Āśramadharma and the Marks of the Muni
Yayāti–Aṣṭaka Saṃvāda
दत्त्वा च पूरवे राज्यं वनवासाय दीक्षित: । पुरात् स निर्ययौ राजा ब्राह्मणैस्तापसै: सह,इस प्रकार पूरुको राज्य दे वनवासकी दीक्षा लेकर राजा ययाति तपस्वी ब्राह्मणोंके साथ नगरसे बाहर निकल गये
dattvā ca pūrave rājyaṃ vanavāsāya dīkṣitaḥ | purāt sa niryayau rājā brāhmaṇais tāpasaiḥ saha ||
Nachdem er Pūru das Reich übergeben hatte, nahm König Yayāti feierlich das Gelübde des Waldlebens auf sich. Dann verließ er die Stadt und zog in Begleitung asketischer Brāhmaṇas davon.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights dharmic kingship: authority is not clung to as personal possession. When the time comes, a ruler should transfer power responsibly and accept disciplined renunciation, ideally in the company of spiritually grounded guides.
King Yayāti hands over the kingdom to his son Pūru, takes a formal vow for forest-life (vanavāsa), and departs from the city accompanied by ascetic brāhmaṇas.