Chapter 61

“Narada said, ‘Yayati, the son of Nahusha, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell aprey to death. Having performed a hundred Rajasuyas, a hundredHorse-sacrifices, a thousand Pundarikas, a hundred Vajapeyas, a thousandAtiratras, innumerable Chaturmasyas, diverse Agnishtomas, and many otherkinds of sacrifices, in all of which he made profuse gifts unto theBrahmanas, he gave away unto the Brahmanas, having counted it first, thewhole of the wealth that existed on the earth in the possession ofMlecchas and other Brahmana-hating people. When the gods and the Asuraswere arrayed for battle, king Yayati aided the gods. Having divided theearth into four parts, he gave it away unto four persons. Havingperformed various sacrifices and virtuously begotten excellent offspringupon (his wives) Devayani, the daughter of Usanas and Sarmishtha, kingYayati, who was like unto a celestial, roved through the celestial woodsat his own pleasure, like a second Vasava. Acquainted with all the Vedas,when, however, he found that he was not satiated with the indulgence ofhis passions, he then, with his wives, retired into the forest, sayingthis: ‘Whatever of paddy and wheat and gold and animals and women thereare on earth, even the whole of these is not sufficient for one man.Thinking of this, one should cultivate contentment.’ Thus abandoning allhis desires, and attaining to contentment, the lord Yayati, installing(his son) on his throne, retired into the forest. When he died, OSrinjaya, who was superior to thee in respect of the four cardinalvirtues and who, superior to thee, was much superior to thy son, thoushouldst not, saying, ‘Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya’, grieve for the latterwho performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'”