Varaha Purana

अश्वमेधे तथा वृत्ते राजा वै जनमेजयः

When the horse sacrifice had been performed, King Janamejaya,

प्रायश्चित्तं चरित्वैवमागतो गजसाह्वयम्

Having undertaken expiation, thus arrived at Gajasāhvaya.

ऋषिं परमसम्पन्नं वैशम्पायनमञ्जसा

He approached the sage Vaiśampāyana, who was supremely accomplished.

कुरूणां पश्चिमो राजा पश्चात्तापेन पीडितः

The last king of the Kurus, afflicted by remorse,

जनमेजय उवाच कर्मपाकफलं यस्मिन्मानुषैरुप भुज्यते

Janamejaya said: In which place do humans experience the fruits of their actions?

एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं कीदृशं तु यमालयम्

I wish to hear about this—what sort of abode is that of Yama?

न गच्छेयं कथं विप्र प्रेतराज्ञो निवेशनम्

How, O Brahmin, may I avoid going to the dwelling of the lord of the dead?

सूत उवाच उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं राजानं जनमेजयम्

Sūta said: He spoke sweet words to King Janamejaya.

वैशम्पायन उवाच ।। शृणु राजन्पुरावृत्तां कथां परमशोभनाम् । धर्मवृद्धिकरीं नित्यां यशस्यां कीर्तिवर्द्धिनीम् ।। 193.

Vaiśampāyana said: Hear, O King, the ancient tale, supremely beautiful, which ever increases righteousness, fame, and glory.

पावनीं सर्वपापानां प्रवृत्तौ शुभकारिणीम्

It purifies from all sins and brings auspiciousness in its telling.

कश्चिदासीत्पुरा राजनृषिः परमधार्मिकः

Once, O King, there was a sage of supreme righteousness.

तस्य पुत्रो महातेजा योगमास्थाय बुद्धिमान्

His son, endowed with great brilliance, wise and established in yoga,

तेन रुष्टेन शप्तोऽभूत्पुत्रः परमधार्मिकः

When angered by him, the supremely righteous son was cursed.

तथेत्युक्त्वा महातेजाः पुत्रः परमधार्मिकः

Having said so, the son of great brilliance, supremely righteous, agreed.

क्षणेनान्तर्हितो जातः पितरं प्रत्युवाच ह

In a moment, he vanished and then spoke to his father.

मा भूद्वाक्यं च ते मिथ्या धार्मिकस्य कदाचन

Let your words never be false, for one who is righteous.

इह चैव पुनस्तावदागमिष्ये न संशयः

Here, again, I will certainly return—there is no doubt.

मिथ्याभिशंसिनं तात यथेष्टं तारयिष्यति 193.

Father, he will rescue the one who falsely invokes, as he wishes.

अप्रवृत्तस्त्वसम्भाष्यो योऽहं मिथ्या प्रयुक्तवान्

But I, who have spoken falsely, am unfit to act or to be addressed.

अहं पुत्र न सद्वादी न क्षमे धर्मदूषितम्

Son, I am not a speaker of truth, nor do I tolerate the violation of dharma.

धर्मज्ञश्च यशस्वी च नित्यं क्षान्तो जितेन्द्रियः

He who knows dharma, is renowned, always patient, and has mastered his senses.

याचितस्त्वं मया पुत्र गन्तुं वै तत्र नार्हसि

You have been entreated by me, son, not to go there—you should not.

यदि वैवस्वतो राजा तत्र प्राप्तं यदृच्छया

If King Vaivasvata happens to arrive there by chance,

विनश्येयमहं पश्य कुलसेतुविनाशनः

I will perish—see, the destruction of the family bridge.

नरकस्य पुदित्याख्या दुःखेन नरकं विदुः

The place called 'pudita' of hell—people know it as hell by its suffering.

अपुत्रस्य हि तत्सर्वं मोघं भवति निश्चयः

For one without a son, all of that becomes futile, certainly.

शुश्रूषावान्भवेच्छूद्रो वैश्यो वा कृषिजीवनः

A Shudra who serves, or a Vaishya who lives by farming,

तपो वा विपुलं तप्त्वा दत्त्वा दानमनुत्तमम् 193.

Or one who performs great austerity, or gives unsurpassed charity,

पुत्रेण लभते जन्म पौत्रेण तु पितामहः

Birth is attained through a son, and the grandfather through a grandson.