12.127
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
nāmṛtasyeva paryāptirmamāsti bruvati tvayi। tasmātkathaya bhūyastvaṃ dharmameva pitāmaha ॥12-127-1॥
When you speak, I feel as if I have attained the sufficiency of immortality. Therefore, O grandsire, please tell me more about dharma.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। gautamasya ca saṃvādaṃ yamasya ca mahātmanaḥ ॥12-127-2॥
Here too, they recount this ancient story: the conversation between Gautama and the great-souled Yama.
pāriyātragiriṃ prāpya gautamasyāśramo mahān। uvāsa gautamo yatra kālaṃ tadapi me śṛṇu ॥12-127-3॥
Listen also from me about the great hermitage of Gautama at the Pāriyātra mountain, where Gautama dwelt for a time.
ṣaṣṭiṃ varṣasahasrāṇi so'tapyad gautamas tapaḥ। tam ugratapasaṃ yuktaṃ tapasā bhāvitaṃ munim ॥12-127-4॥
Gautama performed penance for sixty thousand years. He, the sage, was endowed with severe penance and purified by his austerities.
upayāto naravyāghra lokapālo yamastadā। tamapaśyatsutapasamṛṣiṃ vai gautamaṃ munim ॥12-127-5॥
Then Yama, the guardian of the world and tiger among men, approached and saw Gautama, the great ascetic and sage.
sa taṃ viditvā brahmarṣiryamamāgatamojasā। prāñjaliḥ prayato bhūtvā upasṛptastapodhanaḥ ॥12-127-6॥
The Brahmarṣi, realizing that Yama had arrived with great energy, became self-controlled, folded his hands, and the ascetic approached.
taṃ dharmarājo dṛṣṭvaiva namaskṛtya nararṣabham। nyamantraya ta dharmeṇa kriyatāṃ kimiti bruvan ॥12-127-7॥
Dharmarāja, upon seeing him, bowed to the bull among men and, with righteousness, addressed him, saying: "What should be done?"
gautama uvāca॥
Gautama said.
mātāpitṛbhyām ānṛṇyaṃ kiṃ kṛtvā samavāpnuyāt। kathaṃ ca lokān aśnāti puruṣo durlabhāñ śubhān ॥12-127-8॥
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?
yama uvāca॥
Yama said.
tapaḥśaucavatā nityaṃ satyadharmaratena ca। mātāpitroraharahaḥ pūjanaṃ kāryamañjasā ॥12-127-9॥
One who is always endowed with austerity, purity, and is devoted to truth and righteousness, should properly worship mother and father every day.
aśvamedhaiś ca yaṣṭavyaṃ bahubhiḥ svāptadakṣiṇaiḥ। tena lokān upāśnāti puruṣo 'dbhutadarśanān ॥12-127-10॥
By performing horse-sacrifices with many acquired gifts, a person attains worlds of wondrous visions.
