Vinaya Texts

SR No.: 007684
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids, Hermann Oldenberg
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1881
Total Pages: 2523
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 47 MB

Page 438

xxii
UPANISHADS.
wealth. He had a son, called Nakiketas. While he was still a boy, faith entered into him at the time when the cows that were to be given (by his father) as presents to the priests, were brought in. He said: 'Father, to whom wilt thou give me?' He said so a second and third time. The father turned round and said to him: 'To Death, I give thee.'
Then a voice said to the young Gautama, as he stood up: 'He (thy father) said, Go away to the house of Death, I give thee to Death.' Go therefore to Death when he is not at home, and dwell in his house for three nights without eating. If he should ask thee, 'Boy, how many nights hast thou been here?' say, 'Three.' When he asks thee, •What didst thou eat the first night?' say, 'Thy offspring. What didst thou eat the second night?' say,
Thy cattle. What didst thou eat the third night?' say, 'Thy good works.'
He went to Death, while he was away from home, and he dwelt in his house for three nights without eating. When Death returned, he asked: 'Boy, how many nights hast thou been here?' He answered: Three.' What didst thou eat the first night?'Thy offspring.' What didst thou eat the second night?' Thy cattle.' 'What didst thou eat the third night?' Thy good works.'
Then he said: 'My respect to thee, O venerable sir ! Choose a boon.' “May I return living to my father," he said. Choose a second boon.' Tell me how my good works may never perish.'
Then he explained to him this Nâkiketa fire (sacrifice), and hence his good works do not perish.
Choose a third boon.' "Tell me the conquest of death again.'
Then he explained to him this (chief) Nâkiketa fire (sacrifice), and hence he conquered death again?..
This story, which in the Brâhmana is told in order to explain the name of a certain sacrificial ceremony called
1 The commentator explains punar-mrityu as the death that follows after the present inevitable death.
Digitized by