The course of the soul after death

5.3.1 Svetaketu Aruneya attended an assembly of the Pancalas. Then Pravahana Jaibali said to him: "Young man, has your father instructed you?"

"He has indeed, Sir."

5.3.2 "Do you know to what creatures go forth hence?"

"No, Sir."

"Do you know how they are brought back again?"

"No, Sir."

"Do you know the parting of the two ways, one leading to the Garden, and one leading to the Fire?"

"No, Sir."

5.3.3 "Do you know how it is that yonder world is not filled up?"

"No, Sir."

"Do you know how in the fifth stage water comes to have a human voice?"

"No, indeed, Sir."

5.3.4 "Now, pray, how did you say of yourself that you had been instructed? Indeed, how could one who would not know these things speak of himself as having been instructed?"

Distressed, he then went to his father's place. Then he said to him: "Verily, indeed, without having instructed me, you, Sir, said: 'I have instructed you.'

5.3.5 Five questions a fellow of the princely class has asked me. I was not able to explain even one of them."

Then he said: "As you have told them to me here, I do not know even one of them. If I had known them, how would I not have told them to you?"

5.3.6 Then Gautama went to the king's place. To him, when he arrived, the king had proper attention shown. Then on the morrow he went up to the audience-hall. Then the king said to him: "Honored Gautama, you may choose for yourself a boon of human wealth."

Then he said: "Human wealth be yours, O king! The word which you said in the presence of the young man, even that do you speak to me."

Then he became troubled.

5.3.7 "Wait a while," he commanded him. Then he said: "As to what you have told me, O Gautama, this knowledge has never yet come to the learned before you; and therefore in all the worlds has the rule belonged to the rulers only." Then he said to him: