Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.129

12.129.1

नामृतस्येव पर्याप्तिर्ममास्ति ब्रुवति त्वयि ।
यथाहि स्वात्मवृत्तिस्थस्तथा तृप्तोऽस्मि भारत ॥ १२.१२९.१ ॥

While you speak, I have no satisfaction like that of nectar; yet, O Bhārata, I am satisfied, just as one who abides in his own nature is content.

तस्मात्कथय भूयोऽपि त्वं ममेह पितामह ।
न हि तृप्तिमहं यामि पिबन्धर्मामृतं हि ते ॥ १२.१२९.२ ॥

Therefore, O grandsire, tell me again here; for I do not attain satisfaction, though I drink your nectar of dharma.

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
गौतमस्य च संवादं यमस्य च महात्मनः ॥ १२.१२९.३ ॥

Here too they recite this ancient history: the dialogue of Gautama and the great-souled Yama.

पारियात्रं गिरिं प्राप्य गौतमस्याश्रमो महान् ।
वसते गौतमो यत्र तपसा दग्धकिल्विषः ॥ १२.१२९.४ ॥

Having reached Mount Pāriyātra, there is the great hermitage of Gautama, where Gautama dwells, whose sins were burned away by austerity.

पृष्टिं वर्षसहस्राणि सोऽतप्यद्गौतमस्तपः ।
तमुग्रतपसा युक्तं भावितं सुमहामुनिम् ॥ १२.१२९.५ ॥

…for thousands of years Gautama performed austerity; that great sage, endowed with fierce austerity and purified.

उपयातो नरव्याघ्र लोकपालो यमस्तदा ।
तमपश्यत्सुतपसमृषिं वै गौतमं तदा ॥ १२.१२९.६ ॥

O tiger among men, then the world-guardian Yama came there, and then he saw the sage Gautama, of great austerity.

स तं विदित्वा ब्रह्मर्षियेममागतमोजसा ।
प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतो भूत्वा उपसृप्तस्तपोधनः ॥ १२.१२९.७ ॥

Recognizing that brahmin sage, who had come here by his own power, the ascetic-rich one joined his palms, bowed low, and drew near.

तं धर्मराजो दृष्ट्वैव नमस्कृत्य द्विजोत्तमम् ।
न्यमन्त्रयत धर्मेण क्रियतां किमिति ब्रुवन् ॥ १२.१२९.८ ॥

Seeing him, the king of dharma at once paid homage to that best of twice-born, and, according to dharma, addressed him, saying, "What is to be done?"

मातापितृभ्यामानृण्यं किं कृत्वा समवाप्नुयात् ।
कथं च लोकानाप्नोति पुरुषो दुर्लभाञ्शुभान् ॥ १२.१२९.९ ॥

What must a man do to be fully free from his debt to mother and father, and how does a man attain the rare and auspicious worlds?

तपः शौचवता नित्यं सत्यधर्मरतेन च ।
मातापित्रोरहरहः पूजनं कार्यमञ्जसा ॥ १२.१२९.१० ॥

One who has austerity and purity, who is always devoted to truth and dharma, must honour mother and father day by day, duly and properly.

अश्वमेधैश्च यष्टव्यं बहुभिः स्वाप्तदक्षिणैः ।
तेन लोकानवाप्नोति पुरुषोऽद्भुतदर्शनान् ॥ १२.१२९.११ ॥

Many horse sacrifices, with abundant and fitting fees, should also be performed; by that a man attains worlds of wondrous sight.