As the king stood in that sacred place, he beheld a radiant, youthful figure adorned with garlands, whose splendor shone like the sun. The king, struck by his presence, asked with reverence, “By whom have you been sent today, O noble one? You are young, garlanded, and handsome, shining with an extraordinary light. From which direction have you come? Or do you hold royal authority here?” The luminous being replied with gravity, “O king, when one’s merit is exhausted, he is destined to descend into this earthly hell, cast down from the heights of heaven to the ground below. Now, having told you this, I too must fall—these guardians of Brahma’s world urge me onward.” He continued, “Surrounded as you are by the virtuous, your fall is accompanied by all the worthy souls. I have obtained this boon from Indra, O king, that I shall descend to earth.” Hearing this, the king inquired further, “As you fall into the abyss, tell me—are there worlds here for me, whether in the atmosphere or established in heaven? I believe you to be the knower of the true field of righteousness.” The radiant one responded, “O lion among kings, as many cows and horses as inhabit the earth, along with wild animals and birds, so many worlds are established for you in heaven. Know this well.” He offered, “I give you those worlds—do not fall into the abyss. O king of kings, as many worlds as exist in the heavens, in the atmosphere, or established on high—take possession of them swiftly, O destroyer of foes.” But the king replied, “O foremost of kings, neither one such as I, nor a non-Brahmin, nor even a knower of Brahman, should accept gifts. Whatever should always be given to the twice-born, I have already given, O king.” He reflected, “A wretched non-Brahmin should never live, even if he has a Brahmin wife or is married to a heroic woman. If I were to do what has never been done before, seeking to know, what virtue would there be in that?” Again, he asked, “Tell me, O Pratardana of admirable form: if I have worlds, whether in the sky or in heaven as is known, I consider you the knower of the law concerning them.” The reply came, “There are many worlds for you, O king—each one lasting seven hundred days, flowing with honey and ghee, free from sorrow, yet finite, and they await you.” With generosity, he said, “I give you those worlds as you fall, O king; let my worlds become yours. Wherever they are established, quickly ascend to them, your doubt dispelled.” Then the king confessed, “Indeed, I desire righteous merit equal to yours, for the security of a king comes from another king. When misfortune arises by divine will, a wise king should never act harshly.” He added, “Reflecting on the righteous path, one should perform penance for fame, observing dharma. A king of my understanding and sense of righteousness would never act miserably toward me, as you suggest.” He concluded, “Should I do what has never been done by others, seeking to know—what virtue would there be in that?” Thus, the noble King Vasumanas spoke to King Yayāti. Yayāti then asked Vasumanas, tamer of horses, “If there is a world in heaven for me, O king, or if it is renowned in the sky, O great-souled one, I consider you the knower of the law concerning it.” Vasumanas replied, “As the sun shines upon the sky, earth, and all directions by your radiance, so many worlds are established in heaven; they await you.” He offered, “I give you those worlds as you fall, O king; let my worlds become yours. Purchase them even with a blade of grass, if your acceptance is pure.” Yayāti responded, “I do not recall ever making a false sale, even in childhood, O king. Nor would I do what has never been done by others, seeking to know, O Vasumanas; that is not righteous.” Vasumanas insisted, “You should accept those worlds, O king, which I have given; if you do not wish to purchase them, I will not take them back, O king. Let all those worlds truly become yours.” Turning to Śibi, son of Uśīnara, Yayāti asked, “If I too have worlds, dear one, whether they are established in the sky or in heaven, I consider you the knower of the law concerning them.” Śibi answered, “You did not, O king, seek them with words or even with your heart, nor did you despise me. Therefore, there are infinite worlds established in heaven, vast, resounding, and lightning-like.” He added, “You should accept those worlds, O king, which I have given; if you do not wish to purchase them, I will not reclaim them after giving. Go, dear one, to those worlds where you will go.” Yayāti replied, “Just as you, with power like Indra, have infinite worlds, O king, so in this world today I do not delight in what is given by another. Therefore, O Śibi, I do not welcome your words.” He warned, “If you, O king, do not accept each of our worlds, then, having given all those worlds, we shall go to hell.” Yayāti stood firm, “Do as you see fit, you who are virtuous and perceive truth and righteousness; but I do not accept what was not done by me in the past.” He concluded, “For me, who remains untouched, what has been said does not apply here, O lion among kings; whatever is proper for this giving, that alone will yield endless fruit.” Then Yayāti asked, “Whose are these five golden chariots, which stand tall and shine, blazing like tongues of fire?” He was told, “These golden chariots shine for you and for me; you must ascend them and travel together with me.” “Take your place on the chariot, O king, and stride forth through the sky; we too will follow when the time comes.” “Now all must depart together, for heaven has been won; this path, free from impurity, is seen leading to the abode of the gods.” So all the kings mounted the chariots and set forth, ascending to the heavens, shining as they covered earth and sky with righteousness. Ashtaka, curious, questioned his maternal grandfather, who was like Indra: “I ask you, O king, tell me truly—who are you, where do you come from, how did you arrive? What you have done, no other Brahmin or Kshatriya in the world could accomplish.” The noble one replied, “I am Yayāti, son of Nahusha, father of Puru, sovereign of the earth. I reveal to you, my grandsons, this secret teaching, O grandfather, which is well known among you.” He recounted, “I conquered all this earth, rich and abundant, and gave it to the Brahmins, along with pure horses, many beautiful ones; then the gods became recipients of merit.” “I gave the earth to the Brahmins, filled with all kinds of excellent food, praised cattle, gold, and chief treasures, horses with elephants by the hundreds and tens of thousands.” “By truth, both heaven and earth, and likewise fire, burn among men; not a single word of mine is spoken in vain, for the virtuous honor only truth.” “And whoever reports to the twice-born and to the sacred fires all our deeds, as they truly happened, without envy, shall share our world.” Thus, in the assembly of kings and the righteous, the glory of virtue, truth, and generosity shone forth, and the path to the gods was revealed.