204 - Instructions to Messengers

The Sage’s son (Nachiketas) said: 

1. O great Brahmins, I also heard these instructions given by Chitragupta to his men. 

2. “Do you say that this one is far away, and his actions have not come to a close? Why do you take pity on him? Bring him here. Don’t be sorry. 

3. Why do you remain indifferent with a shy face? Why don’t you hasten? What have you been doing all this time? 

4. Go, go, bring him here soon. That you are weak should not make you insolent. 

5. Do you say that his marriage is going on, or that he is an ascetic? 

6. Do you say that we should wait for some time, or that he is remaining with his wise? 

7. Do you say that she is a chaste and good woman? Do you say that he is a boy and has returned home only last night? 

8. Do you say that the man is sitting for his food, or is lying in water, or is giving a gift? 

9. O you are all virtuous and I alone am cruel! Go, go, do your duty without any loss of time. 

10. You soon become a snake, you become a tiger, you a python, you a crocodile and you a poisonous worm. 

11. You become a disease and hold him who is to go to hell. You become diarrhoea and you vomiting. 

12. You become ear-ache, you cholera, you high fever. 

13. You become rheumatism, you dropsy, you epilepsy, you insanity, 

14. You become vertigo and you paralysis and do your work.

15. You remain like this as long as necessary. At the end of the period or when good befalls otherwise, you will be relieved from this. 

16. So go away quickly. Don’t tarry. 

17. What I have told you is the order of Yama. May be that you have to spend only one day like this, may be it is two. 

18. May be it is three, four, six, ten or a fortnight, a month even many months. 

19. After due time, you will get relief. It is true that this is difficult. 

20. But as long as I have to discharge my duty, you too have to discharge yours. 

21. I have instructed you according to my direction. You have to obey my orders irrespective of whether the person concerned is alert or deluded. 

22. I shall give you protection from Brahmins. So don’t hesitate to do your duty, let it be a sage, a woman or a mighty man. 

23. Don’t be afraid of any trouble. It is my command.

24. Do as I have asked you without any delay.”

25. The great Chitragupta ordered them thus. 

26. His command was like that of Rudra, Indra and Brahma.