O King, I have now told you, in brief, the signs of those sinless souls who have fallen from heaven. You have witnessed the results of both virtuous and sinful deeds, seen the realms of hell, and so, let us move onward, for there is nothing more here for you to see. With these words, the king’s son led him forward. As they prepared to depart, all those souls enduring torment in hell cried out together, their voices filled with longing: “O King, grant us your favor! Please stay here a moment; the wind that touches your body brings joy to our minds.” They pleaded, “O tiger among men, O lord of the earth, whenever the wind that has touched your body reaches us, it removes the pain and affliction from our limbs completely.” Hearing their cries, the king turned to Yama’s servant and asked, “How is it that my presence brings them relief? What great merit did I acquire in the world of mortals to cause such joy here? Please tell me.” Yama’s servant replied, “Because your body was nourished by food properly offered to ancestors, gods, guests, messengers, and the worthy, and because your mind was set on these offerings, the wind that has touched your body brings delight to these souls. For those who have committed sinful deeds, the torments do not afflict them in your presence.” He continued, “The horse sacrifices and other rituals you performed according to rule, and even your very sight, O King, have diminished the suffering caused by Yama’s instruments, weapons, fire, and wind. The causes of great suffering—beating, cutting, burning, and the like—have become mild, their force subdued by your radiance.” The king was deeply moved and declared, “Such happiness as arises from relieving the suffering of afflicted beings is not found even in heaven or the world of Brahma—this is my conviction. If, in my presence, these torments do not afflict them, then, O auspicious-faced one, I shall remain here, unmoving as a mountain.” Yama’s servant urged him, “Come, O King, let us go and enjoy the pleasures earned by your own merit. Here, the torments of the sinful are not for you.” But the king replied, “Therefore, I will not go as long as these greatly afflicted ones, the dwellers of hell, become happy by my presence.” He added, “Shame on the life of that man who does not show compassion to the suffering seeker of refuge—even if he be an enemy—when he is in distress. Here and hereafter, sacrifices, gifts, and austerities do not bring benefit to one whose mind does not incline to rescuing the afflicted. I do not consider him a man whose heart is hard toward children, the sick, and the elderly; he is indeed a demon.” The king continued, “If, from being near these people, one experiences suffering like the burning of fire or harsh odors, or pain arising from hell—or suffering from hunger and thirst, or great pain that brings fainting—still, I consider giving them protection greater than the happiness of heaven. If many who are afflicted may gain happiness while I myself suffer, what would I not have attained? Therefore, do not delay—go at once.” Yama’s servant then announced, “Here are Dharma and Indra, come to take you away; you must go with us, O King, so depart now.” Dharma said, “I myself will lead you to heaven, for you have worshipped me well; ascend this celestial chariot—do not delay, go forth.” But the king replied, “In hell, O Dharma, thousands of people are tormented; the afflicted cry out, ‘Save us!’—therefore, I will not go.” Indra spoke, “By their evil deeds, these people have reached hell; but you, O king, must go to heaven by your virtuous actions.” The king asked, “If you know, O Dharma, or you, O Indra, lord of Shachi, tell me the measure of my merit, whatever it may be.” Dharma answered, “As countless as the drops in the ocean, as the stars in the sky, as the streams of rain, or as the sands on the Ganga—so too, O great king, your merit is beyond counting, just like those drops and grains. By showing this compassion today to those in hell, your merit has increased a hundred thousandfold. Therefore go, best of kings, to the immortal realm to enjoy its rewards; let these sinners exhaust their own evil deeds in hell.” Still, the king asked, “How will people develop longing for my company if, even in the presence of the virtuous, they do not experience relief from their suffering? Therefore, O lord of the gods, whatever merit I possess, by that may those sinners who are suffering in hell be released.” Indra replied, “Thus, O king, you have attained an even higher state; see these evil-doers released from hell.” Then, a shower of flowers rained upon the king, and Hari placed him in a celestial chariot, taking him to heaven. The son said, “I, and others there who were released from those torments, entered another birth as determined by the fruits of our own actions. Thus, O best of twice-born, I have described these hells, and the particular wombs one attains according to each sin. All this has been explained, just as I saw it before; I have given you knowledge born of past experience, unfailing and true. O fortunate one, what else shall I tell you now?” The father replied, “My child, you have described to me the established nature of worldly existence—its true form, unchanging, like a water-clock mechanism, and bewildering to the mind. Thus, I have fully understood all this as you have explained it. Tell me, what should I do now, given this established order?” The son answered, “If you trust my words without doubt, father, then renounce household life and devote yourself to the life of a forest-dweller.