Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच एवं स नाहुषो राजा ययातिः पुत्रमीप्सितम् राज्येऽभिषिच्य मुदितो वानप्रस्थोऽभवन्मुनिः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having thus installed his dear son Puru on the throne, the son of Nahusha king Yayati, became very happy and accepted the Vanaprastha mode of life.
उषित्वा च वने वासं ब्राह्मणैः सह संश्रितः फलमूलाशनो दान्तो यथा स्वर्गमितो गतः
M. N. Dutt: He lived in the forest with the Brahmanas, becoming self-controlled and living on fruits and roots. Thus patiently bearing privations of all sorts, he at last ascended to heaven.
स गतः सुरवासं तं निवसन्मुदितः सुखम् कालस्य नातिमहतः पुनः शक्रेण पातितः
AI Translation: He went to that abode of the gods and lived happily. After not too long, he was again brought down by Śakra.
Supplementary Passages:
1.81.3 After 3, D4 (marg.; om. lines 2-3) S ins.: *852 साधुभिः संगतिं लब्ध्वा पुनः स्वर्गमुपेयिवान् जनमेजयः स्वर्गतश्च पुनर्ब्रह्मन्निवसन्देववेश्मनि कालेन नातिमहता शक्रेण च्यावितः कथम्
निपतन्प्रच्युतः स्वर्गादप्राप्तो मेदिनीतलम् स्थित आसीदन्तरिक्षे स तदेति श्रुतं मया
AI Translation: Falling, fallen from heaven, not yet reached the ground, He was standing in the sky. That is what I have heard.
तत एव पुनश्चापि गतः स्वर्गमिति श्रुतिः राज्ञा वसुमता सार्धमष्टकेन च वीर्यवान् प्रतर्दनेन शिबिना समेत्य किल संसदि
M. N. Dutt: I have heard that some tiine after, he again ascended heaven in company with greatly powerful Vasumana, Ashtaka, Pratardana and Shibi.
जनमेजय उवाच कर्मणा केन स दिवं पुनः प्राप्तो महीपतिः सर्वमेतदशेषेण श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः कथ्यमानं त्वया विप्र विप्रर्षिगणसंनिधौ
AI Translation: Janamejaya said: By what deed did that king again attain heaven? I wish to hear all this in its entirety and in truth. As you narrate it in the presence of the assembly of brahmin sages.
देवराजसमो ह्यासीद्ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः वर्धनः कुरुवंशस्य विभावसुसमद्युतिः
AI Translation: Yayaati, the lord of the earth, was like the king of the gods. He was the enhancer of the Kuru dynasty, with a brilliance like that of the sun.
तस्य विस्तीर्णयशसः सत्यकीर्तेर्महात्मनः चरितं श्रोतुमिच्छामि दिवि चेह च सर्वशः
AI Translation: I wish to hear about the deeds of that one of vast fame, of true renown, of great soul, in heaven and on earth, in every way.
वैशंपायन उवाच हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि ययातेरुत्तरां कथाम् दिवि चेह च पुण्यार्थां सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said: I shall narrate to you the excellent history of Yayati's exploits both here on earth and in heaven. The story is sacred and it destroys all the sins of those that hear it.
ययातिर्नाहुषो राजा पूरुं पुत्रं कनीयसम् राज्येऽभिषिच्य मुदितः प्रवव्राज वनं तदा
AI Translation: King Yayāti, son of Nahusha, having anointed his youngest son Pūru as king, joyfully went to the forest.
अन्तेषु स विनिक्षिप्य पुत्रान्यदुपुरोगमान् फलमूलाशनो राजा वने संन्यवसच्चिरम्
AI Translation: Having placed his sons at the extremities, with the eldest in front, The king, eating fruits and roots, dwelt in the forest for a long time.
संशितात्मा जितक्रोधस्तर्पयन्पितृदेवताः अग्नींश्च विधिवज्जुह्वन्वानप्रस्थविधानतः
M. N. Dutt: He brought his mind and his passions under complete control. He pleased the Pitris and celestial by performing sacrifices. He poured libations according to the prescribed rites of men leading the Vanaprastha.
अतिथीन्पूजयामास वन्येन हविषा विभुः शिलोञ्छवृत्तिमास्थाय शेषान्नकृतभोजनः
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious king entertained the guests and strangers with fruits of the forest and ghee. He supported himself by eating only the scattered corn seeds.
पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं स एवंवृत्तिरभून्नृपः अब्भक्षः शरदस्त्रिंशदासीन्नियतवाङ्मनाः
AI Translation: For a thousand years he lived thus, the king, Eating air, for thirty autumns, with his speech and mind restrained.
ततश्च वायुभक्षोऽभूत्संवत्सरमतन्द्रितः पञ्चाग्निमध्ये च तपस्तेपे संवत्सरं नृपः
AI Translation: Then he became a wind-eater for a year without any laziness. And in the midst of the five fires, the king practiced austerities for a year.
एकपादस्थितश्चासीत्षण्मासाननिलाशनः पुण्यकीर्तिस्ततः स्वर्गं जगामावृत्य रोदसी
AI Translation: He stood on one foot for six months, eating only air. Then, with a reputation for merit, he went to heaven, covering the sky and earth.
Supplementary Passages:
1.81.16 After 16ab, D4 (marg.) S ins.: *853 एवमेव तथाब्दानां पर्यायेण गतं तदा