194 - The return of Nachiketas

Vaishampãyana said:

1. On reaching the place of that inaccessible king (Yama), Nachiketas was duly honoured and let off.

2. O king, when the sage saw his son returned, he was extremely delighted. He embraced him, smelt his head and filled the earth and sky with his shouts of joy.

3. Then he called the other sages and told them.

4. “O great sages with divine lustre, see the greatness of my son. He has gone to the abode of Yama and quickly returned here.

5. I am seeing him alive because of good luck, filial affection and service to elders.

 6. There is none in this world as blessed as I am, because my son has returned here after falling into the jaws of death.

7. (Then he asked the son). You were not beaten or bound in the abode of Yama? Your path was unhampered when you were going there?

8. The horrible diseases did not pursue you There? What strange things did you see there? Were you happy?

9. Did you see the king of the dead? Did he see you with his eyes?

10. Was he glad that you went there on your own accord? And did he let you return so soon?

11. You didn’t have to face the harassment by the fierce doorkeepers there? And even though released by the king, the others there didn’t do you any harm?

12. You found it possible to get a way to enter There and also to get out of it? (He then turned to sages again and said:) My son has now come back to me. The gods are pleased.

13. So also the venerable sages and the pious Brahmins, in that my son has returned from the world of Yama”

14. Hearing him say like this, the sages there flocked to him giving up their vows and observances.

15-17. Those performing Japa or worshipping deities, others standing with thrown-up arms, yet others remaining on one foot and gazing the sun, still others worshipping fire, all of them hastily gathered to see Nachiketas.

18-19. Naked sages, those remaining within heaps of stones, those in vow of silence, those eating the fallen leaves and water, those that torment themselves in fire, all these stood around him.

20. Some sat down, some remained standing, but all wanted to ask him many things.

21-22. Seeing Nachiketas who had returned from Yama’s world, some were afraid, some were glad, some were inquisitive, some were indifferent and others were full of doubts. But they all together asked him:

The sages said:

23. O Nachiketas, the intelligent son observing dharma, the truthful boy devoted to serving the elders,

24. Tell us in truth what you have seen or heard (in Yamaloka). All of us are eager to know it, particularly your father.

25. Even if it is a secret, you should tell Its when asked, because you can see how full of fear all of us are.

26. By the maya of Kala the dead are never seen again. Man gets the result of whatever action he does.

27. Whatever action, good or bad, one does here, the result of il accrues in the other world.

28. We see the working of maya of Käla in that beings become dead and also become born.

29. Those who think about it do not find a solution since the whole world is engulfed in the darkness of desire and stupefaction. What is necessary is not thought upon, what is pleasurable is gone after.

30. What docs Chitragupta do there and what does he blabber

31. What is the appearance of Dharmaräja and what is Käla like? What form do the diseases have There and how do they act?

32, By what action is one released from there and what are the deeds to be done? That is the final resort of the whole world and nothing can be transgressed there.

33. People who know about (good and bad) actions speak of angry bindings, torments, draggings and cuttings there.

34. What befalls pure souls there and what befalls sinners?

35. We ask all this out of affection and friendliness. Tell us in detail what actually you have seen, heard or understood.

Vaishampäyana said:

36. O Janamejaya, listen now to what Nachiketas said in reply to what the sages asked him.