Varaha Purana — Chapter 194

VrP 194.1

अथ नचिकेतसो आगमनवर्णनम् ।। वैशम्पायन उवाच ।। गतश्च परमं स्थानं यत्र राजा दुरासदः ।। अर्चितस्तु यथान्यायं दृष्ट्वैव तु विसर्जितः

atha naciketaso āgamanavarṇanam || vaiśampāyana uvāca || gataśca paramaṃ sthānaṃ yatra rājā durāsadaḥ || arcitastu yathānyāyaṃ dṛṣṭvaiva tu visarjitaḥ

Now, the description of Naciketas's coming. Vaiśampāyana said: He went to that highest station where the king (Yama), hard to approach, (dwells); he was honoured according to custom, and as soon as he had been seen he was sent back.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.2

ततो हृष्टमना राजन्पुत्रं दृष्ट्वा तपोनिधिः ।। परिष्वज्य च बाहुभ्यां मूर्द्धन्याघ्राय यत्नतः

tato hṛṣṭamanā rājanputraṃ dṛṣṭvā taponidhiḥ || pariṣvajya ca bāhubhyāṃ mūrddhanyāghrāya yatnataḥ

Then, O king, that treasury of austerity, glad at heart on seeing his son, embraced him with both arms and eagerly smelled his head.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.3

दिवं च पृथिवीं चैव नादयामास हृष्टवत् ।। स संहृष्टमनाः प्रीतस्तानुवाच तपोधनान्

divaṃ ca pṛthivīṃ caiva nādayāmāsa hṛṣṭavat || sa saṃhṛṣṭamanāḥ prītastānuvāca tapodhanān

He made heaven and earth resound, as one delighted; with heart thrilled and pleased he said to those ascetics:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.4

पश्यन्तु मम पुत्रस्य प्रभावं दिव्यतेजसः ।। यमस्य भवनं गत्वा पुनः शीघ्रमिहागतः

paśyantu mama putrasya prabhāvaṃ divyatejasaḥ || yamasya bhavanaṃ gatvā punaḥ śīghramihāgataḥ

"Behold the power of my son, whose splendour is divine: having gone to Yama's dwelling, he has come back here again swiftly.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.5

पितृस्नेहानुभावेन गुरुशुश्रूषयापि च ।। दैवेन हेतुना चायं जीवन्दृष्टो मया सुतः

pitṛsnehānubhāvena guruśuśrūṣayāpi ca || daivena hetunā cāyaṃ jīvandṛṣṭo mayā sutaḥ

By the force of a father's love, and by his service to his elders, and by the working of destiny, this son of mine has been seen by me alive.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.6

लोके मत्सदृशो नास्ति पुमान्भाग्यसमन्वितः ।। एष मृत्युमुखं गत्वा मम पुत्र इहागतः

loke matsadṛśo nāsti pumānbhāgyasamanvitaḥ || eṣa mṛtyumukhaṃ gatvā mama putra ihāgataḥ

In the world there is no man so fortunate as I: this son of mine, having gone into the mouth of death, has come here.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.7

कच्चित्त्वं न हतो वत्स नैव बद्धो यमालये ।। कच्चित्ते स शिवः पन्था गच्छतस्तव पुत्रक

kaccittvaṃ na hato vatsa naiva baddho yamālaye || kaccitte sa śivaḥ panthā gacchatastava putraka

You were not slain, I hope, my child, nor bound in Yama's abode? I hope your path was auspicious as you went, little son?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.8

कच्चित्ते व्याधयो घोरा नान्वगच्छन्यमालये ।। किमपूर्वं त्वया दृष्टं कच्चित्तुष्टो महातपाः

kaccitte vyādhayo ghorā nānvagacchanyamālaye || kimapūrvaṃ tvayā dṛṣṭaṃ kaccittuṣṭo mahātapāḥ

I trust dreadful diseases did not follow you in Yama's abode? What unprecedented thing did you see? Was the great ascetic (Yama) pleased?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.9

कच्चिद्राजा त्वया दृष्टः प्रेतानामधिपो बली ।। परुषेण न कच्चित्त्वां यमः पश्यति चक्षुषा

kaccidrājā tvayā dṛṣṭaḥ pretānāmadhipo balī || paruṣeṇa na kaccittvāṃ yamaḥ paśyati cakṣuṣā

Did you see the king, the mighty lord of the departed? Did Yama not look upon you with a harsh eye?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.11

कच्चिद्दौवारिकास्तत्र न रौद्रास्त्वां यमालये ।। कच्चिद्राज्ञा विसृष्टं तु ना बाधन्तेतरे जनाः

kacciddauvārikāstatra na raudrāstvāṃ yamālaye || kaccidrājñā visṛṣṭaṃ tu nā bādhantetare janāḥ

I trust the doorkeepers there in Yama's abode were not fierce to you? I trust that, once released by the king, the other people did not trouble you?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.12

कच्चित्पन्थास्त्वया लब्धो निर्गमो वा यमालये ।। अयं मम सुतः प्राप्तः प्रसन्ना मम देवताः

kaccitpanthāstvayā labdho nirgamo vā yamālaye || ayaṃ mama sutaḥ prāptaḥ prasannā mama devatāḥ

Did you find the road, or the way out of Yama's abode? This son of mine has come back — the gods are gracious to me,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.13

ऋषयश्च महाभागा द्विजाश्च सुमहाव्रताः ।। यन्मे वत्स पुनः प्राप्तो यमलोकाद्दुरासदात्

ṛṣayaśca mahābhāgā dvijāśca sumahāvratāḥ || yanme vatsa punaḥ prāpto yamalokāddurāsadāt

and the greatly blessed seers, and the twice-born of very great vows — in that, my child, you have come back to me from Yama's world, hard to reach."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.14

एवमाभाषमाणं तु श्रुत्वा सर्वे वनौकसः ।। त्यक्त्वा व्रतानि सर्वाणि नियमांश्च तथैव च

evamābhāṣamāṇaṃ tu śrutvā sarve vanaukasaḥ || tyaktvā vratāni sarvāṇi niyamāṃśca tathaiva ca

Hearing him speaking thus, all the forest-dwellers, abandoning all their vows and their observances likewise,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.15

जपन्तश्चैव जाप्यानि पूजयन्तश्च देवताः ।। उदूर्द्ध्वबाहवः केचित्तिष्ठन्तोऽन्ये सुदारुणम्

japantaścaiva jāpyāni pūjayantaśca devatāḥ || udūrddhvabāhavaḥ kecittiṣṭhanto'nye sudāruṇam

— muttering their recitations and worshipping the gods, some with arms held up, others standing in most severe (postures) —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.16

एकपादेन तिष्ठन्तः पश्यन्तोऽन्ये दिवाकरम् ।। एवमेव परित्यज्य नियमान्पूर्वसंचितान्

ekapādena tiṣṭhantaḥ paśyanto'nye divākaram || evameva parityajya niyamānpūrvasaṃcitān

— tr. refused: cyber

VrP 194.17

वैश्वानरा महाभागास्तपसा संशितव्रताः ।। आगतास्त्वरितं द्रष्टुं नाचिकेतं सुतं तदा

vaiśvānarā mahābhāgāstapasā saṃśitavratāḥ || āgatāstvaritaṃ draṣṭuṃ nāciketaṃ sutaṃ tadā

— tr. refused: cyber

VrP 194.18

दिग्वाससश्च ऋषयो दन्तोलूखलिनस्तथा ।। अश्मकूटाश्च मौनाश्च शीर्णपर्णांबुभोजनाः

digvāsasaśca ṛṣayo dantolūkhalinastathā || aśmakūṭāśca maunāśca śīrṇaparṇāṃbubhojanāḥ

— tr. refused: cyber

VrP 194.19

धूमदाश्च तथा चान्ये तप्यमानाश्च पावके ।। परिवार्य तथा दृष्ट्वा तस्य पुत्रं तपोनिधिम्

dhūmadāśca tathā cānye tapyamānāśca pāvake || parivārya tathā dṛṣṭvā tasya putraṃ taponidhim

And there were smoke-consumers, and others who mortified themselves in fire; having thus surrounded and beheld his son, that treasure-house of austerity —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VrP 194.21

तं नाचिकेतसं दृष्ट्वा यमलोकादिहागतम् ।। भीतास्तत्र स्थिता हृष्टा केचित्कौतूहलान्विताः

taṃ nāciketasaṃ dṛṣṭvā yamalokādihāgatam || bhītāstatra sthitā hṛṣṭā kecitkautūhalānvitāḥ

Seeing that son of Naciketas (Nāciketa) come back here from Yama's world, they stood there: (some) frightened, (some) delighted, some filled with curiosity.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.22

केचिद्विमनसश्चैव केचित्संशयवादिनः ।। तमूचुः सहिताः सर्वे ऋषिपुत्रं तपोधनम्

kecidvimanasaścaiva kecitsaṃśayavādinaḥ || tamūcuḥ sahitāḥ sarve ṛṣiputraṃ tapodhanam

Some were dejected, and some were speaking (words) of doubt. All of them together said to him, the sage's son whose wealth was austerity:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.23

ऋषय ऊचुः ।। भो भो सत्यव्रताचार गुरुशुश्रूषणे रत ।। नाचिकेतः सुत प्राज्ञ स्वधर्मपरिपालक

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ || bho bho satyavratācāra guruśuśrūṣaṇe rata || nāciketaḥ suta prājña svadharmaparipālaka

The sages said: "Ho, ho, you whose conduct is (bound by) the vow of truth, devoted to obedient service of your teacher, O Nāciketa, wise son, upholder of your own duty—"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.24

ब्रूहि सत्यं त्वया दृष्टं श्रुतं च सविशेषकम् ।। ऋषीणां श्रोतुकामानां पितुश्चैव विशेषतः

brūhi satyaṃ tvayā dṛṣṭaṃ śrutaṃ ca saviśeṣakam || ṛṣīṇāṃ śrotukāmānāṃ pituścaiva viśeṣataḥ

Tell truly what was seen by you and what was heard, in detail — for the seers who wish to hear, and especially for (your) father.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.25

अपि गुह्यं च वक्तव्यं पृष्टे सति विशेषतः ।। सर्वस्यापि भयं तीव्रं यद्द्वारा प्रतिदृश्यते

api guhyaṃ ca vaktavyaṃ pṛṣṭe sati viśeṣataḥ || sarvasyāpi bhayaṃ tīvraṃ yaddvārā pratidṛśyate

— tr. refused: cyber

VrP 194.26

मृतं नैव परं तात दृश्यते कालमायया ।। स्वकर्म भुज्यते तात प्रयत्नेन च मानवैः

mṛtaṃ naiva paraṃ tāta dṛśyate kālamāyayā || svakarma bhujyate tāta prayatnena ca mānavaiḥ

The dead man is simply not seen again, my son, because of the illusion (wrought) by Time; one's own deeds, my son, are undergone by men, and (only) with effort.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VrP 194.27

इह चैव कृतं यत्तु तत्परत्रोपभुज्यते।। करोति यदि तत्कर्म शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम्

iha caiva kṛtaṃ yattu tatparatropabhujyate|| karoti yadi tatkarma śubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham

And whatever is done here (in this world) is enjoyed there (in the next); if one does that deed, whether it be good or whether it be bad —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.28

तथाऽत्र दृश्यते काले कालस्यैव तु मायया ।। म्रियते च यथा जन्तुर्यथा गर्भे च तिष्ठति

tathā'tra dṛśyate kāle kālasyaiva tu māyayā || mriyate ca yathā janturyathā garbhe ca tiṣṭhati

So it is seen here in time, but by the very magic of time: how a creature dies, and how it abides in the womb.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

VrP 194.29

तस्य पारं न गच्छन्ति बहवः पारचिन्तकाः ।। तत्र स्थिते जगत्सर्वं लोभमोहतमोवृतम्

tasya pāraṃ na gacchanti bahavaḥ pāracintakāḥ || tatra sthite jagatsarvaṃ lobhamohatamovṛtam

Many who ponder its far shore do not reach the end of it; while that (Time) endures, the whole world is enveloped in greed, delusion, and darkness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.31

धर्मराजस्य किं रूपं कालो वा कीदृशो मुने।। किंरूपा व्याधयश्चैव विपाको वापि कीदृशः

dharmarājasya kiṃ rūpaṃ kālo vā kīdṛśo mune|| kiṃrūpā vyādhayaścaiva vipāko vāpi kīdṛśaḥ

What is the form of the King of Dharma, O sage, and of what sort is Time? Of what form too are the diseases, and of what sort is the ripening (of deeds)?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.32

किंच कुर्वन्प्रमुच्येत किं वा कर्म समाचरेत्।। आस्पदं सर्वलोकस्य तत्कर्म दुरतिक्रमम्

kiṃca kurvanpramucyeta kiṃ vā karma samācaret|| āspadaṃ sarvalokasya tatkarma duratikramam

And by doing what would one be released, or what action should one perform? That action, which is the ground of the whole world, is hard to get past.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.33

क्रोधबन्धनजं क्लेशं कर्षणं छेदनं तथा ।। येन गच्छन्ति विप्रेन्द्र लोके कर्मविदो जनाः

krodhabandhanajaṃ kleśaṃ karṣaṇaṃ chedanaṃ tathā || yena gacchanti viprendra loke karmavido janāḥ

— tr. refused: cyber

VrP 194.34

जितात्मानः कथं यान्ति कथं गच्छति पापकृत् ।। यथाश्रुतं यथादृष्टं यथा चैवावधारितम्

jitātmānaḥ kathaṃ yānti kathaṃ gacchati pāpakṛt || yathāśrutaṃ yathādṛṣṭaṃ yathā caivāvadhāritam

How do those who have subdued themselves proceed, and how does the doer of evil go? (Tell us) as you have heard it, as you have seen it, and as you have determined it.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.36

वैशम्पायन उवाच।। ऋषिभिस्त्वेवमुक्तस्तु नाचिकेतो महामनाः ।। यदुवाच महाराज शृणु तज्जनमेजय

vaiśampāyana uvāca|| ṛṣibhistvevamuktastu nāciketo mahāmanāḥ || yaduvāca mahārāja śṛṇu tajjanamejaya

Vaiśampāyana said: But when the great-minded Nāciketa was thus addressed by the sages, what he said, great king — hear that, Janamejaya.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.39

प् रणयात्सौहृदात्स्नेहादस्माभिरभिपृच्छितम् ।। वद सर्वं महाभाग याथातथ्येन विस्तरम्

p raṇayātsauhṛdātsnehādasmābhirabhipṛcchitam || vada sarvaṃ mahābhāga yāthātathyena vistaram

"Out of affection, out of friendship, out of love it has been asked by us; tell it all, greatly fortunate one, at length and just as it is."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

VrP 194.194

कच्चिन्न तुष्टो भगवांस्त्वां दृष्ट्वा स्वयमागतम् ।। कच्चिच्छीघ्रं विसृष्टोऽसि धर्मराजेन पुत्रक उपविष्टास्तथा चान्ये स्थिताश्चान्ये सुयन्त्रिताः ।। ते सर्वे तं तु पृच्छन्ति ऋषयो वेदपारगाः चिन्तयेत न चिन्ताऽत्र मृगयन्ति च यद्धितम् ।। करोति चित्रगुप्तः किं किं च जल्पत्यसौ पुनः

kaccinna tuṣṭo bhagavāṃstvāṃ dṛṣṭvā svayamāgatam || kaccicchīghraṃ visṛṣṭo'si dharmarājena putraka upaviṣṭāstathā cānye sthitāścānye suyantritāḥ || te sarve taṃ tu pṛcchanti ṛṣayo vedapāragāḥ cintayeta na cintā'tra mṛgayanti ca yaddhitam || karoti citraguptaḥ kiṃ kiṃ ca jalpatyasau punaḥ

Was the Lord not pleased, seeing you come of your own accord? Were you quickly dismissed by Dharmarāja, dear son? And others are seated, and others stand, and others are well restrained — all those sages who have gone to the far shore of the Vedas question him. Let (one) consider — is there no concern here? — and they seek out what is beneficial. What does Citragupta do, and what, again, does he say?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain