O King, this is the region of Kośalā, near Indraprastha, where the sacred Yamunā flows. It was here, upon the riverbank, that the two weary travelers lay down for the night. Between them, they placed a bundle of bones, and, exhausted from their journey, soon fell into a deep sleep. As midnight descended and all the travelers were lost in slumber, a hungry dog arrived, drawn by the scent of cooked food. He wandered through the entire camp, sniffing at the cooking pots and licking the vessels, enduring blows to his head wherever he ventured. Struck by someone, the dog retreated silently, unable to retaliate, much like a man subdued by his own wife. Yet, driven by hunger and desire for food, he returned to the places where he had been beaten with sticks and clods. Roaming about in search of enjoyment, as a destitute man might seek affection from a courtesan, the dog eventually found the two sleeping. Seizing the bundle of cloth from between them, he carried it some distance away, holding it in his teeth. Tearing open the bundle, he found the bones within, but seeing them devoid of flesh, he cast them into the waters of the Yamunā. No sooner had the bones been thrown into the river than Mukunda arrived, riding a divine aerial chariot. Seeing his teacher and younger brother asleep, he gently awakened them. Bowing with reverence, Mukunda addressed his teacher, Vedāyana, in a celestial form: “O Vedāyana, revered teacher, salutations to you and blessings to your younger brother. My bones have fallen here, from the palace, into this holy place. After meeting death, I entered hell and received its results; but by the grace of this sacred spot, I have now attained a divine state. I have come to bow to you, teacher, who are the embodiment of this holy place. Departing, I shall ascend by this divine chariot to the abode of the gods. Having bowed to you, to this holy place, and to my brother whom I have seen, permit me, for I go to heaven, the source of happiness.” Hearing Mukunda’s words, Vedāyana was astonished and spoke to him, who sat in the aerial chariot: “Mukunda, tell me truthfully—after your death, to which world did you go, and from where are you now departing for heaven? What happened there, dear one? Who rules that world? What are its people like, and what is its law? Tell me everything.” Mukunda replied, “I will tell you, teacher, what happened after my death. By the grace of this holy place, memory has now arisen in me. When I was slain by that wicked barber, the servants of Yama, fierce and terrible, took me away. They had tawny eyes, red hair, dark bodies, protruding nails, were short with long feet, flat noses, and large teeth. ‘Let him be taken, let him be taken by the command of Dharmaraja to the city of Samyamanī!’—thus they spoke among themselves. Filled with anger, these tormentors bound me with cruel fetters, struck me with iron clubs, and placed me in a body of suffering. Dragged along a path of burning sand, I cried out in intense pain, struck again and again. They rebuked me harshly, saying many things: ‘Because you have insulted your teacher, speaking unshakable Brahman, you have committed a grave offense. What will you do before Yama? You must see his dreadful face and endure the terrible fruit of your sin. Because of that very sin, O sinner, you have met with untimely death.’ Having said this, they brought me in a moment to a place many yojanas away—the city of Samyamanī, where King Yama himself resides. Bowing to Dharmaraja, they placed me before him. ‘This twice-born is a sinner,’ they reported. Seeing me, Dharmaraja spoke to his assembly: ‘O assembly, listen attentively. When I was appointed to this office by Brahmā, the Grandfather of the worlds, he spoke: “You are the ruler of Samyamanī, the punisher of unrighteous men. Impose punishment according to the offense, O son of Canda. Whoever neglects his parents or insults his teacher—these two are great sinners and must be cast into hell. For as many years as there are tens of thousands, let each suffer in all the hells. For these two, O lord of the southern quarter, you must never show mercy.” Thus, by Brahmā’s command, I do not perform rites for one who insults his teacher or neglects his parents, O assembly.’ ‘This Brāhmaṇa is a betrayer of his teacher. Because of that betrayal, he has met with untimely death and, by my command, has been brought here by my servants. O servants, first cast him into the terrible Raurava hell for ten thousand years; then, having brought him out, cast him elsewhere again. For just so long, this sinner who has neglected his teacher shall remain in all the hells, each for the allotted time, swiftly.’ O Vedāyana, my teacher, your servants, by Yama’s command, led me to the terrible Raurava hell, bound me with fetters, and cast me down. There, I endured grievous and intense suffering, so severe that even a single moment seemed like an age. For thirty days I remained there, bearing that pain; on the thirty-first day, I departed from that place.