Purana Bulletin
710,357 words
The “Purana Bulletin� is an academic journal published by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in India. The journal focuses on the study of Puranas, which are a genre of ancient Indian literature encompassing mythological stories, traditions, and philosophical teachings. The Puranas are an important part of Hindu scriptures in Sa...
The Naciketa-Upakhyana as the source of the Nasiketopakhyana
The Naciketa-Upakhyana as the source of the Nasiketopakhyana and its development in the Veda, Itihasa and the Puranas [nasiketopakhyanamulasya naciketopakhyanasya vedetihasapuranesu vikasah baladeva upadhyaya] / By Pt. Baladeva Upadhyaya, Professor and Head of Puranetihasa Deptt., Varanaseya Sanskrit University, Varanasi / 391-410
[The Hindi Nasiketopakhyana (the story of Nasiketa) written in about 1803 A.D. by Sadala Misra, a teacher in the Fort William College of Calcutta, is well-known as one of the first pioneer works of Hindi prose. This Hindi Nasiketopakhyana is based on the Sanskrit Nasiketopakhyana which is available in manuscripts, and has also been recently published in Varanasi. The Sanskrit Nasiketopakhyana is a modified version of the Pauranika Naciketopakhyana found in the Varaha-Purana (Adhs. 193-212). The learned writer in the present article discusses the text of the Sanskrit Nasiketopakhyana as available in its nine manuscripts deposited in the Library of the Varanaseya Sanskrit University, Varanasi, and examined by him for this purpose. He also traces its development from the Pauranika Naciketopakhyana. The text of the Nasiketopakhyana as available in its manuscript-form is found in two versions-longer and shorter. The longer version consists of 18 Adhyayas, and is found in MSS. nos. 4899, 14456, 14859 and 14956. This longer version is almost uniform in all these manuscripts. The shorter version is found in MSS. Nos. 3765, 14777 and 15661, and variously consists of 11, 13 or 17 Adhyayas. The text of the MS. No. 14777 has been much influenced by the Bhagavata-Purana and the Bhagavata-religion. In its colophon the Nasiketopakhyana is said to belong to the Brahmanda-Purana, but it is not available
392 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 there. The oldest MS. No. 14456 is dated V. S. 1814 (A. D. 1757). The Hindi Nasiketopakhyana is the translation of the shorter version of the Sanskrit Nasiketopakhyana. Nasiketa is said to be born from the Nasika of the daughter of a king named Raghu, hence his name Nasiketa. On account of the curse of his father, Uddalaka, the young Nasiketa had to go to the abode of Yama, the god of death. By the grace of Yama there he saw various punishments and rewards being given to the doers of the bad or good actions, and returned alive to his father Uddalaka, and gave to his father and the other assembled sages a vivid description of what he had seen in the Yama-loka. In the Puranic Naciketopakhyana also Naciketa similarly relates to his father and the assembly of the sages what he had seen in the Yama-loka. The earliest account of the story of Naciketa or Naciketas is found in the Taittiriya-Brahmana (3. 11. 8). This account is purely ritualistic, for Yama imparts Naciketas the knowledge of the Naciketa Agni (i. e. Agni-Vidya or the sacrificial science) as a means of acquiring immortality also. In the Kathopanisad the Naciketopakhyana beHere Yama comes predominantly spiritualistic. advocates the immortality of the Soul or Atman and imparts Naciketas the knowledge of the Atman (or the Adhyatma-Vidya) as a means of getting liberation from the circle of births and deaths. The Mahabharata (Anusasana-Parvan, Adh. 71) also contains the Naciketopakhyana, in which the giving away of cows in charity is glorified by Yama, which Naciketa relates to his father after being revived from his death-caused by the curse of his father.
July, 1964] nasiketopakhyanam naciketopakhyanam ca The Naciketopakhyana of the Varaha-Purana (Adhs. 193-212) aims at giving through Naciketa descriptions of the various rewards and punishments of good and bad actions. In this respect it differs from Brahmanic, Upanisadic and epic account of this story, and is similar to the story of Nasiketa. The learned writer presents here a detailed and comparative study of the various stages of the development of the Naciketopakhyana.] nasiketopakhyanam 393 pauranikanaciketoparavyanena saha duratah sambaddham naikaso nutana- vrttopasobhitam, nanahastalekhesu samupalabhyamanam, kvacana (bhargava presa, varanasi 1960 ) prakasitacaramapyekam varttate natidirgham pustakam nasiketopakhyana- bhidhanam | asya desakalau nirnetum nitantam duhsakau | varanaseya samskrta- visvavidyalayasya sarasvatibhavanakhye pustakagare'nyatra ca samupalabhyamananam granthasyasya hastalikhitanam pratinamadhyayanena vilasitam parinamamatra samupasthapyate | nasiketopakhyane nirdista katha pauranikanaciketopakhyanatah sutaram bhinneti purvata eva nivedaniyam varttate | asminnupakhyane kathayah samksipta- rupamevamvidham samupajrmbhate | | vedavedangatattvavid uddalakanamadheyo munirugre dirghe ca tapasi vyasaktaceta yada svasrame tasthau tada pippaladanama rsistatrajagama | sa grhasthasramasya mahimanam svargatisampadakatam ca sastrapramanyena tasmai upadidesa, putrapraptermahaniyam gauravam ca tasmai ittham nagau- kulani tarayet tasya suputro vamsavardhanah aputrasya grham sunyamaputrena grhena kim | aputro vamsanaso'sti srutiresa sanatani || svabhagadheyam prastukamo munih svarlokam gatah prajapatinetthamabhihito nitantam camatkrto babhuva - purvam tava putrasya praptirbhavisyati, tadanantaram ca patnilabhena
394 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 santusyasiti | svasramam prati nivrtto munirbhrsam visayacintanena skhalitam svaviryam kamalapuspe darbhadibhih parivestite nidhaya gamgayam visasarja | daivayogat kasyapi raghunamno mahipaterduhita candravati namni svasakhibhih sakam tadaiva gamgayam snanartham gata tadabjaputakam dadarsa | moghaviryasya ghranena sa garbham sakhibhiranitam ca tat namrau | uddalakasya- dadhara, samagate ca dasame masi nasagrena putram janayamasa yah khalu nasagrenotpannatvat nasiketuh nasiketo veti anvarthabhidhanena tadanim khyatim lebhe | nasagrena tu samutpanna rsirnama tavakarot | nasiketa iti jnatva mama proktam mahatmana || (8|3765 amkite kasihastalekhe caturthapatre 36 patram ) putramimamanyayoparjitam matva kasthamanjusayam nidhaya sa bala rahasi sakhidvara gange payasi visasarja | tadanantaram jnatavrttena pitra'narthasamkaya sa sisyadvaropanitam balamimamuddalako maharsih kalakamat munerasramamupeta candravati sviyam caranye visrsta | kastha manjusatah svaputranirvisesam vardhayamasa | purvacaritram varnayamasa - agatam padmaputakam darbhena parivestitam | tasminnaghratamatrena jatam garbhasya dharanam | (caturthadhyaye, 41 padyam ) jnatakhilavrttanto munih raghave sviyam nikhilam purvavrttam nivedya tenanujnato nasiketam putratvena svicakara candravatim ca patnitvena samanantaramupayeme | ittham prajapatina purvamevopadista phalapraptih satya babhuva | tadanantaram kadacit pitra'gnihotrasya samagrimanetukamena prahito nasiketo vanasya kascit nitantam manoramamuddesam prapya prakrtikadrsyairvilubdhaceta yavat samadhimasthiya tasthau tavat samvatsarardho vyatitah | asramamagato nasiketo'gnihotre pratyavayamasamkamanacetasa pitroddalakena nitantamakrusto'gnihotram bhrsam ninditva yogavidhi prasasamse-
July, 1964] nasiketopakhyanam naciketopakhyanam ca agnihotramidam tata samsarasya tu bandhanam | janmamrtyumahamohe samsare tava na dhruvam || yogabhyasat param nasti samsararnavataranam | tatah krodhavistena janakena balakah sepe- 1 uvaca gaccha sighram tvam yamam pasya sutadhama || 395 yamalokam pravisto nasiketo yamasyajnaya citraguptasya canugrahavasat talloke nayamana vividha yatanah saukhyani ca svayam dadarsa | piturasramam pratinivrtto munibhih prsto balako yamalokavrttasya nikhilam varnanam krtvovaca- ityadi sarvamakhyatam tatra drstam munisvarah | sandeho natra kartavyah sarvapratyayadarsanat || (17 /29 ) nasiketopakhyanabhidhanasyasya granthasya nava (9) hastalekha vidyante varanaseyasamskrta visvavidyalayasya sarasvatibhavanakhye pustakalaye | te sarva eva maya vilokitah pariksitasca | tatra kathayah saranidvayam sphutibhavati - (ka) brhatpathah, (kha) laghupathasca | brhatpathatmakesu hastalekhesu (4899, 14456, 14859, 14956, samkhyabhirankitesu ) astadasadhyayah samupalabhyante brhadakaravantah | laghupathasamanvitesu hastalekhesu (14777, 15661, 3765 samkhyabhirankitesu ) adhyayanamekarupata naiva saksat kriyate | esu ekadasa, trayodasa, saptadasadhyayah kramaso vartante yesu sloka pathanam bahusah parthakyamapyavalokyate | 14777 samkhyate hastalekhe srimadbhagavatapuranastha aneke kamaniya bhagavatstutiparah sloka api samuddhrtah santi | granthante ca bhagavaddharmanirupanakhye'ntime'dhyaye bhagavatanam bhedastadacaranaprakarasca bahuso varnitah srimadbhagavatasya visistam prabhavamasmin upakhyanagranthe samudghosayati | racanakalo'numanato nirdestum paryate | 14456 samkhyatasya hastalekhasya pracinatarasya lekhanasamayah sam0 1814 (1757 isavi ) tava na dhruvamityatra 'jananam yatah ' ityanyahastalekhatah pathah | 1 .
396 vartate | puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 ata eva granthasyaitasya racana itah purvam jatetyevadhuna kathayitvalam | brahmandapuraniyametadupakhyanamiti yat 14777 samkhyate hastalekhe puspikayam nirdistam tattu brahmande'nupalambhat naucityamavahatiti dhruvamavagantavyam | laghupathasamanvitasyaitasyopakhyanasya 1860 vaikramabde (1803 i0 varse ) sadala misro nama kalikatayam phortaviliyamakalejeti namni vidyalaye hindibhasayah pradhyapako vidvan tadvibhagadhyaksasya gilakraisteti namna angladesiyasya vipascito nidesena hindibhasayamanuvadam cakara | so'yama- nuvadah khada़ीbolinamanyam janabhasayamatratyayam na kevalam prathamyam bhanate'nuvadarupena, pratyuta pariskrtasailya avirbhavarupeneti janantyeva hindi- kovidah | bihararastrabhasaparisada prakasitasca eso'nuvado'syopakhyanasya lokapriyatam prakasayati | vedetihasapuranesu naciketopakhyanam vedesu nanavidhani bhautikavisayakani adhyatmavidyopakarakani copalabhyante rocakanyupakhyananiti vidankurvantyeva puravido vipascitah | ramayane mahabharate puranesu caitesam katipayani kvacit paristhitivaisistyat bhinnatatparyakanyakarena brhanti kacicca tadabhinnabhiprayakanyapyakarena hasvani nirdisyante | etesam granthanamanusilanena mulabhutayah kathaya vikasaparipati tatparyaparivrttisca parivartini kale katham samjateti dhruvamunnetum paryate | loke nitantam prakhyatasya naciketopakhyanasya sampratam samksiptamalocanatmaka vivaranamatra prastuyate | 1 . vede naciketopakhyanam vaidikametadupakhyanamiti natitirohitam vipascitam | parantu vedasya taittiriya brahmanasya kasyamapi mantrasamhitayam nopalabhyate upakhyanametat | trtiye kande ekadase prapathake'stame'nuvake, kathopanisadah prathamadhyayasya prathamavallyam, mahabharatasyanusasanaparvani (71 tame'dhyaye ) varahapurane ca (193 adhyayadarabhya 213 adhyayam yavat ) prakhyatametadupakhyanam samprata- mupalabhyate | tesu naikam tatparyam kathaya etasyah, naikakara evabhiprayo bhinna-
July, 1964] nasiketopakhyanam naciketopakhyanam ca 397 vetesu granthesu samupajrmbhata iti kathayah parisilanena taulanikenadhyayanena ca sphutibhavisyatiti kincidatra vinyasyate | mantrasamhitayam kasyamcana nopalabdhiretasyopakhyanasyeti kathanam kincit pramanika pallavanamapeksate | rkasamhitayam dasamamandalasya pancatrimsaduttaraikasatatame sukte yamadaivatye yamagotrah kumarah rsitvenopavarnito'nukramanyam - " yasmin kumaro yamayano yamamanustubham tu " iti vacanaih | ko'yam yamagotrah kumara iti nijnasayam sayanacaryastam naciketasamevabhidhatte | mantraksarairapyavyakrteyam katha sandarbhenapi samanjasyam naiva bhajate | parantu yasmin vrkse supalase devaih sampibate yamah | atra no vissatih pita puranam anu venati || sukte'nirdista tatha ca- - ( rg0 10|135|1 ) suktasyaitasyayamadyo mantrah | asya mantrasya sayanabhasyam naciketo- pakhyanagarbhitatvena manditamapi nati vidusam samarpakam | 'nah ' iti bahuvacanam vyatyayena mametyekavacanantam krtam | 'vispati ' sabdastu visam prajanam patiriti vigrahat prajapalake'rthe eva bahusah prayujyate | 'puranan puratanan anu- pascat tatsamipe nivasatvayamiti venati mam kamayate mama naciketaso janakah ' iti caturthacaranasya vyakhya | mulamantre 'venati ' iti kriyapadasya karmatvena vivaksitam na kimapi samalokyate padam | mamiti padam tu bhasyakarenopanyastam | ata evoparitanam vyakhyanam napi samicinam | yathakathancit uttarakale prakhyata katha samhitamantre'smin purvatame'ntarbhaviteti pratiyate | sayanacarya api vyakhyanenanena santustacetasah suktamidam samanyarsiparakamapi vivrnute 'yatha- ve 'ti vacanat | taittiriya brahmane naciketopakhyanam taittiriya brahmanasya trtiyakande ekadase prapathake 'stame'nuvake naciketasyo- sakhyanam prathamyenopadisyate, tatra sandarbhasamgatirapi nunam nirdharyate | saptame'nuvake naciketagnerupasanam paksya karavayudevatavisayakam pratipadya brahmalokapraptilaksanasya tatphalasya mrtyurahityam katham sampadyate iti prasnasya samadhanavasare eva 18
398 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI.. No. 2 prasangat naciketasa upakhyanam prastuyate 'smin brahmane | tadupakhyanagatah visayah samksepenatra sampratam nirdisyante | vajasravaso namarsih sarvasvadaksinakena visvanidadiyagena tatphalam kamayamano yagamadhye sarvavedasam sarvasvamrtvigbhyo dadau | tasya naciketa nama putro babhuva | sa tasmin kale upanayanayogyavayaskah kumaro bhutva vartate sma | daksinasu gosu niyamanasu satisu tasya hrdaye danavisayiki sraddha''vivesa yat karmasaphalyartham yage yajamanena sarvasvam deyam bhavisyatiti | atmanam svapituh svam matva naciketah pitaram na kevalamekavaram pratyuta varatrayam papraccha - kasmai ma dasyasiti | avicaritaramaniyena SSkasmikena prasnena kincit ksubdho janakah 'mrtyave tva dadami 'ti hovaca | tada etenottarena kincit vismitaprayam balakamanugrhnanti daivi vak tamavocat - pitra tvam mrtyave pradatto'si | atastvaya mrtyorgrham gantavyam | parantu pravasantam yamamanurudhya tatra gantavyam | tisro ratrisca tadgrhe bhojanarahito nivasam kuru | pratyagato yamo yadi tvam prcchet kati ratri- vatsiditi, tarhi tisro ratririti bruhi | bhojanavisaya ke prasne sati evam pratibhasitavyam - prathama ratrivase anasnata maya tava praja bhaksitah, dvitiyaratrau tava pasavo bhaksitah, trtiyaratrau tu tava sukrtanyeva maya bhaksitani | naciketa daivivaca 'nusistah sakalam tadupadesanatam tathaiva yathavidhi nirvahayamasa | | yamastu evamvidhasastra marmanubodhakena pratyuttarena''krstacetah 'satkararho'yam varam vrnisveti kumaram hovaca | kumarah, na tu maraniyah ' iti niscikaya | naciketasa tu varatrayam sadya eva yacitam | pitaram prapnavaniti prathamo varah | mama tvaya'marito jivanneva sviyam istapurtayo raksitirbhavatu madiyayoh srautasmartasukrtayoh kadapi ksayo ma bhavatu iti istapurtayoh ksayarahityaya hetuvisayiki jijnaseti dvitiyo varah | mrtyorme'pacitih katham bhavatviti krtva punarjanmanivaranaya sadhananijnaseti trtiyo varah | yamastrinapi varan sadyah pradadau | prathamastu varah akincitkarapratidanena mandito vidyate | dvitiyasya varasya sampurti visaye naciketagnivisayakam sakalam vijnanam naciketase dadau yamah | trtiyasyapi varasya purttaye naciketagnividhaiva punarapi upadista yamena | ekasya
July, 1964] nasiketopakhyanam naciketopakhyanam ca 399 eva naciketagnividyayah phaladvayam katham samjayate iti sambhavyasya sandehasya nirakaranamittham sayanacaryairvyadhayi svabhasye- 'cayanopasanayormadhye cayanasya pradhanyamupasanasyopasarjanatvam yasya pumsah sampadyate, tasyestapurtayoraksayatvamatram ciram punyalokamanubhuya punarjanmasvikarah | yasya tupasanam pradhanam cayanamupasarjanam tasya brahmalokapraptidvara muktireva, na tu janmantaram | ' ( taittiriya brahmanasya sayanabhasyam sranandasrama samskrtagranthavalyam prakasitam, 1383 prstha � ) ayamasayo bhasyakartuh | varadvayasya yancayam ekasya evagnividyayah samupadeso phalabhedena dvividhopakarako vartate | homagnisamupasane prathamastavat visistaparimanabhiristakabhirvedya viracanam tadupari agnisthapanam tadanantaram samucitena yajniyasadhanena homavidhanamiti sarvamagnicayanasabdenatra nirdisyate | vahnerdevatarupenopasanam yajamanasya tasmin manonivesena santatamanudhyanam ceti- taduttaro vidhih | tatra prathamena istapurtayoraksinata sampadyate, dvitiyena ca mrtyorapaksayo jayate iti ekasya eva naciketagnividyayah phaladvayam samabhaviti brahmanasya vakyanam sayanacaryakrtat vyakhyanat sphutam bhavatiti | taittiriyabrahmane nirdistasya mulabhutakhyanasyayam samksepah | kathopanisadi naciketopakhyanam kathopanisadyetadevopakhyanam samanaksarairapi varnitam kincit vistarena samdrbdham sampratam loke visistam khyatim bhajamanamivavalokyate | taittiriya brahmane nirdistayah kayayah mukhyamsa atrapi tadakarenaivopanibadhyante parantu kvacit kvacicca nutanatvam tatparyavibhedat kasyapyamsasya saksat kriyate eva | sa vicarah sampratamitthamudirayitum sakyate | (ka) daksinarupena diyamananam gavamalpapranataiva naciketasah pitaram prati prasnasya karanatam pratipadyate |
400 yatah puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 pitodaka nagdhatrna dugdhadoha nirindriyah | ananda nama te lokastan sa gacchati ta dadat || - katha0 1|1|3 nirindriyanam gavam danam anandarahitan duhkhapurnaneva lokan prapayatiti vicaryaiva naciketah pitaram vajasravasamatmadanam prati jijnasate 'kasmai mam dasyasi 'ti vacanena | (kha) taittiriya brahmane'drsyamanasariraya daivivaco'stitvam sphutamevava- lokyate ya naciketasam sakalam bhavinam karyajatam samanjasena sampadayitumupadisati, kathopanisadi tu sa gudharupenapi no samketita | taittiriye brahmane daivivani- pradattamupadesam grhitvaivayam balakah svakaryasya yathocite sampadane nitantam samartho babhuva | kathopanisadi tu daivivaco nitantabhavo naciketasastejasvitamantah- sattvam ca sadya eva samupajrmbhayati | daivivaco nirdesamantarapi sa kusagrabuddhi- rasamanyasattvo drdhaniscayo balastat sarvam tenaiva vidhina'nukto'pi yathavat sampadayatiti dhruvam jagarti naciketasah kimapi visistam pragalbhyam caritryasya | anyacca | brahmanagranthe yamapradarsitasya bhautika vaibhava vilasapraptirupasya pralobhanasya namapi na sruyate | upanisadi tu tat pralobhanam nitantam prakarsamivanubhuya vartate- ye ye kama durlabha martyaloke sarvan kamamschandatah prarthayasva ima ramah sarathah saturya na hidrsa lambhaniya manusyaih | abhirmatprattabhih paricarayasva naciketo maranam manupraksih || -- katha0 1|1|25 tatpralobhanamanadrtya svaniscayanna managapi naciketah pascatpado babhuveti tasya pragalbhyamevodirnam bhavati || | (ga) anyadapi parthakyam spastameva | ubhayorapi granthayoh varanam samkhya tu tavati eva | kathopanisadyapi varanam samadhanarhanam prasnanam va samkhya tu tisra eva | parantu prathamadvayasya varasya nirdese tu bhuyan vibhedo'nubhuyate | natibhinnatve'pi trtiyasya svarupa- taittiriya brahmane karmakandanurupam
July, 1964] nasiketopakhyanam naciketopakhyanam ca 401 yajnikasaranimanusrtya punarmrtyuvaranaya nacikatagneryah khalupadeso vihitah, sa tu nitantamaucityam bhajate brahmanagranthe yaganusthanasyaiva pradhanyatah pratipadanat | upanisadi tu adhyatmavisayakamuttaram vilokyate | atroddesyavaibhinnyam tatparya parthakyam ca sphutamunnetum sakyate | jnanakandantargatayah kathopanisado 'dhyatmapratipadaka- tvat adhyatmikottarasyaiva tatra sphutamaucityamiti dhruvam pratimah | ittham samane'pi kathamse tatparyabhedat upadesasya vibhedo spastamuhaniyah | 2 . itihase naciketopakhyanam mahabharatasyanusasanaparvani 71 adhyaye samagre naciketasyopakhyanam puratanetihasarupenollikhitam vartate | naciketasya pita rsiruddalakirdiksopante samapte niyame svatanayam naciketam naditirat idhman darbhan sumanasah kalasancati- bhojanamanetumadidesa | balakastatra gatva nadivegasamaplutam tat sarvamanavapya pratinivrtya 'na pasyami 'ti pitaramuvaca | ksutpipasasramavistatvat mahatapa api rsih 'yamam pasye 'ti putramasapat | akande kimetadapatitamiti piturvaga- vajranabhihato naciketo'kasmadeva gatasattvo bhutva bhutale nipapata | pita tu svakrtyasyanaucityamakalayan putrasya mrtasariramavalokya bhrsam santapataptastadahah- sesam nisam ca nitantam duhkhenaiva uduvaha | pituh asrupatena sikto naciketah svajivanam punah prapyocchvasitapranah san pituh samaksamatisthat | uddalakistu vismitavilocanabhyam putram pasyan ascaryarnave nimagno yamapurigatam vartama- prcchat | naciketastu svapitaram tam vrttantamasesato nivedayamasa - ativa prakasamanam vaivasvatim sabham pravisto'ham vaivasvatena yamenarghyadibhirnitaram krtarhanah pramode | yamo mamanubravit tvatpita 'yamam pasye 'tyaha | ataeva tvam na mrtah | mama darsanam tu samjatameva | kamanyamupakaram karomiti sagraham prsto'ham punyakrtam samrddhan lokan drastukamo'smiti svabhiprayam prakatayam | vaivasvatasyanu- kampaya'ham vicitran adbhutan candramandalasubhran lokanapasyam | tatra ksirasravah sarpihsravasca sarito manohara vilokya vilaksana jijnasa samabhunme manasi | maya proktam-
402 puranam - PURANA ksirasyaitah sarpisascaiva nadyah sasvat srotah kasya bhojyah pradistah | yamasyottaram - ye datarah sadhavo yamo'bravid viddhi bhojyastvameta gorasanam | anye lokah sasvatah vitasokaih samakirna gopradane | ratanam || [Vol. VI., No. 2 ( ma. bha., anu = 71|26 ) tatra yamena godanasya prakrstam mahatmyam varnitam | godanasyavasare patrasya kalasya govisesasya ca jagarti ka'pi mahima | sobhane kale sobhanena vidhina sobhanapatraya samarpita sobhana gaureva daturanantan divyan lokan kalpayati | hina jirna ca gaurdiyamana daturnarakayaiva sampadyate | dattva dhenum suvratam kamsyadoham kalyanavatsamapalayinim yavanti romani bhavanti tasya- ca | stavad varsanyasnute svargalokam ||33|| padyamidam danesu godanasya sadhikam vaisistyamudgirati | gobhih sakamadhikam ratim manavah sarvadaiva kuryurityupadesaparam slokamimam parisilayantu vipascitah - gavo lokamstarayanti ksarantyo gavascannam sanjanayanti loke | yastam janan na gavam hardameti sa vai ganta nirayam papacetah ||52|| ( ma. bha, anu0 71 ) ittham samagre'smin adhyaye godanasya visistam gauravamadistavan vaivasvato yamah |
July, 1964] nasiketopakhyanam naciketopakhyanam ca vivecanam 403 samksepato'tra nirdistaya mahabharatiyanaciketakhyayikayah samksiptam vivecana- matra prastuyate | 71 adhyayat purvameva godanasya varnanam prasangayatamavalokyate | anusasanaparvanah 69 adhyaye godanasya mahatmyam samanyato nirdistam | 70 adhyaye ca pracine kale godanena labdhavarnasya dasamaskandhe catuhsastitame'dhyaye srimadabhagavate visesenollikhitasya ca kasyacana nrgamahipateh godanajanya kirti- rasamanyena varnita | tadanantaram prasangapraptasya godanamahatmyasya da prabalyam ca pratipadayitum 71 adhyayasyarambhah samajani | tatra 'atrapyudaharantimamiti- hasam puratanam ' iti pratijnaya naciketasyopakhyanam bahunyavasyakanyapi vrtta- jatani vihaya samksepata evatra samarabdham | yatra samksiptopanyase vrtte'neka- kathamsanamasamanjasyam durikaroti sacetasamalocakanam manamsiti nivedyam vartate | asamanjasyasyettham prakaro vilasati-- | (ka) naciketasyalpiyasa'paradhena kruddhasya rseruddalakeresa ghorah sapo- 'nucita ivabhati | idhmadinam naditiradanayanamiti pituradesah | nadi- vegena tesam vastunam samaplavanat tadanavaptau tesamananayanamiti putrasyaparadhah | nastyatra paryaptam rosasya karanam yena mahatapah ko'pi rsiretavat krudhyet yamantikam gantu ca putram sapet | ityanaucityam jagarti asmin kathabhage | (kha) kathopanisadi upajrmbhitaisa katha yatra godanasyavasare nirindriyanam gavam danamavalokya duyamanena naciketena mahatapasah svapituranaucityam spastabhirvaga- bhirativa dharyenaiva samajrmbhi | ataeva upanisatpratipadyayam akhyayi- kayam godanartham niyamaucityapratipadakena balakena svatmapi mahati duhkhaughe praksiptah | ittham naciketaso hrdi goh samutkrstah prema dhruvamavalokyate | svarge gopradayinamuttama gatih divyanam lokanam ca praptih samanjasyam bhajate kathopanisadi pratipaditayameva naciketakathayam | parantu mahabharate nettham kascit uttara- vrttodbalakah kathabhagah samketyate purvabhage | ata eva purvottarakathamsayoh samanjasyam naiva kathancit ghatata iti samalocakanam drstya trutih laksyata eva | mahabharatakarah
404 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 kathopanisadi pratipaditan kathamsan nunam janati | gavam krte naciketasya pranadanavrttena so'vasyameva paricitim dhatte | tatkathamsasya atrabhavat ubhayo- ramsayorasamanjasyamudvegakaramiti vidamkurvantu gunaikapaksapatino vipascitah | 3 . pauranikam naciketopakhyanam varahapurane naciketasyopakhyanam 193 adhyayadarabhya 212 adhyayam yavat varnitam samupajrmbhate | tatra 'puravrtta kathaise 'ti nirdesah puranakarasya mate upakhyanasyasyativa pracinatamabhivyanakti | sphutaksarairvarnito yatha -- srnu rajan puravrttam katham paramasobhanam | | upakhyanasya mahimapi dharmavrddhikarim nitya yasasyam kirtivardhinim || 10 || pavanim sarvapapanam pravrttau subhakarinim | itihasapurananam katham vai vidusam priyam || 11 || -- varahapuranam, a0 193 | , 212 adhyayasyavasane kathasamaptavapi kathaya etasya gauravametaih sabdairudghosayati puranakarahh- idam tu paramakhyanam bhagavadbhaktikarakam || 20 || srnuyacchravayed vapi sarvakamanavapnuyat || 21 || varahapuranam, a0 212 | asminnupakhyane kathaya vrttanattam tvativa samksepena varnitam samupalabhyate | kathayah svarupam tu idrg vartate - sarvavedangatattvavit uddalaka iti namna khyatah ko'pi paramadharmikah rsirasit | tasya mahateja yogamasthaya buddhiman naciketa iti khyatah sarvavedangatattvavetta putro babhuva | rustena pitra putrah sapto'bhut - gaccha sighram | yamam pasyeti | yogavidherjnata putrah pitaramuvaca - bhavadvakyam mrsa ma bhavatu itihetoraham dharmarajasya puram sighrameva gamisyami | yamasya darsanam vidhaya punaratra -
July, 1964] nasiketopakhyanam naciketopakhyanam ca 405 nihsamsayamagamisyamiti | krodhat sapam pradaya rsiruddalako'tiva pascattapo- dvignacetah putram naciketam yamapurigamanat bhrsam nivarayamasa | parantu naciketo bhavinah putranasannitantam ksubdham svajanakam satyat praskhalantam niriksya satyasya sarvatisayinam mahimanamutkirtya tam satye sthapayitu m bhrsam yete | yamo 'tisthat | pitaram svatrate drdham vidhaya naciketastu paramam sthanam gatah yatra raja durasado sa tu balakam yathavidhi arcitva drstvaiva visarjitavan- arcitastu yathanyayam drstdvaiva tu visarjitah | ( tatraiva a0 194, slokah 1 ) | naciketah 1: paravrtya svapitaram nijagamanena bhrsamullasayan svoyamasramam pratyajagama | putrasya punarnaciradarsanena sviyam prakrstam bhagadheyam stuvan uddalako- 'nyan sarvan paralokasambandhini vartah srotukaman rsin munimsca tatrajuhava | yamaloka visayaka aneke kautuhalotpadakah prasnastaistatrasrame samavetairagrahena prstah ( 194 adhyaye ) | ita arambha 212 adhyayam yavat saptadasabhi- radhyayairnaciketo tesam vardhisyamanam nijnasam yathatatham tatprasnanam samucitottara- pradanena prasamam ninaya | paralokagatanam visayanam jijnasanivrttavime 'dhyayah paramopakarina ityalocakaih tadvisayasamiksakaih sadhu alodaniya anusandhe- yasca | tatra 195 adhyaye yamalokasthapapinam 196 adhyaye dharmarajapurasya vistrtam rocakam ca varnanam samupalabhyate yatra 'puspodaka ' nama vaivasvati sarit pravahati, yasyastire nitantamabhramlihayah prasadah darsakanam netrani akarsayanti | 198 adhyaye yamena krtam naciketasya prasabhamabhyarthanamupavarnyate | kusasamcchanne divyapuppopasobhite kancane varasane yamasyajnaya naciketah samupa- 1. satyamahimnah pratipadaka ime sloka ativa rucira udbodhakasceti katipaye'tra nirdisyante- udadhirlanghayennaiva maryadam satyapalitah | mantrah prayuktah satyena sarvalokahitayate || satyena yajna vartante mantraputah supujitah | satyena veda gayanti satye lokah pratisthitah || satyam gati tatha sama sarvam satye pratisthitam | satyam svagamsca dharmamsca satyadanyanna vidyate || satyena sarvam labhate yatha tata maya srutama| na hi satyamatikramya vidyate kinciduttamam || varahapurane, pra0 163, 38-41 sloka | 19
406 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 vivesa maharaudram bhayanakam ca yamasya vaktram tadanim saumyataram babhuva | balakena krtaya prasastaya stutya bhrsam prasanno yamascitraguptasamipe tam presya vividhanam narakayatananam saksatkaraya samucitamavasaram pradadau | yavadrdrstanam yatananamanyesam ca vrttanam vistirnam varnanam krtva paralokavrttajijnasunam muninam jijnasam prapurya svapitustesam bhavitatmanam yatinam ca kalyanabhajanam babhuva naciketa iti pauraniki kathayah samksepah | varahapurane vivecanam nirdistasya samksepato'tra varnitasya naciketopakhyanasya vivecanena kecanadhah pradatta visaya alocakanam drstipatham hathat arohanti- (ka) varahapurane kathaisa 'puravrtte 'ti pratipadita | anena mahabharata- prakkalikim kathamabhidyotayan asya vaidikakale samutpatti pradarsayatityanumatum sakyate vaidikakalasyaiva mahabharatiyakalat pragbhavitvat | puranakale kathaya vrttajatam vismrtaprayamivabhavadityapi unnetum sakyate | (kha) rseruddalakasya rosakaranasyakirtanat kathaya naisargikatvam vyahanyate | kenapi rosasya karanena bhavitavyameveti tatkirtanam tatsucanam va''vasyakatvena- patitamasiditi tasya nirakaranam kathayam kimapyanaucityam pratimah | bhavinam putraviyogamanurudhya rseruddalakasya pascattapah samudvegah, satyat pracyutipramadasca nitantam samudvejayati pathakanam manamsi | rserhrdi yat khalu da visvasyate lokaih, satyam prati yascagrahah samunniyate vicaksanaih tayorabhavam saksatkrtya kasya sacetaso manasam naiva duyate ; kasyantahkaranam naiva khidyate | (ga) yamalokagatanam vrttanam punyakarminamuttamagatinam papakarinam ca narakayatananam vistrtam varnanameva puranakarasyabhistatvenapatitam | tatraiva tasya tatparyam | tadabhiprayasya samyagbodhaya jananam cetasi visayasyasya dadhapradarsa- naya ca pracina naciketakatha samupadista'smin purane | saksatkrtya svaloca- nabhyam drstva ca varnitesu visayesu yavan visvaso jananam prasarati na tavan
July, 1964] nasiketopakhyanam naciketopakhyanam ca karnakarnaparamparaya va srutipathamanitesu vastusu | 407 naciketasya katha tu visaye'smin nitantamaucityam bhajate | pituh krodhena sapto naciketah yamasya- nugrahena paraloke jayamananam sarvasam narakiyanam yatananam, svargam canubhuyamananam nikhilanam subhagatinam ca saksat drasta babhuveti vaidikim katham sagraham sabhiprayam ca puranakaro'tra purane nibabandha | tasya tatparyasiddhirapi bhrsam jateti pratimah | " drstesu vastusu srutebhyo vastubhyo'dhikam visvaso jagatim jananam hrdayesu " iti krtvaiva katha naciketiya purane samupanyasta, yato naciketah sarvanyeva paralokagatani vrttajatani svayam drstvaiva varnayati, na tu kenacidu- padistastatha karoti | kathayah pracinatvam pramanikatvam visayopakaritvam ca dhruvam samunmeyamityatra nasti kascit sandehalesah | naciketopakhyanesu nanagrantha- sthesu sarvatraiva munibalakasyabhidhanam naciketa naciketo va vartate | parantu nasiketopakhyane nasiketeti namaparivartanasyabhiprayamitthamunnayamah | naciketeti samjnayastatparyamavimrsanneva kascit nasikamitah "iti vigrhya anvarthakata- mavahantim nasiketeti sakarantargarbhitam samjnam vidadhe | tadanurupam ca kathamimam nibabandha yatha ca rsibalako nasikato jata ityadi | ajnatanama lekhakah svopakhyanasya kathopanisadiyam svarupam nahi janati, purane tu nirdistam katham vetyeveti kathayitum sughatam | kathamayam balako nasikatah samutpannah katham ca pitra visrsto yamalokam jagama tata agatya sarvam nijanubhavam munibhyah kathaya- masetivisaye adyadvayam lekhakena kalpitamantimam ca prakhyatamiti vimarsakanam sphutam bhavisyati | naciketasyopakhyanasya vimarsah ? vedetihasapuranesu nirdistasya naciketopakhyanasya tulanatmako vimarsah samksiptairaksaraih sampratam prastuyate-- (ka) brahmanopanisadorrsibalakasyabhidhanam sakarantapadena nirdisyate "naciketah " iti | itihasapuranayostu akarantasabdenaiva nirdesah " naciketah " iti | piturabhidhanam brahmanopanisadoh "vajisravasa "? eva prathama-
408 puranam - PURANA mavalokyate | anantaram kathopanisadi (1|1|11 ) mantre ' [Vol. VI., No. 2 'auddalakirarunih tatra samkarabhasya- matprasrstah ' ityatra arunih auddalakiriti vyavahiyate | nusarena "uddalaka eva auddalakih " iti vyakhyanat tatpituh 'uddalaka ' ityapi samjna suparicita pratiyate | vajisravaseti samjnam vihaya puranetihasayoh sarvatra "uddalakah " "uddalakih " 2" vetyabhidhanam samupalabhyamanametasya eva samjnaya lokapriyatamabhivyanakti | 6 (kha) vaidikamevedamupakhyanamiti kathayitum sakyate | kasyamapi mantra- samhitayamanirdistametadupakhyanam prathamatah taittiriya brahmane evopalabhyate | ittham taittiriya brahmanamevaitasya mulamityunnetum dhruvam paryate parantu krsnayajurvedasya kathasakhyadhyetanameva yajnayagagosthisu esakhyayika mulatah pracalita prasrta va'pyasidityapi anumatum sakyam | anumanasyopodbalakamittham pramanam samullasati | taittiriya brahmanasya sarvesu maulikesu prapathakesu "svarga " sabdasyoccaranameva na vidhiyate 'suvarga ' iti, pratyuta tadanupurvikam lekhanamapi sarvatra samupalabhyate yatha - apadatinrtvinah samavahantya subrahmanyaya | suvargasya lokasya samastyai | vacam yatvopavasati subargasya lokasya guptyai | taitti0 bra0 328 |1 ekadasaprapathakadarabhya taittiriya brahmanasyantam yavat esa bahusah pracalita ritiranyathabhavam bhajate | tatra svargasabdaanupurvya uccaranenapi svargarupenaiva saksat kriyate, na tu suvargetirupena, yatha- 1. yatha purastad bhavita pratita auddalakirarunirmamtprasrstah | sukham ratrih sayita vitamanyustvam dadrsivan mrtyumukhat pramuktam || 2. atrapyudaharantimamitihasam puratanam | rseruddalakervakyam naciketasya cobhayam | rsiruddalakirdiksamupagamya tatah sutam | -katha0 1|1|11 tvam mamupacarasveti naciketamabhasatah | 3 | anu0 pa0, 71 sradhyaye |
July, 1964] nasiketopakhyanam naciketopakhyanam ca 409 yo ha va agnernaciketasya sariram veda, sasarira eva svargam lokameti | hiranyam va agnernaciketasya sariram | ya evam veda | ya evam veda | sasarira eva svargam lokameti | taittiriya bra0 11 prapathakasya 7 sranuvake | imau prapathakau anyasakhavalambinau itastato bhramantau kathamapyatrasrayam praptaviti kalpana nativiruddheti pratimah | mulata imau prapathako kathabrahmanasyai- vamsavityanumanamapi kartum klistam | ekadasaprapathake samupalabdhametadakhyanam kathasakhiyamiti katha na kuto'pi virodhamrcchati | ittham kathopanisadyeva sarvangarupena samdrbdhaisa''khyayika kathasakhadhyetrnameva yajnike sampradaye pracinakale samutpanna evavantaresu granthesu tatparyabhedena grhita svikrta veti vaktum paryate | ( ga ) - tatparya parivrttistu preksakaidhruvamunneya | yajnikasampradayena sambaddha- tvat tatraivotpattilabhacca etadupakhyanam mulata evam karmakandavisayakamityatra na kincit bahu vaktavyam vartate'smakam | kathopanisadvarnanam naciketagnervaisistyam kimapyabhivyanakti | tasya cayanavidhaveva anyasmadagneh istakanam svarupabhedat, samkhyabhedena cayanaprakarabhedacca parthakyapratitirvartata iti natitirohitam karma- kandajnanam vidusam | "lokadimagni tamuvaca tasmai, ya istaka yavatirva yatha va " iti tatra kathopanisadiyam vacanam pramanam | brahmanagranthe naciketopakhyanasya karmakandavisayaka evoddesah | naciketagnerupasevanaya svargapraptih punarmrtyuha- nisceti tatparyadvayam sphutamevoddustam brahmanagranthe | kathopanisadi tu saisa kathadhyatma- vidyakhyapane prasrta, upanisadi brahmavidyaya evopadesat | upanisadi naci- ketaso godanartham tivrakastasvikaro, yamaloke yamat brahmavidyasiksanam, pratinivrtya tasmat lokat punarapi piturdarsanamiti yat bahulakena varnitam, tatretihasa- puranayoh adyantaveva bhagau pradhanyenamgikrtau | godanamahimnah stutiparatve- naisa katha itihasarupe mahabharate anusasanike parvani 71 adhyaye ) samdrbdha | papacarinah paraloke nana tivra narakiya yatana anubhavanti, punyakarmanastu divyalokapraptim divyamganasamagamamaksayya sukha samuccayam canubhuya nitaram pramodante 'svarge loke ' iti lokan samagryena siksayitum naciketanubhavam yamaloko'yam
410 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 pramanatvenopasthatukamani purananiti punyasya sukhodarkaya papasya duhkhodarkaya ca naciketasyopakhyanam saratvena sadhupavarnayanti | ittham tatparyabhedat granthanam, paristhitibhedacca kalasya kathabhiprayo niscayena bhidyate | mulatah karmakanda- paraisa naciketakhyayika upanisadi vidyastutyartha, mahabharate godanaprasamsartha, puranesu ca karmaphalastutyartheti kalabhedenoddesyanirupane dhruvam bhidyata iti vidam- kurvamtu vipascitah | naciketacaritryam mulatastejasvi brahmavarcasopetam nitantamudattam puranetihasayonunam ksina prabhatamupetamudvejayati vidusam manamsiti suspastameva | vaidikametadupakhyanam lokanugrahavanchaya kenapi vidusa naciketopakhyanarupena katham kena cabhiprayena parivrttimapaditamiti prageva niveditam | mulavrttajatasya- parijnanam kathayam kasyancana katham vikrtimapadayatityakhyanasyaitasyanusilanam nunam paricayayalamiti viramyate pallavanat | brahmanakaladarabhya adyayavat kalavasad parivrttim bhajamanasiyam katha lokanam kalyanaya nunam sampadyata iti upakhyanasyai- tasya vikasakramadhyetrnam vidusam natiparoksamiti dik |