Death's Secret
1
N ICH-KETAS , young and living,
Sent to regions of the dead,
Questioned thus the mighty Yama, —
Death's deep secret he would read. —
" There is doubt, O sable monarch,
When an earthly mortal dies,
Is that death his final ending,
Doth he live again in skies? "
2
Answered him the sable monarch, —
Yama, ruler of the dead, —
" Mortals often ask that question,
Gods my secret may not read.
Not revealed to Gods or mortals
Is the mystery of death,
Ask for other boon and blessing,
Ask of creatures drawing breath.
3
" Ask for sons and happy grandsons,
Who shall live a hundred years,
Gold and garments, cars and horses,
Life exempt from ills and fears.
Lord of broad and fertile acres,
Rich in fruitage, corn and wine,
Many autumns, as thou willest,
Life of happiness be thine!
4
" Higher hopes and aspirations
If thy noble heart doth frame,
Seek for prowess and for glory,
And a hero's deathless fame.
Be a king of spacious kingdoms,
Be a lord upon the earth,
Happy in thy life's fruition
Be the foremost in thy worth!
5
" Or if softer pleasures tempt thee,
Sweeter joys of earth be thine,
Lute and lyre and heavenly music,
Damsels fair and sparkling wine.
Be attended by these maidens, —
Such as these men do not see, —
Ask for every boon and favour,
Leave my secret unto me! "
6
" These are, " Nachi-ketas answered,
" Pleasures that will pass away,
What will please us in the present
Fade to-morrow and decay.
Keep thy dance and heavenly music,
Maidens young and fresh as May,
Teach me thy great secret only,
Secret of the after-day! "
7
" To the pious, " Yama answered,
" Is all mystery revealed,
To the man of contemplation
Life and Death their secret yield
And he sees the Soul Immortal
Darkly hid from mortal eyes,
Mutely feels the throbbing presence
Of the Lord of earth and skies!
8
And the man who knows this secret
Earthly cravings can control,
Passes from his earthly prison,
Mingles with the Mighty Soul.
Nachi-ketas, this my secret, —
BRAHMA is the Mighty Breath,
BRAHMA'S house is ever open,
Life existeth after death! "
N ICH-KETAS , young and living,
Sent to regions of the dead,
Questioned thus the mighty Yama, —
Death's deep secret he would read. —
" There is doubt, O sable monarch,
When an earthly mortal dies,
Is that death his final ending,
Doth he live again in skies? "
2
Answered him the sable monarch, —
Yama, ruler of the dead, —
" Mortals often ask that question,
Gods my secret may not read.
Not revealed to Gods or mortals
Is the mystery of death,
Ask for other boon and blessing,
Ask of creatures drawing breath.
3
" Ask for sons and happy grandsons,
Who shall live a hundred years,
Gold and garments, cars and horses,
Life exempt from ills and fears.
Lord of broad and fertile acres,
Rich in fruitage, corn and wine,
Many autumns, as thou willest,
Life of happiness be thine!
4
" Higher hopes and aspirations
If thy noble heart doth frame,
Seek for prowess and for glory,
And a hero's deathless fame.
Be a king of spacious kingdoms,
Be a lord upon the earth,
Happy in thy life's fruition
Be the foremost in thy worth!
5
" Or if softer pleasures tempt thee,
Sweeter joys of earth be thine,
Lute and lyre and heavenly music,
Damsels fair and sparkling wine.
Be attended by these maidens, —
Such as these men do not see, —
Ask for every boon and favour,
Leave my secret unto me! "
6
" These are, " Nachi-ketas answered,
" Pleasures that will pass away,
What will please us in the present
Fade to-morrow and decay.
Keep thy dance and heavenly music,
Maidens young and fresh as May,
Teach me thy great secret only,
Secret of the after-day! "
7
" To the pious, " Yama answered,
" Is all mystery revealed,
To the man of contemplation
Life and Death their secret yield
And he sees the Soul Immortal
Darkly hid from mortal eyes,
Mutely feels the throbbing presence
Of the Lord of earth and skies!
8
And the man who knows this secret
Earthly cravings can control,
Passes from his earthly prison,
Mingles with the Mighty Soul.
Nachi-ketas, this my secret, —
BRAHMA is the Mighty Breath,
BRAHMA'S house is ever open,
Life existeth after death! "
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