pari-kulkarni/itihasa-sanskrit-en-filtered huggingface dataset:
Sanskrit: नीत्वा तं यमदूतोऽपि गृहीत्वा शर्मिणं तदा। ययौ स धर्मराजाय न्यवेदयत चापि तम्॥
English: Having thus conveyed him back to his abode, the messenger of Yama fetched Sharmin who had really been sought by Yama. Taking Sharmin to him, he informed his inaster.
Sanskrit: तं धर्मराजो धर्मज्ञं पूजयित्वा प्रतापवान्। कृत्वा च संविदं तेन विससर्ज यथागतम्॥
English: Endued with great energy, the judge of the dead adored that pious Brahmana, and having conversed with him for some time dismissed him for being taken back to his house.
Sanskrit: तस्यापि च यमः सर्वमुपदेशं चकार ह। प्रेत्यैत्य च ततः सर्वं चकारोक्तं यमेन तत्॥
English: To him also Yama gave same instructions. Sharmin too, returning to the world of men, did all that Yama had said.
Sanskrit: तथा प्रशंसते दीपान् यमः पितृहितेप्सया। तस्माद् दीपप्रदो नित्यं संतारयति वै पितॄन्।॥
English: Like the gift of water, Yama, from desire of doing good to the departed manes, applauds the gift of lamps to light dark places, for it is considered as benefiting the departed manes.
Sanskrit: दातव्याः सततं दीपास्तस्माद् भरतसत्तमा देवतानां पितॄणां च चक्षुष्यं चात्मनां विभो॥
English: Hence, O best of the Bharatas, one should always give lamps for lighting dark places. The giving of lamps increases the power of vision, of the deities, the Pitris, and one's own self.
Sanskrit: रत्नदानं च सुमहत् पुण्यमुक्तं जनाधिप। यस्तान् विक्रीय यजते ब्राह्मणो ह्यभयंकरम्॥
English: It has been said, O king, that the gift of gems is a very great gift. The Brahmana, who having accepted a gift of gems, sells the same for celebrating a sacrifice, commits no sin.
Sanskrit: यद् वै ददाति विप्रेभ्यो ब्राह्मणः प्रतिगृह्य वै। उभयोः स्यात् तदक्षय्यं दातुरादातुरेव च॥
English: The Brahmana, who having accepted a gift of gems, makes a gift of them to Brahmanas, wins endless merit himself and confers endless merit upon him from whom he had originally received them.
Sanskrit: यो ददाति स्थितः स्थित्यां तादृशाय प्रतिग्रहम्। उभयोरक्षयं धर्मं तं मनुः प्राह धर्मवित्॥
English: Knowing every duty, Manu himself has said that he who, observant of proper control makes a gift of gems to a Brahmana observant of proper restraints, wins inexhaustible merit himself and confers inexhaustible merit upon the recipient.
Sanskrit: वाससां सम्प्रदानेन स्वदारनिरतो नरः। सुवस्त्रश्च सुवेषश्च भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम॥
English: The man, who is content with his own married wife and who makes a gift of dresses, acquires an excellent complexion and excellent dresses for himself.
Sanskrit: गाव: सुवर्णं च तथा तिलाश्चैवानुवर्णिताः। बहुशः पुरुषव्याघ्र वेदप्रामाण्यदर्शनात्॥
English: I have told you, O foremost of men, What the merits are of gifts of kine, of gold and of sesame, according to various precepts of the Vedas and the scriptures.
Sanskrit: विवाहांश्चैव कुर्वीत पुत्रानुत्पादयेत च। पुत्रलाभो हि कौरव्य सर्वलाभाद् विशिष्यते॥
English: One should marry and procreate offspring upon one's married wives. Of all acquistions, O son of Kuru's race, that of sons is considered the foremost.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच भूय एवं कुरुश्रेष्ठ दानानां विधिमुत्तमम्। कथयस्व महाप्राज्ञ भूमिदानं विशेषतः॥
English: Yudhishthira said Do you, O foremost one of Kuru's family, describe to me once again the excellent ordinances about gifts, with especial reference, O you of great wisdom, to the gift of earth.
Sanskrit: पृथिवीं क्षत्रियो दद्याद् ब्राह्मणायेष्टिकर्मिणे। विधिवत् प्रतिगृह्णीयान्न त्वन्यो दातुमर्हति॥
English: A Kshatriya should make gifts of earth to a pious Brahmana; such a Brahmana should accept the gift with due rites. None else, however save a Kshatriya can make gifts of Earth.
Sanskrit: सर्ववर्णस्तु यच्छक्यं प्रदातुं फलकाक्षिभिः। वेदे वा यत् समाख्यातं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
English: You should now tell me what those objects are that persons of all classes can freely give if actuated by the desire of acquiring merit. You should also tell me what has been said in the Vedas on this subject.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच तुल्यानामानि देयानि त्रीणि तुल्यफलानि च। सर्वकामफलानीह गावः पृथ्वी सरस्वती॥
English: Bhishma said There are three gifts that pass by the same name and that yield equal merits. Indeed, these three confer the fruition of every desire. The three objects whose gifts are of such a character are kine, earth, and knowledge.
Sanskrit: यो ब्रूयाच्चापि शिष्याय धां ब्राह्मीं सरस्वतीम्। पृथिवीगोप्रदानाभ्यां तुल्यं स फलमश्नुते॥
English: That person, who tells his disciple words of good meaning drawn from the Vedas, acquires merit equal to that which is acquired by making gifts of earth and kine.
Sanskrit: तथैव गाः प्रशंसन्ति न तु देयं ततः परम्। संनिकृष्टफलास्ता हि लघ्वाश्च युधिष्ठिर॥
English: Likewise are kine praised. There is no object of gift higher than they. Kine are supposed to confer merit forthwith. They are also, O Yudhishthira, such that a gift of them cannot but yield great merit.
Sanskrit: मातरः सर्वभूतानां गावः सर्वसुखप्रदाः। वृद्धिमाकाक्षत नित्यं गावः कार्याः प्रदक्षिणाः॥
English: Kine are the mothers of all creatures. They grant every sort of happiness. The person, who seeks his own prosperity, should always make gifts of kine.
Sanskrit: संताड्या न तु पादेन गवां मध्ये न च व्रजेत्। मङ्गलायतनं देव्यस्तस्मात् पूज्याः सदैव हि॥
English: No one should kick at kine or pass through the midst of kine. Kine are goddesses and homes of auspiciousness. Therefore they always deserve worship.
Sanskrit: प्रचोदनं देवकृतं गवां कर्मसु वर्तताम्। पूर्वमेवाक्षरं चान्यदभिधेयं ततः परम्॥
English: Formerly, the deities, while tilling the earth whereon they celebrated a sacrifice, used the a god for striking the bullocks yoked to the plough. Hence, in cultivating earth for such a purpose, one may, without incurring censure or sin, apply the goad to bullocks. In other acts, however, bullocks should never be struck with the goad of the whip.
Sanskrit: प्रचारे वा निवाते वा बुधो नोद्वेजयेत गाः। तृषिता ह्यभिवीक्षन्त्यो नरं हन्युः सबान्धवम्॥
English: When kine are grazing or lying down, no one should tease them in any way. When thirsty and they do not get water, kine, by merely loO king at such a person, can destroy him with all his relatives and friends.
Sanskrit: पितृसद्मानि सततं देवतायतनानि च। पूयन्ते शकृता यासां पूतं किमधिकं ततः॥
English: What creatures can be more sacred than kine when with the very dung of kine aitars, whereon Shraddhas are performed in honour of the departed manes, of those whereon the deities are adored, are cleansed and sanctified.
Sanskrit: घासमुष्टिं परगवे दद्यात् संवत्सरं यः। अकृत्वा स्वयमाहारं व्रतं तत् सार्वकामिकम्॥
English: That man who, before eating himself, gives every day, for a year only a handful of grass to a cow belonging to another, is considered as practising a vow or observance which bestows the fruition of every desire.
Sanskrit: तु स हि पुत्रान् यशोऽर्थं च श्रियं चाप्यधिगच्छति। नाशयत्यशुभं चैव दुःस्वप्नं चाप्यपोहति॥
English: Such a person acquires children and fame and wealth and prosperity, and removes all evils and bad dreams.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच देयाः किंलक्षणा गावः काश्चापि परिवर्जयेत्। कीदृशाय प्रदातव्या न देयाः कीदृशाय च॥
English: Yudhishthira said What should be the marks of those kine that deserve to be given away? What are those kine that should be looked over in the matter of gifts? What should be the characters of those persons to whom should kine be given? Who, again, are those to whom kine should not be given?
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच असवृत्ताय पापाय लुब्धायानृतवादिने। हव्यकव्यव्यपेताय न देया गौः कथंचन॥
English: Bhishma said A cow should never be given to one who is not pious in conduct, or one that is sinful, or one that is covetous, or one who is a liar, or one who does not make offerings to the departed manes and celestials.
Sanskrit: भिक्षवे बहुपुत्राय श्रोत्रियायाहिताग्नये। दत्त्वां दशगवां दाता लोकानाप्नोत्यनुत्तमान्॥
English: A person, by making a gift of ten kine to a Brahmana learned in the Vedas, poor in earthly riches, possessed of many children, and owning a domestic fire, attains numerous regions of great happiness.
Sanskrit: यश्चैव धर्मं कुरुते तस्य धर्मफलं च यत्। सर्वस्यैवांशभाग् दाता तं निमित्तं प्रवृत्तयः॥
English: When a man performs any meritorious act, assisted by what he has got in gift from another, he acquires portion of that merit.
Sanskrit: यश्चैवमुत्पादयते यश्चैनं त्रायते भयात्। यश्चास्य कुरुते वृत्तिं सर्वं ते पितरस्त्रयः॥
English: He who procreates a person, he who rescues a person, and he who assigns the means of livelihood to a person, are considered as the three fathers.
Sanskrit: कल्मषं गुरुशुश्रूषा हन्ति मानो महद् यशः। अपुत्रतां त्रयः पुत्रा आवृत्तिं दश धेनवः॥
English: Services dutifully done to the preceptor destroys sin. Pride destroys even great fame. The possession of three children removes the reproach of childlessness, and the possession of ten kine removes the reproach of poverty.
Sanskrit: वेदान्तनिष्ठस्य बहुश्रुतस्य प्रज्ञानतृप्तस्य जितेन्द्रियस्य। शिष्टस्य दान्तस्य यतस्य चैव भूतेषु नित्यं प्रियवादिनश्च॥ न्मृदुश्च शान्तो ह्यतिथिप्रियश्च। वृत्तिं द्विजायातिसृजेत तस्मै यस्तुल्यशीलश्च सपुत्रदारः॥
English: To one who is devoted to the Vedanta, who is gifted with great learning, who has been filled with wisdom, who has a complete mastery over his senses, who observes the restraints laid down in the scriptures, who has withdrawn himself from all worldly attachments, to him who says agreeable words to all creatures, to him who would never do an evil act even when actuated by hunger, to one who is mild or possessed of a peaceful disposition, to one that is hospitable to all guests, to such a Brahmana, should a man, possessed of similar conduct and having children and wives, assign the means of livelihood.
Sanskrit: शुभे पात्रे ये गुणा गोप्रदाने तावान् दोषो ब्राह्मणस्वापहारे। सर्वावस्थं ब्राह्मणस्वापहारो दाराश्चैषां दूरतो वर्जनीयाः॥
English: The merit of the gift of kine to a worthy person is exactly equal to the sin of robbing a Brahmana of what belongs to him. Under all circumstances anything belonging to Brahmana should be avoided and his wives kept at a distance. a
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच अत्रैव कीर्त्यते सद्भिाह्मणस्वाभिमर्शने। नृगेण सुमहत् कृच्छ्रे यदवाप्तं कृरूद्वह।॥
English: Bhishma said Regarding it, O perpetuator of Kuru race, is recited by the righteous the narrative of the great calamity that befell king Nriga on account of his taking what had belonged to a Brahmana.
Sanskrit: निविशन्त्यां पुरा पार्थ द्वारवत्यामिति श्रुतिः। अदृश्यत महाकूपस्तृणवीरुत्समावृतः॥
English: Sometime before, certain youths of Yudu's race, while searching for water, came to a large well covered with grass and creepers.
Sanskrit: प्रयत्नं तत्र कुर्वाणास्तस्मात् कूपाज्जलार्थिनः। श्रमेण महत. युक्तास्तस्मिंस्तोये सुसंवृते॥ ददृशुस्ते महाकायं कृकलासमवस्थितम्। तस्य चोद्धरणे यत्नमकुर्वंस्ते सहस्रशः॥
English: Desirous of drawing water from it, they worked hard for removing the creepers they covered its mouth. After the mouth had been cleaned, they saw within the well a very large lizard living within it. The youths nade strong and repeated efforts for rescuing the lizard from that plight.
Sanskrit: प्रग्रहैश्चर्मपट्टैश्च तं बद्ध्वा पर्वतोपमम्। नाशक्नुवन् समुद्धर्तुं ततो जग्मुर्जनार्दनम्॥
English: Resembling a very hill in size, the lizard was sought to be freed by cords and leather tongs. Not succeeding in their attempts, the youths then went to Janardana.
Sanskrit: खमावृत्योदपानस्य कृकलासः स्थितो महान्। तस्य नास्ति समुद्धर्तेत्येतत् कृष्णे न्यवेदयन्॥
English: Addressing him they said— Covering the entire space of a well, there is a very large lizard to be seen. Despite our best efforts we have not succeeded in rescuing it from that plight. This was what they said to Krishna.
Sanskrit: माधव उवाच स वासुदेवेन समुद्धृतश्च पृष्टश्च कार्यं निजगाद राजा। नृगस्तदाऽऽत्मानमथो न्यवेदयत् पुरातनं यज्ञसहस्रयाजिनम्॥
English: Madhava spoke Vasudeva then went there and took out the lizard and questioned it as who it was. The lizard said that it was the soul of king Nriga who had flourished in days of yore and who had celebrated many sacrifices.
Sanskrit: तथा ब्रुवाणं तु तमाह माधवः शुभं त्वया कर्म कृतं न पापकम्। कथं भवान् दुर्गतिमीदृशीं गतो नरेन्द्र तद् ब्रूहि किमेतदीदृशम्॥
English: To the lizard that said those words "You had done many pious deeds. You committed no sin. Why then, O king, have you come by such a distressful end? Do you explain what is this and why has it been caused?"
Sanskrit: शतं सहस्राणि गवां शतं पुन: पुनः शतान्यष्टशतायुतानिा त्वया पुरा दत्तमितीह शुश्रुम नृप द्विजेभ्यः क्व तु तद् गतं तव॥
English: We have heared that you did repeatedly make gifts to the Brahmanas numerable kine. Why, therefore, have you come by this end.
Sanskrit: नृगस्ततोऽब्रवीत् कृष्णं ब्राह्मणस्याग्निहोत्रिणः। प्रोषितस्य परिभ्रष्टा गौरेका मम गोधने॥
English: Nriga then replied to Krishna, saying, On one occasion a cow belonging to a Brahmana who regularly adored his domestic fire, escaping from the owner's house while he was absent from home, entered my flock.
Sanskrit: गवां सहस्र संख्याता तदा सा पशुपैर्मम। सा ब्राह्मणाय दत्ता प्रेत्यार्थमभिकाइक्षता॥
English: The keepers of my cattle included that cow in their list of a thousand. In time that cow was given away by me to a Brahmana, wishing for liappiness in heaven.
Sanskrit: मे अपश्यत् परिमार्गश्च तां गां परगृहे द्विजः। ममेयमिति चोवाच ब्राह्मणो यस्य साभवत्॥
English: The true owner, returning home, sought for his lost cow and at last found it in the house of another. Finding her, the owner said, “This cow is mine."
Sanskrit: तावुभौ समनुप्राप्तौ विवदन्तो भृशज्वरौ। भवान् दाता भवान् हर्तेत्यथ तौ मामवोचताम्॥
English: The other person contested his claim, till both, growing wroth came to me. Addressing me, one of them said, You gave this cow. The other one said You have robbed me of this cow because she is inine.
Sanskrit: शतेन शतसंख्येन गवां विनिमयेन वै। याचे प्रतिग्रहीतारं स तु मामब्रवीदिदम्॥ देशकालोपसम्पन्ना दोग्ध्री शान्तातिवत्सला। स्वादुक्षीरप्रदा धन्या मम नित्यं निवेशने॥ कृतं च भरते सा गौर्मम पुत्रमपस्तनम्। न सा शक्या मया दातुमित्युक्त्वा स जगाम ह॥१६
English: I then begged the Brahmana to whom I had given that cow, to return the gift in exchange for hundreds and hundreds of other kine. Without yielding to my earnest solicitation, he addressed me saying, The cow I have got is well suited to time and place. She gives profuse inilk, besides being very quiet and very fond of us. The milk she gives is very sweet. She is lauded in my house. She is nourishing, besides, a weak child of mine that has just been born. I cannot, therefore, part with her. Having said these words, the Brahmana went away.
Sanskrit: ततस्तमपरं विप्रं याचे विनिमयेन वै। गवां शतसहस्रं हि तत्कृते गृह्यतामिति॥
English: I then begged the other Brahmana offering him an exchange, and saying-Do you take a hundred thousand kine for this one cow.
Sanskrit: न राज्ञां प्रतिगृह्णामि शक्तोऽहं स्वस्य मार्गणे। सैव गौर्दीयतां शीघ्रं ममेति मधुसूदन॥
English: The Brahmana, however, replied to me saying I do not accept gifts from Kshatriyas. I am able to support myself without aid. Do you then forthwith, give me that very cow which was mine. Thus, O slayer of Madhu, did that Brahmana speak to me.
Sanskrit: रुक्ममश्वांश्च ददतो रजतस्यन्दनांस्तथा। न जग्राह ययौ चापि तदा स ब्राह्मणर्षभः॥
English: I then offered to make gifts to him of gold and silver and horses and cars. That foremost of Brahmanas refused to accept any of these gifts and departed.
Sanskrit: एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु चोदितः कालधर्मणा। पितृलोकमहं प्राप्य धर्मराजमुपागमम्॥
English: Meanwhile, urged by Time's irresistible power, I had to depart from this world. Going to the region of the departed manes I was taken before Yama the king of the dead.
Sanskrit: यमस्तु पूजयित्वा मां ततो वचनमब्रवीत्। नान्तः संख्यायते राजंस्तव पुण्यस्य कर्मणः॥
English: Adoring me duly, Yama addressed me saying-The end cannot be determined, O king, of your righteous deeds.
Sanskrit: अस्ति चैव कृतं पापमज्ञानात् तदपि त्वया। चरस्व पापं पश्चाद् वा पूर्वं वा त्वं यथेच्छसि॥
English: There is, however, a little sin which was unconsciously committed by you. Do you suffer the punishment for that sin now or afterwards as you like.
Sanskrit: रक्षितास्मीति चोक्तं ते प्रतिज्ञा चानृता तव। ब्राह्मणस्वस्य चादानं द्विविधस्ते व्यतिक्रमः॥
English: You had sworn that you would protect (all persons in the enjoyment of their own). This oath of yours was not rigidly kept by you. You took also what belonged to a Brahmana. This has been the twofold sin, you have perpetrated.
Sanskrit: पूर्वं कृच्छ्रे चरिष्येऽहं पश्चाच्छुभमिति प्रभो। धर्मराजं ब्रुवन्नेवं पतितोऽस्मि महीतले॥
English: I answered, saying-I shall first suffer the distress of punishment, and when that is over, I shall enjoy the happiness that is in store for me, O lord! After I had said these words to the king of the dead, I dropped down on the Earth.
Sanskrit: अश्रौषं पतितश्चाहं यमस्योच्चैः प्रभाषतः। वासुदेवः समुद्धर्ता भविता ते जनार्दनः॥
English: Though fallen down I still could hear the words that Yama said to me very loudly. Those words were-Janardana the son of Vasudeva, will save you.
Sanskrit: पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रान्ते क्षीणे कर्मणि दुष्कृते। प्राप्स्यसे शाश्वतान्लोकाञ्जितान् स्वेनैव कर्मणा।।२६
English: Upon the completion of a full thousand years, when your sin will be dissipated you shall then attain to many regions of unending happiness that have been acquired by you through your own pious deeds.
Sanskrit: कूपेऽऽत्मानमधःशीर्षमपश्यं पतितश्च ह। तिर्यग्योनिमनुप्राप्तं न च मामजहात् स्मृतिः॥
English: Falling down I found myself, with head downwards, within this well changed into a creature of the intermediate order, Memory, however, did not leave me.
Sanskrit: त्वया तु तारितोऽस्म्यद्य किमन्यत्र तपोबलात्। अनुजानीहि मां कृष्ण गच्छेयं दिवमद्य वै॥
English: By you I have been saved today. What else can it testify than the power of your penances? Let me have your permission, O Krishna. I wish to ascend to the celestial region.
Sanskrit: अनुज्ञात: स कृष्णेन नमस्कृत्य जनार्दनम्। दिव्यमास्थाय पन्थानं ययौ दिवमरिंदमः॥
English: Permitted then by Krishna, king Nriga bowed his head to him and then mounted a celestial car and went to Heaven.
Sanskrit: ततस्तस्मिन् दिवं याते नृगे भरतसत्तम। वासुदेव इमं श्लोकं जगाद कुरुनन्दन॥
English: After Nriga had thus proceeded to the celestial region, O best of the Bharatas, Vasudeva recited this Verse, O delighter, of the Kurus.
Sanskrit: ब्राह्मणस्वं न हर्तव्यं पुरुषेण विजानता। ब्राह्मणस्वं हृतं हन्ति नृगं ब्राह्मणगौरिव॥
English: No one should knowingly misappropriate anything belonging to a a Brahmana. The property of Brahmana, if take, destroys the taker even as the Brahmana's cow destroyed king Nriga!
Sanskrit: सतां समागमः सद्भिर्नाफलः पार्थ विद्यते। विमुक्तं नरकात् पश्य नृगं साधुसमागमात्॥
English: I tell you, again O Partha, that a meeting with the good never proves furtile. See king Nriga was rescued from Hell through a meeting of his with one that is good.
Sanskrit: प्रदानफलवत् तत्र द्रोहस्तत्र तथाफलः। अपचारं गवां तस्माद् वर्जयेत युधिष्ठिर।॥
English: As a gift yields merit, so an act of spoliation brings on to demerit. Hence also, O Yudhishthira one should avoid doing any injury to kine.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच दत्तानां फलसम्प्राप्तिं गवां प्रब्रूहि मेऽनघ। विस्तरेण महाबाहो न हि तृष्यामि कथ्यताम्॥
English: Yudhishthira said O sinless one, do you describe to me more fully the merits of making gifts of kine. O you of mighty arms, I am never satiated with your words.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। ऋषेरुद्दालकेर्वाक्यं नाचिकेतस्य चोभयोः॥
English: Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old discourse between the Rishi Uddalaki and Nachiketa.
Sanskrit: ऋषिरुद्दालकिर्दीक्षामुपगम्य ततः सुतम्। त्वं मामुपचरस्वेति नाचिकेतमभाषत॥
English: Once on a time the Rishi Uddalaki, gifted with great intelligence, approaching his son Nachiketa, said to him, Do you wait upon and serve me.
Sanskrit: समाप्ते नियमे तस्मिन् महर्षिः पुत्रमब्रवीत्। उपस्पर्शनसक्तस्य स्वाध्यायाभिरतस्य च॥ इध्मा दर्भाः सुमनसः कलशश्चातिभोजनम्। विस्मृतं मे तदादाय नदीतीरादिहाव्रज॥
English: Upon the completion of the vow he had observed, the great Rishi once more said to his son, Engaged in performing my ablutions and deeply busy with my Vedic study, I have forgotten to bring with me the firewood, the Kusha blades, the flowers, the waterjar, and the potherbs I had collected. Bring me those things from the riverbank.
Sanskrit: गत्वानवाप्य तत् सर्वं नदीवेगसमाप्लुतम्। न पश्यामि तदित्येवं पितरं सोऽब्रवीन्मुनिः॥
English: The son went there, but found all the articles washed away by the current. Returning to his father, he said “I do not see the things."
Sanskrit: क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमाविष्टो मुनिरुद्दालकिस्तदा। यमं पश्येति तं पुत्रमशपत् स महातपाः॥
English: Stricken as he then was by hunger, thirst, and fatigue, the Rishi Uddalaki of great ascetic merit, in a sudden anger cursed his son, saying, meet with Yama today.
Sanskrit: तथा स पित्राभिहतो वाग्वज्रेण कृताञ्जलिः। प्रसीदेति ब्रुवन्नेव गतसत्त्वोऽपतद् भुवि॥
English: Thus struck by his father with the thunder of his speech, the son, with joined hands, said, “Be pleased with me. Soon, however, he dropped down on the earth dead.
Sanskrit: नाचिकेतं पिता दृष्ट्वा पतितं दुःखमूच्छितः। किं मया कृतमित्युक्त्वा निपपात महीतले॥
English: Seeing Nachiketa prostrated upon the earth, his father become senseless with grief. He, too, exclaiming, Alas, what have I done! dropped down on the earth.
Sanskrit: तस्य दुःखपरीतस्य स्वं पुत्रमनुशोचतः। व्यतीतं तदहःशेषं सा चोग्रा तत्र शर्वरी॥
English: Filled with grief as he bewailed for his son, the rest of that day passed away and night came.
Sanskrit: पित्र्येणाश्रुप्रपातेन नाचिकेतः कुरूद्वह। प्रास्पन्दच्छयने कौश्ये वृष्ट्या सस्यमिवाप्लुतम्॥
English: Then Nachiketa, O son of Kuru's race, drenched by the tears of his father, showed signs of returning life as he lay on a mat of Kusha grass. His regaining of life under the tears of his father resembled the sprouting forth of seeds when drenched with good showers.
Sanskrit: स पर्यपृच्छत् तं पुत्रं क्षीणं पर्यागतं पुनः। दिव्यैर्गन्धैः समादिग्धं क्षीणस्वप्नमिवोत्थितम्॥
English: The son, just restored to life, was still weak. His body was smeared with scents and the looked like one just awaking from a deep sleep. The Rishi asked hiin, saying.
Sanskrit: अपि पुत्र जिता लोकाः शुभास्ते स्वेन कर्मणा। दिष्ट्या चासि पुनः प्राप्तो न हि ते मानुषं वपुः।।१३
English: Have you, O son, acquired auspicious regions by your own deeds? By good luck, you have been restored to me. Your body does not seem to be human.
Sanskrit: प्रत्यक्षदर्शी सर्वस्य पित्रा पृष्टो महात्मना। स तां वार्ता पितुर्मध्ये महर्षीणां न्यवेदयत्॥
English: Thus asked by his great father. Nachiketa who had seen every thing with his own eyes, answered thus in the midst of the Rishis.
Sanskrit: कुर्वन् भवच्छासनमाशु यातो ह्यहं विशालां रुचिरप्रभावाम्। वैवस्वतीं प्राप्य सभामपश्यं सहस्रशो योजनहेमभासम्॥
English: In obedience to your command I proceeded to the vast region of Yama which is possessed of a charming effulgence. There I saw a palatial mansion which extended for thousands of Yojanas and emitted a golden splendour on every part.
Sanskrit: दृष्ट्वैव मामभिमुखमापतन्तं देहीति स शासनमादिदेश। वैवस्वतोऽादिभिरहणैश्च भवत्कृते पूजयामास मां सः॥
English: As soon as Yama saw me approaching with face towards him, he ordered his attendants, saying, Give him a good seat. Indeed the king of the dead, for your sake, adored me with the Arghya and other ingredients.
Sanskrit: ततस्त्वहं तं शनकैरवोचं वृतः सदस्यैरभिपूज्यमानः। प्राप्तोऽस्मि ते विषयं धर्मराज लोकानों यानहं तान् विधत्सव॥
English: Thus adored by Yama and seated in the midst of his counsellors, I then asked him mildly, I have come to your house, O judge of the dead. Do you assign me those regions which I deserve for my acts.
Sanskrit: यमोऽब्रवीन्मां न मृतोऽसि सौम्य यमं पश्येत्याह स त्वां तपस्वी। पिता प्रदीप्ताग्निसमानतेजा न तच्छक्यमनृतं विप्र कर्तुम्॥
English: Yama then answered me, saying, You are not dead, ( amiable one. Gifted with penances, your father said to you meet with Yama. The energy of your father is like that of a burning fire. I could not possibly falsify that speech of his.
Sanskrit: दृष्टस्तेऽहं प्रतिगच्छस्व तात शोचत्यसौ तव देहस्य कर्ता। ददानि किं चापि मन:प्रणीतं प्रियातिधेस्तव कामान् वृणीष्व॥
English: You have seen me. Do you go hence, O child. The author of your body is bewailing for you. You are my dear guest. What wish of yours shall I fulfil? Solicit the fruition of whatever desire you may have.