First Valli

Prologue: Naciketas

1 Now with zeal did Vajasravasa give away his whole possession as a religious gift. He had a son, Naciketas by name.

2 Into him, boy as he was, while the gifts were being led up, faith entered. He thought to himself:

3 "Their water drunk, their grass eaten,

their milk milked, barren!

Joyless certainly are the worlds

he goes to, who gives such cows!"

4 Then he said to his father: "Father, to whom will you give me?" A second time; a third time.

To him then he said: "To Death I give you!"

Naciketas in the house of Death

[Naciketas reflects:]

5 Of many I go as the first.

Of many I go as an intermediate.

What, pray, has Death to be done

that he will do with me today?

6 Look forward, how fared the former ones.

Look backward; so will the after ones.

Like grain a mortal ripens!

Like grain he is raised again!

Warning on the neglect of a guest

[A voice:]

7 As fire, a Brahman guest enters houses.

They make this the quieting thereof:

Fetch water!

8 Hope and expectation, fellowship and pleasantness,

good deeds and charity, sons and cattle, all

this he loses, the man of little understanding

in whose home a guest remains without eating.

Three boons offered to Naciketas

[Death, returning from a three days' absence and finding that Naciketas has not received the hospitality due to a guest, says:]

9 Since for three nights thou hast abode in my house

without eating, a guest to be honoured,

honour be to thee! Well-being be to me!

Therefore in return choose three boons!

Naciketas's first wish: return to an appeased father on earth

[Naciketas:]

10 With intent appeased, well-minded, with anger departed,

may Gautama, my father, be toward me, O Death;

may he cheerfully greet me, when from thee dismissed.

This of the three as boon the first I choose!

[Death:]

11 Cheerful as formerly will he be,

Auddalaki Aruni, with me dismissed.

Happily will he sleep o' nights, with anger departed,

when he has seen thee released from the mouth of Death.

Naciketas's second wish: the path that leads to the Garden

[Naciketas:]

12 In the Garden is no fear whatsoever.

Not there art thou. Not from old age does one fear.

Having crossed over both, hunger and thirst too,

gone beyond sorrow, one rejoices in the Garden.

13 Thyself, O Death, knowest the path to the Garden.

Declare it to me who have faith.

The people of the Garden partake of life everlasting.

This I choose with boon the second.

[Death:]

14 To thee I do declare, and do thou learn it of me,

the understanding of the path to the Garden, O Naciketas!

The attainment of the endless abode, likewise too its foundation:

know thou that as set down in the secret place of the heart.

16 Delighting, the great soul said to him:

[Death resumes:]

A further boon I give thee here today.

By thy name indeed shall this path be known.

This many-coloured garland, too, accept.

17 Having joined with the three, performing the threefold work,

one crosses over fear of death:

worship of God, study of the scripture, and giving in charity.

By knowing the Lord who is to be praised, the Creator,

and by revering Him, one goes for ever to this peace.

18 Having known this triad,

he who knowing thus walks this path,

he, having cast off in advance the bonds of death,

with sorrow overpassed, rejoices in the Garden.

19 This, O Naciketas, is thy path to the Garden,

which thou didst choose with the second boon.

As thine, indeed, will folks proclaim this path.

The third boon, Naciketas, choose!

Naciketas's third wish: knowledge concerning the effect of dying

[Naciketas:]

20 This doubt that there is in regard to a man deceased:

"He exists," say some; "He exists not," say others.

This would I know, instructed by thee!

Of the boons this is boon the third.

[Death:]

21 Even the earlier peoples had doubt as to this!

For truly, it is not easily understood. Subtle is this matter.

Another boon, O Naciketas, choose!

Press me not! Give up this one for me!

Knowledge preferable to the greatest earthly pleasures

[Naciketas:]

22 Even the earlier peoples had doubt, indeed, as to this,

and thou, O Death, sayest that it is not easily understood.

And another declarer of it the like of thee is not to be obtained.

No other boon the equal of it is there at all.

[Death:]

23 Choose centenarian sons and grandsons,

many cattle, elephants, gold, and horses.

Choose a great abode of earth.

And thyself live as many autumns as thou desirest.

24 This, if thou thinkest an equal boon,

choose: wealth and long life!

A great one on earth, O Naciketas, be thou.

The enjoyer of thy desires I make thee.

25 Whatever desires are hard to get in the mortal world,

for all desires at pleasure make request.

These lovely maidens with chariots, with lyres,

such as are not obtainable by men,

by these, from me bestowed, be waited on!

O Naciketas, question me not regarding dying.

[Naciketas:]

26 Ephemeral things! That which is a mortal's, O Ender of all,

even the vigor of all the powers, they wear away.

Even a whole life is slight indeed!

Thine be the vehicles. Thine be the dance and song!

27 Not with wealth is a man to be satisfied.

Shall we take wealth, if we have seen thee?

Shall we live so long as thou shalt rule?

This, in truth, is the boon to be chosen by me.

28 When one has come into the presence of the undecaying,