Having lost his position among the virtuous, King Yayati found himself cast down from the blessed realms. Yet, he was told, “Here among the righteous, O King, you may regain what you have lost. Know this, Yayati, and do not look down upon those who are your equals or superiors.” As Yayati fell from the celestial world, the realm enjoyed by the king of immortals, his descent was witnessed by Ashtaka, foremost among royal sages and protector of dharma. Seeing the radiant figure plummeting from the heavens, Ashtaka addressed him with wonder: “Who are you, young man, whose brilliance rivals Vasava himself? You shine like fire, fall like a glowing cloud, and are foremost among the dwellers of the sky, like the sun! As you descend from the path of the sun, radiating immeasurable light, all are bewildered, wondering who or what you are.” “We saw you established on the divine path, your glory equal to Indra, the sun, and Vishnu. All of us have come forth, eager to know the cause of your fall, though none dare question you directly, nor do you ask who we are. I ask you, whose form is so desirable: who are you, and why have you come here?” Ashtaka continued, “Let your fear depart, abandon sorrow and confusion, you who shine like Indra. Even the mighty Indra could not endure you among the virtuous. The righteous are always a refuge for those who have lost happiness; among them, you are like the king of immortals. All beings, moving and unmoving, are gathered here, and you are established among equals. Fire is master in burning, earth in receiving, the sun in shining, and among the virtuous, the one who arrives is master.” Yayati then spoke: “I am Yayati, son of Nahusha and father of Puru. Because I disrespected all beings, I have fallen from the world of gods and perfected ones, cast down with little merit. I am older than you in age, and so I did not greet you. Among the twice-born, it is the elder by knowledge, austerity, or birth who is honored.” Ashtaka replied, “You said, ‘I am elder by age,’ but truly, the one advanced in knowledge and austerity is honored among the twice-born. Acting against righteousness is sinful, and those who do so fall into evil worlds. The virtuous do not follow the unvirtuous; you spoke against their nature.” Yayati continued, “I had great wealth, and through effort, I attained this state. One who acts with resolve for self-benefit understands, and the wise follow this path. In the world, there are many diverse forms, all subject to destiny; their power of action is lost. Whatever is allotted, the wise should not be disturbed, knowing fate is stronger. Whether happiness or sorrow, it is experienced by destiny, not by one’s own power. Therefore, one should neither grieve nor exult, seeing fate as powerful. In suffering, one should not be tormented; in happiness, one should not rejoice. The wise remain even-minded, understanding the power of fate, and are neither distressed nor delighted.” “In fear, I am never bewildered, Ashtaka; no distress arises in my mind. As the Creator ordains for me in the world, so shall I become—this is my reflection. Creatures born of sweat, eggs, sprouts, reptiles, worms, fish, stones, grass, and wood—all, when their destined end arrives, return to their own nature. Recognizing the impermanence of happiness and sorrow, why should I be distressed? What could I do, or not do, to avoid affliction? Therefore, I remain vigilant and avoid sorrow.” As Yayati spoke thus, Ashtaka questioned him further: “Grandfather, endowed with all virtues, tell me truly how you resided in the world of heaven. Tell me in detail about all those principal worlds you enjoyed, and at what times and in what manner. Speak to me, O king, as one who knows dharma.” Yayati replied, “Here, I was a universal monarch; then I attained great worlds and dwelled there for a thousand years, and after that, I reached even higher worlds. I dwelled in the delightful city of Puruhuta, with a thousand gates, extending a hundred yojanas, for a thousand years, and then attained even higher worlds. I reached the divine, ageless world of the Lord of Creatures, difficult to attain even for the lord of the world, and dwelled there for a thousand years before attaining still higher worlds. In the abode of the god of gods, having conquered the worlds, I dwelled as I wished, honored by all the gods, with splendor and power equal to the lords.” “In the same way, I dwelled in Nandana, assuming forms at will, for a hundred thousand years, moving with the Apsarases, enjoying fragrant breezes and beholding blossoming trees. There, as I remained, attached to the pleasures of the gods, after a long time a fierce messenger of the gods called out to me three times, ‘Be destroyed!’” “Thus, O lion among kings, my knowledge extends this far. Fallen from Nandana, my merit exhausted, I heard the gods lamenting with compassion as I fell. Suddenly, I, Yayati—once famed for virtue—fell, and as I was falling, I asked, ‘How can I, among the virtuous, fall?’ They told me of your sacrificial ground, and seeing it, I came here, drawn by the scent of offerings and the rising smoke.” Ashtaka then asked, “While dwelling in Nandana, able to assume any form for a hundred thousand years, why did you, foremost in the Krita age, abandon that and descend to earth?” Yayati answered, “Just as, when wealth is depleted, relatives, friends, and one’s own people abandon a person here on earth, so too, when merit is exhausted, the hosts of gods forsake a person in heaven. How does merit become depleted there? My mind is bewildered about this. Who is distinguished, and to whose abode do they go? Tell me, for I consider you the master of the field.” Yayati replied, “They fall into this earthly hell, O king, lamenting; all of them, for the sake of carrion, jackals, and crows, undergo much increase in various ways upon the earth. Therefore, wicked and blameworthy actions should be avoided in this world. All this has been explained, O ruler; if you wish to hear more, tell me what you would have me say.” Ashtaka pressed further, “When birds, vultures, owls, and insects attack them, how does this happen? How do they become so? From you, I hear about this earthly hell.” Yayati explained, “After the body, as the effects of actions unfold, they wander visibly upon the earth. They fall into this earthly hell and do not perceive the passing of countless years. Sixty thousand fall in the sky, and likewise eighty thousand years pass; those who are falling are driven by fearsome earthly demons with sharp fangs. When those demons attack the falling ones, how does this happen? How do they become so? What is their condition, and how do they become embryos?” Thus unfolded the dialogue between Yayati and Ashtaka, filled with the wisdom of fate, merit, and the workings of the worlds beyond.