Yayāti tells Aṣtaka that on earth, a man who loses his wealth is deserted by his relatives, friends and neighbours. Likewise, in Devaloka too, if someone gives up Dharma, he too is given up by Devas. Anyone who is conceited and speaks about his own achievements becomes adharmic. He is then made to fall into Narakaloka called Bhouma. Dogs, foxes and eagles eat him. Yayāti tells Aṣtaka that since he spoke highly of himself and considered no one else equal to him in his tapas, he was discarded by devaloka. Yayāti had requested Indra that he fall on earth among Dharmic people.

Yayāti told Aṣtaka that Swargaloka has seven entrances. These are asceticism, charity (dhānam), Mind Control, Body Control, Shame (after committing adharmic acts), Honesty and Kindness. However, when a person is conceited and has self pride, all of these entrances are blocked for him. Further, someone who has self pride also becomes fearful. True knowledge cannot be attained by those with fear.

A person is reborn in accordance with his Karma. He is able to move faster than wind at the time of rebirth. He sees his Karma like a dream. If he has accumulated good Karma, he attains a superior form. If he has accumulated bad Karma, he attains an inferior form like worm, insects etc.

Anyone who has control over his desires and has won over them is Jitendriya. He has attained Sanyasa internally and reaches Brahman. If he also has Jnāna he attains Brahman in this world itself.

Someone may practice Vanaprastha but has not truly given up desires needs to practice ascetism for several more years before he attains Brahman.

A Muni who fears Papa Karma and practices Swadharma reaches Brahman easily.

One who has no control over desires, even if he has Jnāna wont be useful just like sinfully acquired property is also sinful.

Aṣtaka asked Yayāti the characteristics in the four stages of life. Yayāti described a Brahmachari as diligent in his duties while living with his Guru, serving his Guru without being asked, rising before the Guru and sleeping after him and being humble and self controlled.

One by one, Aṣtaka, Pratardana, Vasumān and Śibi offered Yayāti the Devalokas that they were entitled, due to their Punya, Yajna and good conduct. Yayāti declined all their offers. He mentioned that only Brahmans can take the Punyas of others and not he as a Kshatriya. He also cannot take gifts from Kshatriyas who are equal to him; nor can he buy them at a token price.

The Kings insisted that they will gather Dattāpahara Dosham as Yayāti has declined their offers. This will lead them to Naraka loka and therefore Yayāti should accept their offer.

At the same time, five rathas (chariots) were coming down from heaven. Yayāti told the kings that the rathas have come to take the kings to heaven.

Yayāti and the kings were in a Yagashāla when five rathas appeared to take them to heaven. At the same time, Madhavi emerged from the Yagashāla. When the kings asked Madhavi who she was, she replied that the is the daughter of Yayāti. She requested Yayāti to accept her Punya as she is his daughter. She also said the kings are her descendants and therefore, even by Shastras, a man can accept the Puṇya of his daughter’s descendants.

King Mahābhiṣa was an extremely pious king who had conducted thousand Ashwamedha Yajna and a 100 Rajasuyas. As a resulted he was in devaloka. One day when several people had gathered to worship Brahma, due to strong wind, the clothes of Gangā were displaced. All the rishis bent down their heads but King Mahābhiṣa stared at Gangā. This upset Brahma. He cursed King Mahābhiṣa that since he had lost control of himself, he will be re-born on earth. King Mahābhiṣa prayed for forgiveness and requested that he should be born as the son of King Prateepa.

Gangā sat on Prateepa’s right thigh and said that she wished to be married to him. Prateepa replied that even though a man is not supposed to decline when a woman makes such a request, he did not wish to marry any woman who is already married or who is not from his clan. Thereafter Gangā insists, and questions ‘in what way is she inappropriate’. Then Prateepa explains to her that since she sat on his right thigh, as per Shastras, she can only be his daughter or daughter in law. He offered to make her his daughter in law. At that point of time Prateepa was not married and proceeded to get married afterwards.

Gangā had promised to Prateepa that she would be extremely affectionate to her son and would make him happy. However, he cannot question any of her actions. Prateepa had conveyed this to Shantanu. When Shantanu asked Gangā to be his wife, she again obtained a promise from Shantanu that he would not question her actions and will always speak affectionately.

He maintained this promise even though Gangā drowned seven of their sons one by one. He could not hold himself back when Gangā was about to drown the eighth child. At that time, Gangā revealed that she is Gangā and narrated the story behind the drowning of seven sons. Gangā then said that the eighth child will bring fame to him. She promised to bring him up and then return him to Shantanu.

Ashtavasus (Eight Vasus) had been cursed by Āpava rishi to be born on earth. They were given a relief that they would spend less than a year on earth after birth. The Ashtavasus requested Gangā to be their mother as they did not wish to be born to any human mother. They asked her to kill them as soon as they are born, so that they can endure the curse, but return to devaloka quickly.

The sacred cow Nandini was in the ashrama of Vashishta for the purposes of Yajna. The ashtavasus were in the vicinity of the ashram with their wives. One of the ashtavasus was Dyaus (Prabhāsa). His wife desired Nandini so that her friend can come out of illness by drinking its milk. Dyaus stole the cow with the help of other Ashtavasus.

Vasiṣṭha realized who had stolen the cow and cursed the ashtavasus to be born in earth. When the ashtavasus begged for lenience, Vasiṣṭha granted that they can return within a year, except Dyaus. He would continue to remain in earth, but will be unmarried and will be a faithful son to his father.

The smritis give several rules for hunting. Hunting for pleasure is not allowed. The smritis also specify several do’s and don’ts in hunting. The king cannot hunt alone, cannot kill beyond reason. Cows and peacock should not be killed. Newborn and pregnant animals cannot be killed. Animals that are eating or sleeping cannot be killed.

One day when Shāntanu went hunting he came across the dried river bed of Gangā. He saw that the flow of Gangā had been stopped by a boy with his arrows. He immediately realized that it must be his son through Gangā. The boy played a trick on Shāntanu, created a haze and then disappeared within it.

Shāntanu then invoked Gangā and asked her to reveal their son. Gangā appeared and identified the boy as their son. She also revealed that their son had studied under Vasiṣṭha, was like Indra in warfare and knew all the tricks that Śukrācārya knew. He was also the Sishya of Paraśurāma.