the merit that is mine in consequence of the sacrifices I have performed, let all that also be thine.’  After this, Pratardana, that bull among Kshatriyas, said, ’Ever devoted to virtue as also to war, the fame that hath here been mine as a Kshatriya, in consequence of the appellation of hero (by which I am known),—­be that merit thine.  After this, Sivi, the intelligent son of Usinara, said these sweet words, ’Unto children and women in jest, danger, or calamity, in distress, or at dice, I have never spoken a falsehood.  By that truth which I never sacrificed ascend thou to heaven.  I can, O king, give up all objects of desire and enjoyment, my kingdom, yea, life itself, but truth I cannot give up.  By that truth, ascend thou to heaven; that truth for which Dharma, that truth for which agni, that truth for which he of a hundred sacrifices, have each been gratified with me, by that truth ascend thou to heaven.’  And lastly, the royal sage Ashtaka, the offspring of Kusika’s son and Madhavi, addressing Nahusha’s son Yayati who had performed many hundreds of sacrifices, said, ’I have, O lord, performed hundreds of Pundarika, Gosava and Vajapeya sacrifices.  Take thou the merit of these.  Wealth, gems, robes, I have spared nothing for the performance of sacrifices.  By that truth ascend thou to heaven.’  And that king thereupon leaving the earth, began to ascend towards heaven, higher and higher, as those daughter’s sons of his, one after another, said those words unto him.  And it was thus that those kings by their good acts, speedily saved Yayati, who had been hurled from heaven.  It was thus that those daughter’s sons born in four royal lines, those multipliers of their races, by means of their virtues, sacrifices, and gifts, caused their wise maternal grandfather to ascend again to heaven.  And those monarchs jointly said, ’Endued with the attributes of royalty and possessed of every virtue, we are, O king, thy daughter’s sons! (By virtue of our good deeds) ascend thou to heaven.’”

SECTION CXXIII

“Narada said, ’Sent back to heaven by those righteous kings, distinguished by the liberality of their sacrificial presents, Yayati possessed of daughter’s sons, dismissed them and reached the celestial regions.  Attaining to the eternal region obtained through the merit of his daughter’s sons, and adorned by his own deeds, Yayati, bathed in shower of fragrant flowers and hugged by perfumed and delicious breezes, blazed forth with great beauty.  And cheerfully, received back into heaven with sounds of cymbals, he was entertained with songs and dances by various tribes of Gandharvas and Asuras.  And diverse celestial and royal Rishis and Charanas began to pay their adorations to him.  And deities worshipped him with an excellent Arghya and delighted him with other honours.  And after he had thus regained heaven and tranquillity of heart, and had once more become freed from anxiety, the Grandsire, gratifying