaneyu, and Jaleyu of great fame,
तेजेयुर्बलावान्धीमान्सत्येयुश्चन्द्रविक्रमः। धर्मेयुः सन्नतेयुश्च दशमो देवविक्रमः
Tejeyu, strong and wise; Satyeyu, of moon-like valor; Dharmeyu, Sannateyu, and the tenth, Devavikrama.