प्राप्तवानस्मि यल्लोके क्षत्रवंशोद्भवं यशः । वीरशब्दफलं चैव तेन संयुज्यतां भवान् । यथा धर्मे रतिर्नित्यं तेन सत्येन खं व्रज
I have attained in this world the fame born of the Kshatriya lineage, and the reward of being called a hero; may you be joined with that. As my attachment to righteousness is constant, by that truth ascend to heaven.
शिबिरौशीनरो धीमानुवाच मधुरां गिरम्। यथा बालेषु नारीषु वैवाह्येषु तथैव च
Shibi, the wise king of Ushinara, spoke sweet words: As among children, women, and in marriages, so too—
सङ्गरेषु निपातेषु तथा तद्व्यसनेषु च । अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे तेन सत्येन खं व्रज
In battles, in calamities, and in misfortunes, I have never spoken falsehood; by that truth ascend to heaven.
यथा प्राणांश्च राज्यं च राजन्कामसुखानि च। त्यजेयं न पुनः सत्यं तेन सत्येन खं व्रज
Just as I would abandon my life, kingdom, and pleasures of desire, but never abandon truth; by that truth ascend to heaven.
यथा सत्येन मे धर्मो यथा सत्येन पावकः । प्रीतः शतक्रतुश्चैव तेन सत्येन खं व्रज
As by truth my righteousness stands, as by truth the fire is satisfied, and Indra is pleased; by that truth ascend to heaven.
अष्टकस्त्वथ राजर्षिः कौशिको माधवीसुतः। अनेकशतयज्वानं नाहुषं प्राह धर्मवित्
Then Ashtaka, the royal sage, son of Madhavi and descendant of Kausika, who knew righteousness, spoke to Nahusha, performer of many hundreds of sacrifices.
शतशः पुण्डरीका मे गोसवाश्चरिताः प्रभो । क्रतवो वाजपेयाश्च तेषां फलमवाप्नुहि
Hundreds of lotus sacrifices and cow-sacrifices have been performed by me, O lord, as well as Vājapeya rituals; may you obtain their fruit.
न मे रत्नानि न धनं न तथाऽन्ये परिच्छदा । क्रतुष्वनुपयुक्तानि तेन सत्येन खं व्रज
Neither jewels nor wealth nor other possessions were used in my sacrifices; by that truth ascend to heaven.
यथायथा हि जल्पन्ति दौहित्रास्तं नराधिपम् । तथतथा वसुमतीं त्यक्त्वा राजा दिवं ययौ
As the grandsons spoke thus to that king, so, leaving the earth, the king ascended to heaven.
एवं सर्वे समस्तैस्ते राजानः सुकृतैस्तदा । ययातिं स्वर्गतो भ्रष्टं तारयामासुरञ्जसा
Thus, all those kings together, by their virtuous deeds, swiftly rescued Yayati, who had fallen from heaven.
दौहित्राः स्वेन धर्मेण यज्ञदानकृतेन वै । चतुर्षु राजवंशेषु संभूताः कुलवर्धनाः। मातामहं महाप्राज्ञं दिवमारोपयन्त ते
The grandsons, born in four royal lineages, enhancers of their families, by their own righteousness and acts of sacrifice and giving, raised their wise maternal grandfather to heaven.
राजधर्मगुणोपेताः सर्वधर्मगुणान्विताः । दौहित्रास्ते वयं राजन्दिवमारोह पार्थिव
Endowed with the virtues of royal duty and all the qualities of righteousness, we grandsons, O king, ascend to heaven.
सद्भिरारोपितः स्वर्गं पार्थिवैर्भूरिदक्षिणैः । अभ्यनुज्ञाय दौहित्रान्ययातिर्दिवमास्थितः
Yayati, having been raised to heaven by the virtuous kings who gave abundant gifts, after granting permission to his grandsons, took his place in heaven.
अभिवृष्टश्च वर्षेण नानापुष्पसुगन्धिना। परिष्वक्तश्च पुण्येन वायुना पुण्यगन्धिना
He was showered with rain fragrant with various flowers, and embraced by a virtuous wind carrying sacred scents.
अचलं स्थानमासाद्य दौहित्रफलनिर्जितम् । कर्मभिः स्वैरुपचितो जज्वाल परया श्रिया
Having reached a stable abode, won by the fruit of his grandsons, and accumulated by his own deeds, he shone with supreme splendor.
उपगीतोपनृत्तश्च गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणैः । प्रीत्या प्रतिगृहीतश्च स्वर्गे दुन्दुभिनिःस्वनैः
He was sung to and danced for by the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsaras, joyfully received in heaven amid the sound of drums.
अभिष्टुतश्च विविधैर्देवराजर्षिचारणैः । अर्चितश्चोत्तमार्घेण दैवतैरभिनन्दितः
He was praised by various gods, royal sages, and celestial beings; honored with the highest offerings, and joyfully welcomed by the deities.
प्राप्तः स्वर्गफलं चैव तमुवाच पितामहः । निर्वृतं शान्तमनसं वचोभिस्तर्पयन्निव
Having attained the reward of heaven, the grandsire spoke to him, whose mind was tranquil and content, as if satisfying him with words.
चतुष्पादस्त्वया धर्मश्रितो लोक्येन कर्मणा । अक्षयस्तव लोकोऽयं कीर्तिश्चैवाक्षया दिवि
By you, Dharma has been upheld in its fourfold form through renowned deeds; your world is imperishable, and your fame too is eternal in heaven.
पुनस्त्वयैव राजर्षे स्वकृतेन विघातितम्। आवृतं तमसा चेतः सर्वेषां स्वर्गवासिनाम्
Yet, O royal sage, by your own action, it was again obstructed; the minds of all the dwellers in heaven were veiled by darkness.
येन त्वां नाभिजानन्ति ततोऽज्ञातोसि पातितः । प्रीत्यैव चासि दौहित्रैस्तारितस्त्वमिहागतः
Because of this, they did not recognize you, and so you were cast down; but out of affection, your grandsons have rescued you and brought you here.
स्थानं च प्रतिपन्नोऽसि कर्मणा स्वेन निर्जितम् । अचलं शाश्वतं पुण्यमुत्तमं ध्रुवमव्ययम्
You have regained your place, conquered by your own deeds; it is steadfast, eternal, virtuous, supreme, fixed, and undecaying.
भगवन्संशयो मेऽस्ति कश्चितं छेत्तुमर्हसि । न ह्यन्यमहमर्हामि प्रष्टुं लोकपितामह
O blessed one, I have a certain doubt which you should resolve; for I am not fit to ask anyone else but you, O grandsire of the worlds.
बहुवर्षसहस्रान्तं प्रजापालनवर्धितम्। अनेकक्रतुदानौघैरार्जितं मे महत्फलम्
For thousands of years, I protected and nurtured my subjects; through countless sacrifices and gifts, I acquired a great reward.
कथं तदल्पकालेन क्षीणं येनास्मि पातितः । भगवन्वेत्थ लोकांश्च शाश्वतान्मम निर्मितान् । कथं नु मम तत्सर्वं विप्रनष्टं महाद्युते
How was that, in such a short time, diminished, by which I was cast down? O blessed one, you know the worlds, even those I established as eternal; how then was all that lost from me, O radiant one?
बहुवर्षसहस्रान्तं प्रजापालनवर्धितम्। अनेकक्रतुदानौघैर्यत्त्वयोपार्जितं फलम्
For thousands of years, you protected and nurtured your subjects; through countless sacrifices and gifts, you acquired that reward.
तदनेनैव दोषेण क्षीणं येनासि पातितः। अभिमानेन राजेन्द्र धिक्कृतः स्वर्गवासिभिः
But through this very fault, it was diminished, and you were cast down; O king, through pride, you were scorned by the dwellers of heaven.
नायं मानेन राजर्षे न बलेन न हिंसया। न शाठ्येन न मायाभिर्लोको भवति शाश्वतः
This world is not eternal for a royal sage through pride, nor through strength, nor through violence, nor through deceit, nor through trickery.
नावमान्यास्त्वया राजन्नधमोत्कृष्टमध्यमाः। न हि मानप्रदग्धानां कश्चिदस्ति शमः क्वचित्
You should not disdain, O king, those who are low, high, or middling; for there is never any peace for those burned by pride.
पतनारोहणमिदं कथयिष्यन्ति ये नराः । विषमाण्यपि ते प्राप्तास्तरिष्यन्ति न संशयः
Those men who recount this descent and ascent, even if they encounter hardships, will surely overcome them—there is no doubt.