“Vaisampayana continued, ’Then all those excellent monarchs riding in those cars set out for heaven for gaining admittance into it, illuminating the whole firmament by the glory of their virtues.’

“Then Ashtaka, breaking the silence asked, ’I had always thought that Indra was my especial friend, and that I, of all others, should first obtain admittance into heaven.  But how is it that Usinara’s son, Sivi hath already left us behind?’

“Yayati answered, ’This Usinara’s son had given all he possessed for attaining to the region of Brahman.  Therefore, is he the foremost among us.  Besides, Sivi’s liberality, asceticism, truth, virtue, modesty, forgiveness, amiability, desire of performing good acts, have been so great that none can measure them!’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’After this, Ashtaka, impelled by curiosity, again asked his maternal grandfather resembling Indra himself, saying, ’O king, I ask thee, tell me truly, whence thou art, who thou art, and whose son?  Is there any other Brahmana or Kshatriya who hath done what thou didst on earth?’ Yayati answered, ’I tell thee truly, I am Yayati, the son of Nahusha and the father of Puru.  I was lord of all the Earth.  Ye are my relatives; I tell thee truly, I am the maternal grandfather of you all.  Having conquered the whole earth, I gave clothes to Brahmanas and also a hundred handsome horses fit for sacrificial offering.  For such acts of virtue, the gods became propitious to those that perform them.  I also gave to Brahmanas this whole earth with her horses and elephants and kine and gold all kinds of wealth, along with a hundred Arbudas of excellent milch cows.  Both the earth and the firmament exist owing to my truth and virtue; fire yet burneth in the world of men owing to my truth and virtue.  Never hath a word spoken by me been untrue.  It is for this that the wise adore Truth.  O Ashtaka, all I have told thee, Pratardana, and Vasumat, is Truth itself.  I know it for certain that the gods and the Rishis and all the mansions of the blessed are adorable only because of Truth that characteriseth them all.  He that will without malice duly read unto good Brahmanas his account of our ascension to heaven shall himself attain to the same worlds with us.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’It was thus that the illustrious king Yayati of high achievements, rescued by his collateral descendants, ascended to heaven, leaving the earth and covering the three worlds with the fame of his deeds.’”

SECTION XCIV

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Janamejaya said, ’O adorable one, I desire to hear the histories of those kings who were descended from Puru.  O tell me of each as he was possessed of prowess and achievements.  I have, indeed, heard that in Puru’s line there was not a single one who was wanting in good behaviour and prowess, or who was without sons.  O thou of ascetic wealth, I desire to hear the histories in detail of those famous monarchs endued with learning and all accomplishments.’