कच्चिन्न तुष्टो भगवांस्त्वां दृष्ट्वा स्वयमागतम् 194.
I hope the Blessed Lord was pleased to see you come in person.
कच्चिद्दौवारिकास्तत्र न रौद्रास्त्वां यमालये
I hope the gatekeepers there in Yama's abode were not fierce toward you.
कच्चित्पन्थास्त्वया लब्धो निर्गमो वा यमालये
I hope you found the path and the way out from Yama's abode.
ऋषयश्च महाभागा द्विजाश्च सुमहाव्रताः
The great and fortunate sages, and the twice-born of mighty vows,
एवमाभाषमाणं तु श्रुत्वा सर्वे वनौकसः
Hearing him speak thus, all the forest-dwellers,
जपन्तश्चैव जाप्यानि पूजयन्तश्च देवताः
Reciting sacred chants and worshipping the deities,
एकपादेन तिष्ठन्तः पश्यन्तोऽन्ये दिवाकरम्
Some stood on one foot, others gazed at the sun.
वैश्वानरा महाभागास्तपसा संशितव्रताः
The illustrious ascetics, firm in their vows, were blazing like fire.
दिग्वाससश्च ऋषयो दन्तोलूखलिनस्तथा
The sages, clothed only by the directions, and those with teeth as their only mortar and pestle,
धूमदाश्च तथा चान्ये तप्यमानाश्च पावके
And others who feed on smoke, as well as those who are scorched by fire,
उपविष्टास्तथा चान्ये स्थिताश्चान्ये सुयन्त्रिताः 194.
Some were seated, others stood, and some were well-restrained.
तं नाचिकेतसं दृष्ट्वा यमलोकादिहागतम्
Seeing Naciketas, who had come here from the realm of Yama,
केचिद्विमनसश्चैव केचित्संशयवादिनः
Some became disheartened, and some began to speak with doubt.
ऋषय ऊचुः नाचिकेतः सुत प्राज्ञ स्वधर्मपरिपालक
The sages said: 'O wise son Naciketas, upholder of your own duty,
ब्रूहि सत्यं त्वया दृष्टं श्रुतं च सविशेषकम्
Tell us the truth of what you have seen and heard, in detail.
अपि गुह्यं च वक्तव्यं पृष्टे सति विशेषतः
If you have been asked, you must also speak any secret, especially.
मृतं नैव परं तात दृश्यते कालमायया
O dear one, by the illusion of time, the dead are never truly seen.
इह चैव कृतं यत्तु तत्परत्रोपभुज्यते
Whatever is done here is enjoyed in the next world.
तथाऽत्र दृश्यते काले कालस्यैव तु मायया
Likewise, here too, things are seen at the proper time, but only by the illusion of time.
तस्य पारं न गच्छन्ति बहवः पारचिन्तकाः
Many who ponder the far shore do not reach it.
चिन्तयेत न चिन्ताऽत्र मृगयन्ति च यद्धितम् 194.
One should not worry here; they seek what is truly beneficial.
धर्मराजस्य किं रूपं कालो वा कीदृशो मुने
What is the form of Dharmaraja? O sage, what is time like?
किंच कुर्वन्प्रमुच्येत किं वा कर्म समाचरेत्
By doing what might one be freed, or what action should one perform?
क्रोधबन्धनजं क्लेशं कर्षणं छेदनं तथा
How does one overcome the suffering born of the bonds of anger, as well as torment and cutting?
जितात्मानः कथं यान्ति कथं गच्छति पापकृत्
How do those who have mastered themselves go, and how does the doer of evil depart?
प् रणयात्सौहृदात्स्नेहादस्माभिरभिपृच्छितम्
Out of affection, friendship, and love, we have asked you.
वैशम्पायन उवाच यदुवाच महाराज शृणु तज्जनमेजय
Vaiśampāyana said: O great king, Yadu spoke; listen to this, O Janamejaya.
इति श्रीवराहपुराणे संसारचक्रे नचिकेतागमनं नाम चतुर्नवत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the one hundred ninety-fourth chapter, entitled 'The Coming of Naciketas in the Cycle of Samsara,' in the glorious Varaha Purana.
अथ यमलोकस्थपापिवर्णनम् कथ्यमानं मया विप्राः शृण्वन्तु तपसि स्थिताः
Now, the description of the sinners dwelling in Yama's realm: Let the sages established in austerity listen as I recount it.
संसारं तु यथाशक्ति कथ्यमानं निबोधत
Hear, as far as I am able to explain, about the cycle of existence.