Nachiketa Visits Yama

Verse 1 (13.106.1)

दत्तानां फलसम्प्राप्तिं गवां प्रब्रूहि मेऽनघ । विस्तरेण महाबाहो न हि तृप्यामि कथ्यताम् ॥

dattānāṃ phalasamprāptiṃ gavāṃ prabrūhi me'nagha | vistareṇa mahābāho na hi tṛpyāmi kathyatām

Tell me, sinless one, what fruit comes from cows that have been given. Speak at length, O mighty-armed one, for I am not yet satisfied; let it be told.

Verse 2 (13.106.2)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । ऋषेरौद्दालकेर्वाक्यं नाचिकेतस्य चोभयोः ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | ṛṣerauddālakervākyaṃ nāciketasya cobhayoḥ

On this point they recount an ancient tale: the words that passed between the sage Auddalaki and Nachiketa.

Verse 3 (13.106.3)

ऋषिरौद्दालकिर्दीक्षामुपगम्य ततः सुतम् । त्वं मामुपचरस्वेति नाचिकेतमभाषत ॥

ṛṣirauddālakirdīkṣāmupagamya tataḥ sutam | tvaṃ māmupacarasveti nāciketamabhāṣata

The sage Auddalaki, having undertaken a consecration, said to his son Nachiketa, "Attend on me."

Note on the text: Wikisource's couplet = CE 13.70.3a and 3c; the CE has a third line (3e) that Wikisource carries into the next verse.

Verse 4 (13.106.4)

समाप्ते नियमे तस्मिन्महर्षिः पुत्रमब्रवीत् । उपस्पर्शनसक्तस्य स्वाध्यायाभिरतस्य च ॥

samāpte niyame tasminmaharṣiḥ putramabravīt | upasparśanasaktasya svādhyāyābhiratasya ca

When that observance was over, the great sage spoke to his son, who was absorbed in his ablutions and delighted in study of the Veda:

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 13.70.3e; line 2 = CE 13.70.4a.

Verse 5 (13.106.5)

इध्मा दर्भाः सुमनसः कलशश्चाभितो जलम् । विस्मृतं मे तदादाय नदीतीरादिहाव्रज ॥

idhmā darbhāḥ sumanasaḥ kalaśaścābhito jalam | vismṛtaṃ me tadādāya nadītīrādihāvraja

"I forgot the kindling sticks, the darbha grass, the flowers, the pot and the water. Take them and bring them here from the riverbank."

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.70.4c and 4e. Auddalaki's own words fill the whole verse and the page prints no heading, so it is given to him (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 6 (13.106.6)

गत्वानवाप्य तत्सर्वं नदीवेगसमाप्लुतम् । न पश्यामि तदित्येवं पितरं सोऽब्रवीन्मुनिः ॥

gatvānavāpya tatsarvaṃ nadīvegasamāplutam | na paśyāmi tadityevaṃ pitaraṃ so'bravīnmuniḥ

He went, but could not find any of it, for the river's flood had carried it away. "I do not see it," the sage told his father.

Verse 7 (13.106.7)

क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमाविष्टो मुनिरौद्दालकिस्तदा । यमं पश्येति तं पुत्रमशपत्क्रोधमूर्च्छितः ॥

kṣutpipāsāśramāviṣṭo munirauddālakistadā | yamaṃ paśyeti taṃ putramaśapatkrodhamūrcchitaḥ

Overcome by hunger, thirst and weariness, the sage Auddalaki, blind with anger, cursed his son: "Go and see Yama!"

Verse 8 (13.106.8)

तथा स पित्राऽभिहतो वाग्वज्रेण कृताञ्जलिः । प्रसीदेति ब्रुवन्नेव गतसत्वोऽपतद्भुवि ॥

tathā sa pitrā'bhihato vāgvajreṇa kṛtāñjaliḥ | prasīdeti bruvanneva gatasatvo'patadbhuvi

Struck thus by his father with the thunderbolt of a word, he folded his hands and, crying "Be gracious!", fell lifeless to the ground.

Verse 9 (13.106.9)

नाचिकेतं पिता दृष्ट्वा पतितं दुःखमूर्च्छितः । किं मया कृतमित्युक्त्वा निपपात महीतले ॥

nāciketaṃ pitā dṛṣṭvā patitaṃ duḥkhamūrcchitaḥ | kiṃ mayā kṛtamityuktvā nipapāta mahītale

Seeing Nachiketa fallen, his father, stunned with grief, said, "What have I done?" and collapsed on the ground.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रिता → पिता (misprint in Wikisource; dropped/garbled letters; CE 'pitā').

Verse 10 (13.106.10)

तस्य दुःखपरीतस्य स्वं पुत्रमनुशोचतः । व्यतीतं तदहःशेषं सा चोग्रा तत्र शर्वरी ॥

tasya duḥkhaparītasya svaṃ putramanuśocataḥ | vyatītaṃ tadahaḥśeṣaṃ sā cogrā tatra śarvarī

As he grieved for his son, in anguish, the rest of that day went by, and then a dreadful night.

Verse 11 (13.106.11)

पित्र्येणाश्रुप्रपातेन नाचिकेतः कुरूद्वह । प्रास्यन्दच्छयने कौश्ये वृष्ट्या सस्यमिवाप्लुतम् ॥

pitryeṇāśruprapātena nāciketaḥ kurūdvaha | prāsyandacchayane kauśye vṛṣṭyā sasyamivāplutam

By his father's falling tears, O delight of the Kurus, Nachiketa stirred on his bed of kusha grass, like a crop soaked by rain.

Verse 12 (13.106.12)

स पर्यपृच्छत्तं पुत्रं श्लाघ्यं पर्यागतं पुनः । दिव्यैर्गन्धैः समादिग्धं क्षीणस्वप्नमिवोत्थितम् ॥

sa paryapṛcchattaṃ putraṃ ślāghyaṃ paryāgataṃ punaḥ | divyairgandhaiḥ samādigdhaṃ kṣīṇasvapnamivotthitam

He questioned his son, who had come back, praiseworthy and anointed with divine perfumes, rising like one whose sleep was spent:

Verse 13 (13.106.13)

अपि पुत्र जिता लोकाः शुभास्ते स्वेन कर्मणा । दिष्ट्या चासि पुनः प्राप्तो न हि ते मानुषं वपुः ॥

api putra jitā lokāḥ śubhāste svena karmaṇā | diṣṭyā cāsi punaḥ prāpto na hi te mānuṣaṃ vapuḥ

"My son, have you won auspicious worlds by your own deeds? It is my good fortune that you have come back, for your body is no human body."

Note on the text: Auddalaki's own words fill the whole verse; the page prints no heading (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 14 (13.106.14)

प्रत्यक्षदर्शी सर्वस्य पित्रा पृष्टो महात्मना । अभ्युत्थाय पितुर्मध्ये महर्षीणां न्यवेदयत् ॥

pratyakṣadarśī sarvasya pitrā pṛṣṭo mahātmanā | abhyutthāya piturmadhye maharṣīṇāṃ nyavedayat

Questioned thus by his great-souled father, the eyewitness of it all stood up and told it in the midst of the great sages:

Note on the text: Corrected प्रत्यक्षदार्शी → प्रत्यक्षदर्शी (misprint in Wikisource; long ा; CE 'pratyakṣadarśī'). Corrected वित्रा → पित्रा (misprint in Wikisource; garbled letter; CE 'pitrā'). Line 2 differs from CE 13.70.13c (anvarthaṃ taṃ pitur madhye): recension variant kept.

Verse 15 (13.106.15)

कुर्वन्भवच्छासनमाशु यातो । ह्यहं विशालां रुचिरप्रभासाम् । वैवस्वतीं प्राप्य सभामवश्यं । सहस्रशो योजनहैमभौमाम् ॥

kurvanbhavacchāsanamāśu yāto | hyahaṃ viśālāṃ ruciraprabhāsām | vaivasvatīṃ prāpya sabhāmavaśyaṃ | sahasraśo yojanahaimabhaumām

"Carrying out your command, I went swiftly and came to the vast and lovely hall of Vivasvat's son, shining brightly, of gold and earth, spread over thousands of yojanas."

Note on the text: Corrected कुर्वन्मवच्छासनमाशु → कुर्वन्भवच्छासनमाशु (misprint in Wikisource; म for भ; CE 'bhavacchāsanam'). Nachiketa's own account runs from here (CE 13.70.14); the page prints no heading until verse 37 (the input carried Bhishma). Line 2 ends प्रभासाम् where the CE has प्रभावाम्: variant kept.

Verse 16 (13.106.16)

दृष्टैव मामभिमुखमापतन्तं । गृहं निवेद्यासनमादिदेश । वैवस्वतोऽर्घ्यादिभिरर्हणैश्च । भवत्कृते पूजयामास मां सः ॥

dṛṣṭaiva māmabhimukhamāpatantaṃ | gṛhaṃ nivedyāsanamādideśa | vaivasvato'rghyādibhirarhaṇaiśca | bhavatkṛte pūjayāmāsa māṃ saḥ

"Seeing me come toward him, Vaivasvata gave me a dwelling and bade me sit, and for your sake honoured me with water of welcome and the other rites of respect."

Note on the text: Corrected मां साः → मां सः (misprint in Wikisource; visarga/vowel garbled; CE 'saḥ'). Nachiketa's own narration; no printed heading (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 17 (13.106.17)

ततस्त्वहं तं शनकैरवोचं । वृतः सदस्यैरभिपूज्यमानः । प्राप्तोऽस्मि ते विषयं धर्मराज । लोकानर्हो यानहं तान्विधत्स्व ॥

tatastvahaṃ taṃ śanakairavocaṃ | vṛtaḥ sadasyairabhipūjyamānaḥ | prāpto'smi te viṣayaṃ dharmarāja | lokānarho yānahaṃ tānvidhatsva

"Then, surrounded and honoured by the members of his assembly, I said softly to him: 'I have come into your realm, O king of dharma; assign me the worlds I deserve.'"

Note on the text: Nachiketa's own narration; no printed heading (the input carried Bhishma). Line 2 and parts of line 1 differ from CE 13.70.16 (vṛtaṃ sadasyair; lokān arhe yān sma tān me vidhatsva): recension variants kept. The participles वृतः … अभिपूज्यमानः agree with the speaker ("I") as the page has them.

Verse 18 (13.106.18)

यमोऽब्रवीन्मां न मृतोऽसि सौम्य । यमं पश्येत्याह स त्वां तपस्वी । पिता प्रदीप्ताग्निसमानतेजा । न तच्छक्यमनृतं विप्र कर्तुम् ॥

yamo'bravīnmāṃ na mṛto'si saumya | yamaṃ paśyetyāha sa tvāṃ tapasvī | pitā pradīptāgnisamānatejā | na tacchakyamanṛtaṃ vipra kartum

"Yama said to me: 'You are not dead, gentle one. That ascetic, your father, blazing like fire, said to you, "See Yama." His word cannot be made false, Brahmin.'"

Note on the text: Corrected मृतोसि → मृतोऽसि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; CE 'mṛto ’si'). Corrected तत्छक्यमनृतं → तच्छक्यमनृतं (misprint in Wikisource; unjoined तत् + श; CE 'tac chakyam'). Mixed verse: line 1 begins with narration, and the rest is Yama's words; kept with Nachiketa, the narrator.

Verse 19 (13.106.19)

दृष्टस्तेऽहं प्रतिगच्छस्व तात । शोचत्यसौ तव देहस्य कर्ता । ददानि किञ्चापि मनःप्रणीतं । प्रियातिथेस्तव कामान्वृणीष्व ॥

dṛṣṭaste'haṃ pratigacchasva tāta | śocatyasau tava dehasya kartā | dadāni kiñcāpi manaḥpraṇītaṃ | priyātithestava kāmānvṛṇīṣva

"'You have seen me; go back, dear child. The one who gave you your body is grieving. And I shall give whatever your heart wishes; since you are a welcome guest, choose your desires.'"

Note on the text: Yama's own words fill the whole verse; the page prints no heading (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 20 (13.106.20)

तेनैवमुक्तस्तमहं प्रत्यवोचं । प्राप्तोऽस्मि ते विषयं दुर्निवर्त्यम् । इच्छाम्यहं पुण्यकृतां समृद्धाँ- । ल्लोकान्द्रष्टुं यदि तेऽहं वरार्हः ॥

tenaivamuktastamahaṃ pratyavocaṃ | prāpto'smi te viṣayaṃ durnivartyam | icchāmyahaṃ puṇyakṛtāṃ samṛddhām̐- | llokāndraṣṭuṃ yadi te'haṃ varārhaḥ

"Spoken to thus, I answered him: 'I have come into your realm, from which none can turn back. I wish to see the rich worlds of the doers of good deeds, if I deserve a boon.'"

Note on the text: Corrected प्राप्तोस्मि → प्राप्तोऽस्मि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; CE 'prāpto ’smi'). Nachiketa's own narration; no printed heading (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 21 (13.106.21)

यानं समारोप्य तु मां स देवो । वाहैर्युक्तं सुप्रभं भानुमत्तम् । संदर्शयामास तदाऽऽत्मलोका- । न्सर्वास्तथा पुण्यकृतां द्विजेन्द्र ॥

yānaṃ samāropya tu māṃ sa devo | vāhairyuktaṃ suprabhaṃ bhānumattam | saṃdarśayāmāsa tadā''tmalokā- | nsarvāstathā puṇyakṛtāṃ dvijendra

"Then that god set me in a bright, sun-like car yoked to horses, and showed me all his own realms and those of the doers of good deeds, O chief of the twice-born."

Note on the text: Nachiketa's own narration; no printed heading (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 22 (13.106.22)

अपश्यं तत्र वेश्मानि तैजसानि महात्मनाम् । नानासंस्थानरूपाणि सर्वरत्नमयानि च ॥

apaśyaṃ tatra veśmāni taijasāni mahātmanām | nānāsaṃsthānarūpāṇi sarvaratnamayāni ca

"There I saw the shining dwellings of the great-souled, of many shapes and forms, made wholly of jewels,"

Verse 23 (13.106.23)

चन्द्रमण्डलशुभ्राणि किंकिणीजालवन्ति च । अनेकशतभौमानि सान्तर्जलवनानि च ॥

candramaṇḍalaśubhrāṇi kiṃkiṇījālavanti ca | anekaśatabhaumāni sāntarjalavanāni ca

"white as the moon's disc, hung with nets of little bells, many hundreds of storeys high, with waters and groves inside them,"

Verse 24 (13.106.24)

वैडूर्यार्कप्रकाशानि रूप्यरुक्ममयानि च । तरुणादित्यवर्णानि स्थावराणि चराणि च ॥

vaiḍūryārkaprakāśāni rūpyarukmamayāni ca | taruṇādityavarṇāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca

"bright as lapis lazuli and the sun, made of silver and gold, with the colour of the rising sun, some fixed and some moving;"

Verse 25 (13.106.25)

भक्ष्यभोज्यमयाञ्शैलान्वासांसि शयनानि च । सर्वकामफलांश्चैव वृक्षान्भवनसंस्थितान् ॥

bhakṣyabhojyamayāñśailānvāsāṃsi śayanāni ca | sarvakāmaphalāṃścaiva vṛkṣānbhavanasaṃsthitān

"mountains made of food and things to enjoy, garments and beds, and trees that give every desired fruit, standing in the houses;"

Verse 26 (13.106.26)

नद्यो वीथ्यः सभा वाप्यो दीर्घिकाश्चैव सर्वशः । घोषवन्ति च यानानि युक्तान्यथ सहस्रशः ॥

nadyo vīthyaḥ sabhā vāpyo dīrghikāścaiva sarvaśaḥ | ghoṣavanti ca yānāni yuktānyatha sahasraśaḥ

"rivers, streets, halls, ponds and lakes everywhere, and thousands of vehicles ready harnessed, loud with sound."

Note on the text: Corrected युक्तान्धथ → युक्तान्यथ (misprint in Wikisource; ध for य; the CE reads 'yuktāny eva', Wikisource's reading is the nearest valid word). = CE 13.70.25 (lines 25a and 25c).

Verse 27 (13.106.27)

क्षीरस्रवा वै सरितो गिरींश्च । सर्पिस्तथा विमलं चापि तोयम् । वैवस्वतस्यानुमतांश्च देशा- । नदृष्टपूर्वान्सुबहूनपश्यम् ॥

kṣīrasravā vai sarito girīṃśca | sarpistathā vimalaṃ cāpi toyam | vaivasvatasyānumatāṃśca deśā- | nadṛṣṭapūrvānsubahūnapaśyam

"I saw rivers that ran with milk, and hills; ghee, and pure water too; and many regions that Vaivasvata had allowed, never seen before."

Note on the text: Lines = CE 13.70.26a and 26c (the page does not carry the CE's star alternative 13.70.26b*0363).

Verse 28 (13.106.28)

सर्वान्दृष्ट्वा तदहं धर्मराज- । मवोचं वै सर्वदेवं सहिष्णुम् । क्षीरस्यैताः सर्पिषश्चैव नद्यः । शश्वत्स्रोताः कस्य भोज्याः प्रवृत्ताः ॥

sarvāndṛṣṭvā tadahaṃ dharmarāja- | mavocaṃ vai sarvadevaṃ sahiṣṇum | kṣīrasyaitāḥ sarpiṣaścaiva nadyaḥ | śaśvatsrotāḥ kasya bhojyāḥ pravṛttāḥ

"Having seen it all, I said to Dharmaraja, the forbearing lord of all: 'For whom are these ever-flowing rivers of milk and ghee made, to be enjoyed by whom?'"

Verse 29 (13.106.29)

यमोऽब्रवीद्विद्धि भोज्यांस्त्वमेता- । न्ये दातारः साधवो गोरसानाम् । अन्ये लोकाः शाश्वता वीतशोकैः । समाकीर्णा गोप्रदाने रतानाम् ॥

yamo'bravīdviddhi bhojyāṃstvametā- | nye dātāraḥ sādhavo gorasānām | anye lokāḥ śāśvatā vītaśokaiḥ | samākīrṇā gopradāne ratānām

"Yama said: 'Know that these are to be enjoyed by the good who give milk-products. Other eternal worlds, free from sorrow, are thronged with those who delight in giving cows.'"

Note on the text: Mixed verse: line 1 narration, then Yama's words; kept with Nachiketa, the narrator.

Verse 30 (13.106.30)

न त्वेतासां दानमात्रं प्रशस्तं । पात्रं कालो गोविशेषो विधिश्च । ज्ञात्वा देयं विप्र गवान्तरं हि । दुःखं ज्ञातुं पावकादित्यभूतम् ॥

na tvetāsāṃ dānamātraṃ praśastaṃ | pātraṃ kālo goviśeṣo vidhiśca | jñātvā deyaṃ vipra gavāntaraṃ hi | duḥkhaṃ jñātuṃ pāvakādityabhūtam

"'But the mere giving of these is not what is praised: the worthy recipient, the time, the particular cow and the rule all matter. One should give knowing these, O Brahmin—for the differences between cows are hard to know, being like fire and sun.'"

Note on the text: Yama's own words fill the whole verse (to verse 36); no printed heading until Nachiketa's at verse 37 (the input carried Bhishma). The CE has the same change of speaker at 13.70.36.

Verse 31 (13.106.31)

स्वाध्यायवान्योऽतिमात्रं तपस्वी । वैतानस्थो ब्राह्मणः पात्रमासाम् । गोषु क्षान्तं गोशरण्यं कृतज्ञं । वृत्तिग्लानं तादृशं पात्रमाहुः ॥

svādhyāyavānyo'timātraṃ tapasvī | vaitānastho brāhmaṇaḥ pātramāsām | goṣu kṣāntaṃ gośaraṇyaṃ kṛtajñaṃ | vṛttiglānaṃ tādṛśaṃ pātramāhuḥ

"'A Brahmin who is learned in the Veda, exceedingly austere, and keeps the Vedic fires is a worthy recipient of these cows; so too they call a worthy recipient one who is patient with cows, takes refuge in cows, is grateful, and is pinched in his livelihood.'"

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 = CE 13.70.30a; lines 3-4 = CE 13.70.34a (the CE places them later). Yama's words; no printed heading (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 32 (13.106.32)

कृच्छ्रोत्सृष्टाः पोष्णाभ्यागताश्च । द्वारैरेतैर्गोविशेषाः प्रशस्ताः । अन्तर्जाताः सुक्रयज्ञानलब्धाः । प्राणक्रीताः सोदकाः सोद्वहाश्च ॥

kṛcchrotsṛṣṭāḥ poṣṇābhyāgatāśca | dvārairetairgoviśeṣāḥ praśastāḥ | antarjātāḥ sukrayajñānalabdhāḥ | prāṇakrītāḥ sodakāḥ sodvahāśca

"'Cows freed from hardship and cows that came to be nourished: by these doors are choice cows praised. So too those born in the house, those fairly bought or won by knowledge, those obtained at the price of life, those given with water, and those given with a yoke-bearer.'"

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 = CE 13.70.30c (with पोष्ण° for the CE's poṣaṇa°); lines 3-4 = CE 13.70.35c, with variants (CE antarjātāḥ sukrayajñānalabdhāḥ; prāṇakrītā nirjitāś caudakāś ca). Yama's words; no printed heading (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 33 (13.106.33)

तिस्रो रात्र्यस्त्वद्भिरुपोष्य भूमौ । तृप्ता गावस्तर्पितेभ्यः प्रदेयाः । वत्सैः प्रीताः सुप्रजाः सोपचारा- । स्त्र्यहं दत्त्वा गोरसैर्वर्तितव्यम् ॥

tisro rātryastvadbhirupoṣya bhūmau | tṛptā gāvastarpitebhyaḥ pradeyāḥ | vatsaiḥ prītāḥ suprajāḥ sopacārā- | stryahaṃ dattvā gorasairvartitavyam

"'After fasting three nights on the ground, taking only water, one should give well-fed cows to recipients who are themselves well fed: cows content with their calves, with good offspring and with their fittings. After giving for three days, one should live on the products of cows.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words; no printed heading (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 34 (13.106.34)

दत्त्वा धेनुं सुव्रतां साधुदोहां । कल्याणवत्सामपलायिनीं च । यावन्ति रोमाणि भवन्ति तस्या- । स्तावद्वर्षाण्यश्नुते स्वर्गलोकम् ॥

dattvā dhenuṃ suvratāṃ sādhudohāṃ | kalyāṇavatsāmapalāyinīṃ ca | yāvanti romāṇi bhavanti tasyā- | stāvadvarṣāṇyaśnute svargalokam

"'He who gives a cow of good temper, easy to milk, with a fine calf and not given to running off, enjoys the world of heaven for as many years as she has hairs.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words; no printed heading (the input carried Bhishma). Line 1 differs from CE 13.70.32a (suvratāṃ kāṃsyadohām): variant kept.

Verse 35 (13.106.35)

तथाऽनड्वाहं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदाय । दान्तं धुर्यं बलवन्तं युवानम् । कुलानुजीव्यं वीर्यवन्तं बृहन्तं । भुङ्क्ते लोकान्सम्मितान्धेनुदस्य ॥

tathā'naḍvāhaṃ brāhmaṇebhyaḥ pradāya | dāntaṃ dhuryaṃ balavantaṃ yuvānam | kulānujīvyaṃ vīryavantaṃ bṛhantaṃ | bhuṅkte lokānsammitāndhenudasya

"'So too one who gives to Brahmins a bullock—tamed, a drawer of the yoke, strong and young, fit to support a family, vigorous and large—enjoys worlds as many as the giver of a cow.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words; no printed heading (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 36 (13.106.36)

वृद्धे ग्लाने सम्भ्रमे वा महार्थे । कृष्यर्थं वा हौम्यहेतोः प्रमूत्याम् । गुर्वर्थं वा यज्ञसमाप्तये वा । गां वै दातुं देशकालोऽविशिष्टः ॥

vṛddhe glāne sambhrame vā mahārthe | kṛṣyarthaṃ vā haumyahetoḥ pramūtyām | gurvarthaṃ vā yajñasamāptaye vā | gāṃ vai dātuṃ deśakālo'viśiṣṭaḥ

"'When a man is old or sick, in a crisis, for a great purpose, for farming, for the sake of offerings, for a woman in childbirth, for a teacher's needs or to complete a sacrifice, there is no restriction of place or time for giving a cow.'"

Note on the text: Lines 1-2 = CE 13.70.34c; lines 3-4 = CE 13.70.35a; both with variants. Yama's words; no printed heading (the input carried Bhishma).

Verse 37 (13.106.37)

श्रुत्वा वैवस्वतवचस्तमहं पुनरब्रवम् । अगोमी गोप्रदातॄणां कथं लोकान्हि गच्छति ॥

śrutvā vaivasvatavacastamahaṃ punarabravam | agomī gopradātṝṇāṃ kathaṃ lokānhi gacchati

"Having heard Vaivasvata's words, I asked him again: 'How does one who has no cow reach the worlds of those who give cows?'"

Verse 38 (13.106.38)

ततोऽब्रवीद्यमो धीमान्गोप्रदानं ततो गतिम् । गोप्रदानानुकल्पात्तु गामृते सन्तु गोप्रदाः ॥

tato'bravīdyamo dhīmāngopradānaṃ tato gatim | gopradānānukalpāttu gāmṛte santu gopradāḥ

"Then the wise Yama said: 'From the gift of cows comes that goal; but there are substitutes for the gift of a cow, so that even without a cow there can be givers of cows.'"

Note on the text: The input matched this verse to nothing; it is CE 13.70.37 (line 1 differs: CE gopradāne parāṃ gatim, here ततो गतिम्). Mixed verse: line 1 narration, line 2 Yama's words; kept with Nachiketa under the page's heading.

Verse 39 (13.106.39)

अलाभे यो गवां दद्याद्धृतधेनुं यतव्रतः । तस्यैता घृतवाहिन्यः क्षरन्ते वत्सला इव ॥

alābhe yo gavāṃ dadyāddhṛtadhenuṃ yatavrataḥ | tasyaitā ghṛtavāhinyaḥ kṣarante vatsalā iva

"'If cows cannot be had, he who with firm vows gives a cow made of ghee—for him these ghee-bearing rivers flow, like affectionate cows.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa) for verses 37-57.

Verse 40 (13.106.40)

घृतालाभे तु यो दद्यात्तिलधेनुं यतव्रतः । स दुर्गात्तारितो धेन्वा क्षीरनद्यां प्रमोदते ॥

ghṛtālābhe tu yo dadyāttiladhenuṃ yatavrataḥ | sa durgāttārito dhenvā kṣīranadyāṃ pramodate

"'If there is no ghee, he who with firm vows gives a cow of sesame is carried across hardship by that cow and rejoices in the river of milk.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 41 (13.106.41)

तिलालाभे तु यो दद्याज्जलधेनुं यतव्रतः । स कामप्रवहां शीतां नदीमेतामुपाश्नुते ॥

tilālābhe tu yo dadyājjaladhenuṃ yatavrataḥ | sa kāmapravahāṃ śītāṃ nadīmetāmupāśnute

"'If there is no sesame, he who with firm vows gives a cow of water enjoys this cool river that carries all desires.'"

Note on the text: Corrected शीतीं → शीतां (misprint in Wikisource; vowel garbled; CE 'śītāṃ'). Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 42 (13.106.42)

एवमेतानि मे तत्र धर्मराजो न्यदर्शयत् । दृष्ट्वा च परमं हर्षमवापमहमच्युत ॥

evametāni me tatra dharmarājo nyadarśayat | dṛṣṭvā ca paramaṃ harṣamavāpamahamacyuta

"Thus Dharmaraja showed me these things there, and seeing them I felt the highest joy, O faultless one."

Verse 43 (13.106.43)

निवेदये चाहमिमं प्रियं ते । क्रतुर्महानल्पधनप्रचारः । प्राप्तो मया तात स मत्प्रसूतः । प्रपत्स्यते वेदविधिप्रवृत्तः ॥

nivedaye cāhamimaṃ priyaṃ te | kraturmahānalpadhanapracāraḥ | prāpto mayā tāta sa matprasūtaḥ | prapatsyate vedavidhipravṛttaḥ

"And I bring you this welcome news: I have found a great sacrifice that needs little wealth; it has arisen from me, and it will spread, practised according to the rule of the Veda."

Verse 44 (13.106.44)

शापो ह्ययं भवतोऽनुग्रहाय । प्राप्तो मया यत्र दृष्टो यमो वै । दानव्युष्टिं तत्र दृष्ट्वा महात्म- । न्निःसंदिग्धान्दानधर्मांश्चरिष्ये ॥

śāpo hyayaṃ bhavato'nugrahāya | prāpto mayā yatra dṛṣṭo yamo vai | dānavyuṣṭiṃ tatra dṛṣṭvā mahātma- | nniḥsaṃdigdhāndānadharmāṃścariṣye

"This curse of yours has become a favour to me, since through it I saw Yama. Having seen the dawn of giving there, O great one, I shall practise the laws of giving without doubt."

Verse 45 (13.106.45)

इदं च मामब्रवीद्धर्मराजः । पुनः पुनः सम्प्रहृष्टो महर्षे । दानेन यः प्रयतोऽभूत्सदैव । विशेषतो गोप्रदानं च कुर्याम् ॥

idaṃ ca māmabravīddharmarājaḥ | punaḥ punaḥ samprahṛṣṭo maharṣe | dānena yaḥ prayato'bhūtsadaiva | viśeṣato gopradānaṃ ca kuryām

"And Dharmaraja, repeatedly delighted, said this to me, great sage: 'Let one who has always been purified by giving especially perform the gift of cows.'"

Note on the text: Lines 3-4 differ from CE 13.70.44c (dānena tāta prayato 'bhūḥ sadaiva; viśeṣato gopradānaṃ ca kuryāḥ); Wikisource's variant is kept and rendered as it stands.

Verse 46 (13.106.46)

शुद्धो ह्यर्थो नावमन्यस्व धर्मा- । न्पात्रे देयं देशकालोपपन्ने । तस्माद्गावस्ते नित्यमेव प्रदेया । माभूच्च ते संशयः कश्चिदत्र ॥

śuddho hyartho nāvamanyasva dharmā- | npātre deyaṃ deśakālopapanne | tasmādgāvaste nityameva pradeyā | mābhūcca te saṃśayaḥ kaścidatra

"'Do not slight pure wealth and the laws of dharma; give to a worthy recipient at the proper place and time. Therefore cows should always be given by you, and let there be no doubt in you about this.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 47 (13.106.47)

एताः पुरा ह्यददन्नित्यमेव । शान्तात्मानो दानपथे निविष्टाः । तपांस्युग्राण्यप्रतिशङ्कमाना- । स्ते वै दानं प्रददुश्चैव शक्त्या ॥

etāḥ purā hyadadannityameva | śāntātmāno dānapathe niviṣṭāḥ | tapāṃsyugrāṇyapratiśaṅkamānā- | ste vai dānaṃ pradaduścaiva śaktyā

"'In former times, those of tranquil minds, set on the path of giving, always gave these cows; unhesitating before fierce austerities, they gave gifts as far as they were able.'"

Note on the text: Corrected सान्तात्मानो → शान्तात्मानो (misprint in Wikisource; garbled initial letter; CE 'śāntātmāno'). Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 48 (13.106.48)

काले च शक्त्या मत्सरं वर्जयित्वा । शुद्धात्मानः श्रद्धिनः पुण्यशीलाः । दत्त्वा गा वै लोकममुं प्रपन्ना । देदीप्यन्ते पुण्यशीलास्तु नाके ॥

kāle ca śaktyā matsaraṃ varjayitvā | śuddhātmānaḥ śraddhinaḥ puṇyaśīlāḥ | dattvā gā vai lokamamuṃ prapannā | dedīpyante puṇyaśīlāstu nāke

"'In due time and as far as they could, giving up envy, pure in heart, full of faith and virtuous in conduct, they gave cows, reached the world beyond, and shine, the virtuous, in heaven.'"

Note on the text: The input matched this verse to nothing; it is CE 13.70.47 (line 3 differs: CE dattvā taptvā lokam amuṃ prapannā). Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 49 (13.106.49)

एतद्दानं न्यायलब्धं द्विजेभ्यः । पात्रे दत्तं प्रापणीयं परीक्ष्य । काम्याष्टम्यां वर्तितव्यं दशाहं । रसैर्गवां शकृता प्रस्नवैर्वा ॥

etaddānaṃ nyāyalabdhaṃ dvijebhyaḥ | pātre dattaṃ prāpaṇīyaṃ parīkṣya | kāmyāṣṭamyāṃ vartitavyaṃ daśāhaṃ | rasairgavāṃ śakṛtā prasnavairvā

"'This gift, lawfully obtained, is to be given to Brahmins, bestowed on a worthy man after examining him. On a wished-for eighth day one should live for ten days on the products of cows, on milk and the like, on dung, or on its flowing yield.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 50 (13.106.50)

देवव्रती स्याद्वृषभप्रदानै- । र्वेदावाप्तिर्गोयुगस्य प्रदाने । तीर्थावाप्तिर्गोप्रयुक्तप्रदाने । पापोत्सर्गः कपिलायाः प्रदाने ॥

devavratī syādvṛṣabhapradānai- | rvedāvāptirgoyugasya pradāne | tīrthāvāptirgoprayuktapradāne | pāpotsargaḥ kapilāyāḥ pradāne

"'By giving bulls one becomes devoted to the gods; by giving a pair of oxen one gains the Veda; by giving a cow with what is yoked to it one gains holy places; and by giving a tawny cow one is released from sin.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 51 (13.106.51)

गामप्येकां कपिलां सम्प्रदाय । न्यायोपेतां कलुषाद्विप्रमुच्येत् । गवां रसात्परमं नास्ति किञ्चि- । द्गवां प्रदानं सुमहद्वदन्ति ॥

gāmapyekāṃ kapilāṃ sampradāya | nyāyopetāṃ kaluṣādvipramucyet | gavāṃ rasātparamaṃ nāsti kiñci- | dgavāṃ pradānaṃ sumahadvadanti

"'Even one tawny cow, lawfully obtained and duly given, frees a man from sin. There is nothing higher than the products of cows; they call the gift of cows very great.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 52 (13.106.52)

गावो लोकांस्तारयन्ति क्षरन्त्यो । गावश्चान्नं संजनयन्ति लोके । यस्तं जानन्न गवां हार्दमेति । स वै गन्ता निरयं पापचेताः ॥

gāvo lokāṃstārayanti kṣarantyo | gāvaścānnaṃ saṃjanayanti loke | yastaṃ jānanna gavāṃ hārdameti | sa vai gantā nirayaṃ pāpacetāḥ

"'Cows save the worlds as they give their milk, and cows bring forth food in the world. The man who knows this and does not feel kindly toward cows, with his sinful mind, is bound for hell.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 53 (13.106.53)

यैस्तद्दत्तं गोसहस्रं शतं वा । दशार्धं वा दश वा साधुवत्सम् । अप्येका वै साधवे ब्राह्मणाय । सास्यामुष्मिन्पुण्यतीर्था नदी वै ॥

yaistaddattaṃ gosahasraṃ śataṃ vā | daśārdhaṃ vā daśa vā sādhuvatsam | apyekā vai sādhave brāhmaṇāya | sāsyāmuṣminpuṇyatīrthā nadī vai

"'Those who have given a thousand cows, or a hundred, or five, or ten with good calves, or even a single one to a good Brahmin—for them she becomes, in the world beyond, a river of sacred fords.'"

Note on the text: The input matched this verse to nothing; it is CE 13.70.52 (line 1 differs: CE yat te dātuṃ gosahasraṃ śataṃ vā; the page reads दशार्धम्, 'five', where the CE has śatārdhaṃ, 'fifty'). Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 54 (13.106.54)

प्राप्त्या पुष्ट्या लोकसंरक्षणेन । गावस्तुल्याः सूर्यपादैः पृथिव्याम् । शब्दश्चैकः संनतिश्चोपभोगा- । स्तस्माद्गोदः सूर्य इवावभाति ॥

prāptyā puṣṭyā lokasaṃrakṣaṇena | gāvastulyāḥ sūryapādaiḥ pṛthivyām | śabdaścaikaḥ saṃnatiścopabhogā- | stasmādgodaḥ sūrya ivāvabhāti

"'By reaching us, nourishing us and sustaining the world, cows on earth are equal to the rays of the sun. One word serves for both, and they bring reverence and enjoyment; therefore the giver of a cow shines like the sun.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 55 (13.106.55)

गुरुं शिष्यो वरयेद्गोप्रदाने । स वै गन्ता नियतं स्वर्गमेव । विधिज्ञानां सुमहान्धर्म एष । विधिं ह्याद्यं विधयः संविशन्ति ॥

guruṃ śiṣyo varayedgopradāne | sa vai gantā niyataṃ svargameva | vidhijñānāṃ sumahāndharma eṣa | vidhiṃ hyādyaṃ vidhayaḥ saṃviśanti

"'In the gift of cows a pupil should choose a teacher; he surely goes to heaven. This is a very great dharma for those who know the rules, for all rules enter into the primary rule.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 56 (13.106.56)

इदं दानं न्यायलब्धं द्विजेभ्यः । पात्रे दत्त्वा प्रापयेथाः परीक्ष्य । त्वय्याशंसन्त्यमरा दानवाश्च । वयं चापि प्रसृते पुण्यशीले ॥

idaṃ dānaṃ nyāyalabdhaṃ dvijebhyaḥ | pātre dattvā prāpayethāḥ parīkṣya | tvayyāśaṃsantyamarā dānavāśca | vayaṃ cāpi prasṛte puṇyaśīle

"'This gift, lawfully obtained, you should give to Brahmins, having given it to a worthy man after examining him, and see that it reaches him. The gods and the Danavas set their hopes on you, and so do we, O you of virtuous character who have come to prosper.'"

Note on the text: Yama's words as reported by Nachiketa, under the page's heading (Nachiketa).

Verse 57 (13.106.57)

इत्युक्तोऽहं धर्मराजं द्विजर्षे । धर्मात्मानं शिरसाऽभिप्रणम्य । अनुज्ञातस्तेन वैवस्वतेन । प्रत्यागमं भगवत्पादमूलम् ॥

ityukto'haṃ dharmarājaṃ dvijarṣe | dharmātmānaṃ śirasā'bhipraṇamya | anujñātastena vaivasvatena | pratyāgamaṃ bhagavatpādamūlam

"Thus told by Dharmaraja, O sage among the twice-born, I bowed my head to that righteous one and, with the leave of Vaivasvata, came back to the feet of my revered father."