SECTION XCIII

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Vasumat said, ’I am Vasumat, the son of Oshadaswa.  I would ask thee, O king, whether there are any worlds for me to enjoy as fruits of my religious merits, in heaven or the firmament.  Thou art, O high-souled one, acquainted with all holy regions.’

“Yayati answered, ’There are as many regions for thee to enjoy in heaven as the number of places in the firmament, the Earth and the ten points of the universe illumined by the Sun.’

“Vasumat then said, ’I give them to thee.  Let those regions that are for me be thine.  Therefore, though falling, thou shall not fall.  If to accept them as gift be improper for thee, then, O monarch, buy them for a straw?’

“Yayati answered, ’I do not remember having ever bought and sold anything unfairly.  This has never been done by other kings.  How shall I therefore do it?’

“Vasumat said, ’If buying them, O king, be regarded by thee as improper, then take them as gilt from me.  For myself I answer that I will never go to those regions that are for me.  Let them, therefore, be thine.’

“Sivi then addressed the king thus, I am, O king, Sivi by name, the son of Usinara.  O father, are there in the firmament or in heaven any worlds for me to enjoy?  Thou knowest every region that one may enjoy as the fruit of his religious merit.’

“Yayati said, ’Thou hast never, by speech or in mind, disregarded the honest and the virtuous that applied to thee.  There are infinite worlds for thee to enjoy in heaven, all blazing like lightning.’  Sivi then said, ’If thou regardest their purchase as improper, I give them to thee.  Take them all, O king!  I shall never take them, viz., those regions where the wise never feel the least disquiet.’

Yayati answered, ’O Sivi, thou hast indeed, obtained for thyself, possessed of the prowess of Indra, infinite worlds.  But I do not desire to enjoy regions given to me by others.  Therefore, I accept not thy gift.’

“Ashtaka then said, ’O king, each of us has expressed his desire to give thee worlds that each of us has acquired by his religious merits.  Thou acceptest not them.  But leaving them for thee, we shall descend into the Earth-hell.’

“Yayati answered, ’Ye all are truth-loving and wise.  Give me that which I deserve.  I shall not be able to do what I have never done before.’

“Ashtaka then said, ’Whose are those five golden cars that we see?  Do men that repair to these regions of everlasting bliss ride in them?’

“Yayati answered, ’Those five golden cars displayed in glory, and blazing as fire, would indeed, carry you to regions of bliss.’

“Ashtaka said, ’O king, ride on those cars thyself and repair to heaven.  We can wait.  We follow thee in time.’

“Yayati said, ’We can now all go together.  Indeed, all of us have conquered heaven.  Behold, the glorious path to heaven becomes visible.”