Reason for Yayati's fall from heaven.

Sculpture of Lord Indra

Yayati spent along time in heaven after reaching it on his death.He ascended to heaven and spent a long time there owing to the severe austerities he  had performed .like meditating on one leg for several  years and living only on air.

He wandered around in the heaven talking to devas and rishis .One day Yayati went to Indra's abode and there in course of conversation the Lord of the earth  was asked  by Indra the lord of Devas  as follows--

'You retired into woods after accomplishing all your duties ,O Yayati son of Nahusa .I would ask you  ,to whom are you are equal in ascetic merits'?.

Yayati answered, 'O Vasava i donot in the matter of ascetic austerities behold my equal among men, the celestials, the Gandharvas or  the great Rishis.'

Indra then said 'O king because you disregard those that are your superiors, your equals and even your inferiors without in fact knowing their real merits , your virtue has suffered dimunition and you must fall from heaven '

Upon this Yayati fell from region of celestials and landed on earth .



From   Adiparva  of Mahabharat