Varaha Purana

वैशम्पायन उवाच हृष्टपुष्ट वपुर्भूत्वा पुत्रः परमधार्मिकः

Vaiśampāyana said: The son, supremely righteous, became joyful and robust in form.

पुत्र उवाच दृष्ट्वा च तमहं देवं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्

The son said: Having seen that god, who is revered by all the worlds—

आगच्छामि पुनश्चात्र न भयं मेऽस्ति मृत्युतः

I come here again, and I have no fear of death.

सत्ये तिष्ठ महाभाग सत्यं च परिपालय

Abide in truth, O greatly fortunate one, and uphold the truth.

सूर्यस्तपति सत्येन वातः सत्येन वाति च

The sun shines by truth, and the wind blows by truth.

उदधिर्ल्लङ्घयेन्नैव मर्यादां सत्यपालितः

The ocean does not cross its boundary, preserved by truth.

सत्येन यज्ञा वर्त्तन्ते मन्त्रपूताः सुपूजिताः

By truth, sacrifices proceed, purified by mantras and duly honored.

सत्यं गाति तथा साम सर्वं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् 193.

Truth is the foundation of the Gāyatrī and the Sāma; everything is established in truth.

सत्येन सर्वं लभते यथा तात मया श्रुतम्

By truth, everything is obtained, as I have heard, dear father.

देवदेवेन रुद्रेण वेदगर्भः पुरा किल

Once, the embryo of the Vedas, by Rudra, the god of gods—

दीक्षां धारयते ब्रह्मा स तेनैव सुयन्त्रितः

Brahmā undertook initiation, being well restrained by that very one.

संवर्तेन पुरा तात सर्वे लोकाः सदैवताः

Long ago, father, at the dissolution, all the worlds with their deities—

पाताले पालयन् सत्यं बद्धो वैरोचनो वसन्

Virocana’s son, dwelling in the netherworld, upheld truth and was bound.

स्थितः सत्ये महाविन्ध्यो वर्द्धमानो न वर्द्धते

The great Vindhya, established in truth, though growing, does not increase.

गृहधर्माश्च ये दृष्टा वानप्रस्थाश्च शोभिताः

Household duties are seen, and forest-dwellers are adorned.

अश्वमेधसहस्रं च सत्यं च तुलया धृतम्

A thousand horse sacrifices and truth are weighed in a balance.

सत्येन पाल्यते धर्मो धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः

By truth, dharma is protected; dharma protects the one who protects it.

एवमुक्त्वा हृष्टपुष्टः स्वेन देहेन सुव्रत 193.

Having spoken thus, delighted and strengthened in his own body, O virtuous one—

ऋषिपुत्रो महातेजा सत्यवागनसूयकः

The sage’s son, possessed of great brilliance, truthful in speech, and free from deceit—

इति श्रीवराहपुराणे प्रागितिहासे संसारचक्रे नचिकेतप्रयाणं नाम त्रिनवत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the one hundred and ninety-third chapter, entitled 'The Journey of Naciketas in the Cycle of Samsara,' in the ancient narrative of the glorious Varaha Purana.

अथ नचिकेतसो आगमनवर्णनम् गतश्च परमं स्थानं यत्र राजा दुरासदः

Now, the account of Naciketas' return: He reached the supreme abode where the formidable king resided.

ततो हृष्टमना राजन्पुत्रं दृष्ट्वा तपोनिधिः

Then, O King, the ascetic, seeing his son, was filled with joy in his heart.

दिवं च पृथिवीं चैव नादयामास हृष्टवत्

Rejoicing, he made both heaven and earth resound.

पश्यन्तु मम पुत्रस्य प्रभावं दिव्यतेजसः

Let all behold the power of my son, radiant with divine brilliance.

पितृस्नेहानुभावेन गुरुशुश्रूषयापि च

By the influence of paternal affection and through devoted service to his teacher,

लोके मत्सदृशो नास्ति पुमान्भाग्यसमन्वितः

In this world, there is no man as fortunate as I.

कच्चित्त्वं न हतो वत्स नैव बद्धो यमालये

My child, I hope you were not slain, nor bound in the abode of Yama.

कच्चित्ते व्याधयो घोरा नान्वगच्छन्यमालये

I hope terrible diseases did not afflict you in the house of Yama.

कच्चिद्राजा त्वया दृष्टः प्रेतानामधिपो बली

I hope you saw the mighty king, lord of the departed.