Yudhistira said - I am a great sinner. To get a kingdom, I had to strike a great person like you, down. I have had to kill my relatives to get a kingdom. Drona was our Guru and we had to kill him too. I have acted against the scriptures. I have killed my brother Karna. I have sinned and I want to leave everything and go away somewhere.
Bhima said - Listen to me carefully off what I tell you. There is one God who is responsible for Death and Life. He sees all actions. A thief could feel safe that no one is seeing him, but he is being spotted in heaven. The body is perishable. You are clinging to it as if it something precious. Narayana is the only truth.
Yudhistira said with folded hands - What is death? Who devised this?
Bhishma said this is wonderful. When Brahma created the world, there was no death. The earth was tormented. She appealed to Brahma. Brahma hearing her pleas created a being called Swayambhu. Swayambhu had a son called Ruchi. Ruchi had seven sons who ruled over seven lands. One son called Bharata asked for the land called Jambudweep. Bharata was given that and Jambudweep went to the eldest son. Bharata got Plakshadweep. Angry, Bharata decided to renounce all and retire into the forests.
Bharata performed austere penances. Brahma appeared before him and asked him what he wanted. Bharata kept quiet. This angered Brahma and an asura was born from that. The asura started tormenting the people of Jambudweep. The earth went to Brahma and asked to relieved from the torture. Brahma then went to Ganga. On the way, he started sweating and from that was born a ferocious being. This was Death. Death said I will end all on this earth. To that, Brahma said - Go to Jambudweep. Decide first before taking someone with you. Live there as illness and thus kill people.
Hearing this, Yama built a wonderful castle. The sages who die go the northern gate of Yama's castle. The western and eastern parts of the castle are very beautiful with streams and fruit trees. The warriors who fall in battle go the western part. The women who die with their husbands go to the eastern part. The southern part is horrible. The sinners go there. There are ferocious animals which devour the dead. The workers of Yama torture the dead sinners. Killers of cows and women go there. Liars and cheats go there. They are fried in hot oil.
Bhima said - Listen to me carefully off what I tell you. There is one God who is responsible for Death and Life. He sees all actions. A thief could feel safe that no one is seeing him, but he is being spotted in heaven. The body is perishable. You are clinging to it as if it something precious. Narayana is the only truth.
Yudhistira said with folded hands - What is death? Who devised this?
Bhishma said this is wonderful. When Brahma created the world, there was no death. The earth was tormented. She appealed to Brahma. Brahma hearing her pleas created a being called Swayambhu. Swayambhu had a son called Ruchi. Ruchi had seven sons who ruled over seven lands. One son called Bharata asked for the land called Jambudweep. Bharata was given that and Jambudweep went to the eldest son. Bharata got Plakshadweep. Angry, Bharata decided to renounce all and retire into the forests.
Bharata performed austere penances. Brahma appeared before him and asked him what he wanted. Bharata kept quiet. This angered Brahma and an asura was born from that. The asura started tormenting the people of Jambudweep. The earth went to Brahma and asked to relieved from the torture. Brahma then went to Ganga. On the way, he started sweating and from that was born a ferocious being. This was Death. Death said I will end all on this earth. To that, Brahma said - Go to Jambudweep. Decide first before taking someone with you. Live there as illness and thus kill people.
Hearing this, Yama built a wonderful castle. The sages who die go the northern gate of Yama's castle. The western and eastern parts of the castle are very beautiful with streams and fruit trees. The warriors who fall in battle go the western part. The women who die with their husbands go to the eastern part. The southern part is horrible. The sinners go there. There are ferocious animals which devour the dead. The workers of Yama torture the dead sinners. Killers of cows and women go there. Liars and cheats go there. They are fried in hot oil.
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