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युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
नामृतस्येव पर्याप्तिर्ममास्ति ब्रुवति त्वयि। तस्मात्कथय भूयस्त्वं धर्ममेव पितामह ॥१२-१२७-१॥
When you speak, I feel as if I have attained the sufficiency of immortality. Therefore, O grandsire, please tell me more about dharma.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। गौतमस्य च संवादं यमस्य च महात्मनः ॥१२-१२७-२॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story: the conversation between Gautama and the great-souled Yama.
पारियात्रगिरिं प्राप्य गौतमस्याश्रमो महान्। उवास गौतमो यत्र कालं तदपि मे शृणु ॥१२-१२७-३॥
Listen also from me about the great hermitage of Gautama at the Pāriyātra mountain, where Gautama dwelt for a time.
षष्टिं वर्षसहस्राणि सोऽतप्यद्गौतमस्तपः। तमुग्रतपसं युक्तं तपसा भावितं मुनिम् ॥१२-१२७-४॥
Gautama performed penance for sixty thousand years. He, the sage, was endowed with severe penance and purified by his austerities.
उपयातो नरव्याघ्र लोकपालो यमस्तदा। तमपश्यत्सुतपसमृषिं वै गौतमं मुनिम् ॥१२-१२७-५॥
Then Yama, the guardian of the world and tiger among men, approached and saw Gautama, the great ascetic and sage.
स तं विदित्वा ब्रह्मर्षिर्यममागतमोजसा। प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतो भूत्वा उपसृप्तस्तपोधनः ॥१२-१२७-६॥
The Brahmarṣi, realizing that Yama had arrived with great energy, became self-controlled, folded his hands, and the ascetic approached.
तं धर्मराजो दृष्ट्वैव नमस्कृत्य नरर्षभम्। न्यमन्त्रयत धर्मेण क्रियतां किमिति ब्रुवन् ॥१२-१२७-७॥
Dharmarāja, upon seeing him, bowed to the bull among men and, with righteousness, addressed him, saying: "What should be done?"
गौतम उवाच॥
Gautama said.
मातापितृभ्यामानृण्यं किं कृत्वा समवाप्नुयात्। कथं च लोकानश्नाति पुरुषो दुर्लभाञ्शुभान् ॥१२-१२७-८॥
What must one do to be free from debt to one's mother and father? And how does a person attain and enjoy those auspicious worlds that are difficult to obtain?
यम उवाच॥
Yama said.
तपःशौचवता नित्यं सत्यधर्मरतेन च। मातापित्रोरहरहः पूजनं कार्यमञ्जसा ॥१२-१२७-९॥
One who is always endowed with austerity, purity, and is devoted to truth and righteousness, should properly worship mother and father every day.
अश्वमेधैश्च यष्टव्यं बहुभिः स्वाप्तदक्षिणैः। तेन लोकानुपाश्नाति पुरुषोऽद्भुतदर्शनान् ॥१२-१२७-१०॥
By performing horse-sacrifices with many acquired gifts, a person attains worlds of wondrous visions.
