CHAPTER NINETEEN
King Yayati Achieves Liberation
This Nineteenth Chapter describes how Maharaja Yayati achieved lib-
eration after he recounted the figurative story of the he-goat and she-
goat.

After many, many years of sexual relationships and enjoyment in the
material world, King Yayati finally became disgusted with such
materialistic happiness. When satiated with material enjoyment, he
devised a story of a he-goat and she-goat, corresponding to his own life,
and narrated the story before his beloved Devayani. The story is as
follows. Once upon a time, while a goat was searching in a forest for
different types of vegetables to eat, by chance he came to a well, in which
he saw a she-goat. He became attracted to this she-goat and somehow or
other delivered her from the well, and thus they were united. One day
thereafter, when the she-goat saw the he-goat enjoying sex with another
she-goat, she became angry, abandoned the he-goat, and returned to her
brahmana owner, to whom she described her husband’s behavior. The
brahmana became very angry and cursed the he-goat to lose his sexual
power. Thereupon, the he-goat begged the brahmana’s pardon and was
given back the power for sex. Then the he-goat enjoyed sex with the she-
goat for many years, but still he was not satisfied. If one is lusty and
greedy, even the total stock of gold in this world cannot satisfy one’s
lusty desires. These desires are like a fire. One may pour clarified butter
on a blazing fire, but one cannot expect the fire to be extinguished. To
extinguish such a fire, one must adopt a different process. The Sdstra
therefore advises that by intelligence one renounce the life of enjoyment.
Without great endeavor, those with a poor fund of knowledge cannot
give up sense enjoyment, especially in relation to sex, because a beautiful
woman bewilders even the most learned man. King Yayati, however,
renounced worldly life and divided his property among his sons. He
personally adopted the life of a mendicant, or sannyasi, giving up all at-
traction to material enjoyment, and engaged himself fully in devotional
service to the Lord. Thus he attained perfection. Later, when his beloved

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