The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section LXLII
Section LXLII.
( Sambhava Parva continued. )
"Ashtaka asked, 'Who amongst these, O king, both exerting constantly like the Sun and the Moon, first attaineth to communion with Brahma,—the ascetic or the man of knowledge?'
"Yayati answered, 'The wise, by help of the Veda and of Knowledge, having ascertained the visible universe to be illusory instantly realise the Supreme Spirit as the sole existent independent essence. While they that devote themselves to Yoga meditation take time to acquire the same knowledge, for it is by practice alone that these latter divest themselves of the consciousness of duality. Hence the wise attain to salvation first. Then again if the person devoted to yoga findeth not sufficient time in one life to attain to success, being led astray by the attractions of the world, in his next life he is benefited by the progress he hath already made, for regretfully he devoteth himself to the pursuit of success. But the man of Knowledge ever beholdeth the indestructible Unity, and therefore, though immersed in worldly enjoyments, never affecteth them at heart. Therefore there is nothing to impede his salvation. He, however, who faileth to attain to Knowledge, should yet devote himself to piety as dependent on action (sacrifices, &c.) But he that devoteth himself to such piety, moved thereto by desire of salvation, can never achieve success. His sacrifices bear no fruit and partake of the nature of cruelty. Piety as dependent on action that proceedeth not from the desire of gain, is, in the case of such men, yoga itself.'
"Ashtaka said, O king, thou lookest like a youth; thou art handsome and decked with a celestial garland. Thy splendour is great! Whence dost thou come and where dost thou go? Whose messenger art thou? Art thou going into the Earth?'
"Yayati said, 'Fallen from heaven upon the loss of all my religious merit, I am destined to enter the Earth-hell. Indeed, I shall go there after I have finished my discourse with ye! Even now the deities of the ten points of the Universe command me to hasten thither. And, O king, I have obtained it as a boon from Indra that though fall I must upon the Earth yet I should fall amidst the wise and the virtuous. Ye are all wise and virtuous that are assembled here!'
"Ashtaka said, 'Thou art acquainted with everything. I ask thee, O king, are there any regions for myself to enjoy in heaven or in the firmament? If there be, then, thou shalt not fall though falling!'
"Yayati answered, 'O king, there are many regions for thee to enjoy in heaven as there are kine and horses in the earth with the animals in the wilderness and the hills!'
"Ashtaka then said, 'If there are worlds for me to enjoy, as fruits of my religious merits, in heaven, O king, I give them all unto thee! Therefore, though falling, thou shalt not fall. O take thou soon all these, wherever they be, in heaven or in the firmament! Let thy sorrows cease!'
"Yayati answered, 'O thou best of kings, a Brahma-knowing Brahmana alone can take in gift, but not one like ourselves! And, O monarch, I myself have given away to Brahmanas as one should. Let no man not a Brahmana and let not the wife of a learned Brahmana ever live in infamy by accepting gifts! On Earth I have ever desired to perform virtuous acts! Having never done so before, how shall I now accept a gift?'
"Pratarddana who was amongst them asked, 'O thou of the handsomest form, I am Pratarddana by name. I ask thee, are there any worlds for me to enjoy as fruits of my religious merits, in heaven or in the firmament? Answer me, thou art acquainted with everything!'
"Yayati said, 'O king, numberless worlds full of felicity, effulgent like the solar surface, and where woe can never be, await thee. It thou dwellest in each but for seven days, they would not yet be exhausted.'
"Pratarddana then said, 'These then I give unto thee! Therefore though falling thou must not fall! Let the worlds that are mine be thine! Whether they be in the firmament or in heaven, O soon take them! Let thy woes cease!'
"Yayati answered, 'O monarch, no king of equal energy should ever desire to receive in gift the religious merits of another king acquired by yoga austerities. And no king who is afflicted with calamity by the fates should, if wise, yet act in a censurable way. A king keeping his eye ever fixed on virtue should walk in the path of virtue and increase his fame thereby. A person of virtue like myself and knowing what are his duties should not act so meanly as thou directest. When others desirous of acquiring religious merit do not accept gifts; how can I do what they do not?' On the conclusion of this speech, that best of kings Yayati was then addressed by Vasumana in the following words."
Thus ends the ninety-second Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.