Page:The Religion of the Veda.djvu/208

 192 The Religion of the Veda

There is the record of one who plaintiver ejacu ulates: “ What gentleman, desirous of more poss— essions will get us out of this wretched misery? Who desireth to sacriﬁce, and who is willing to give presents? Who desireth long life from the gods?”1

Even this mean and selﬁsh construction of Faith, on one famous occasion at least turns forth a better side. A zealous young Brahman, Nacilretas by name, observes that baksheesh is by way of being freely given. In fact his father Vajagravasa has performed a desperately pious sacriﬁce, the “All-hiaproperta sacriﬁce "Mu-luscious morsel for the Brahmans. He has given away in sacriﬁce and attendant fees all that he possesses. Then Faith enters into the boy Naciketas. He wishes, so to say, “ to get into the bandwagon. ” He startles his father by asking: “ To whom wilt thou giveme?” The father replies: “To death ”—-—-—-we can imagine the formula that would come from the lips of a modern fond father, if his son were to ask him a question so very awkward. Naciketas takes him literally and goes down to Yama, the God of Death. He manages, however, to get the better of Yama, not only enjoying his hospitality, but also extracting from him certain

I Atharva-Veda 7. 103. 1. Cf; Ludwig, Der Rig-s Veda, vol. ii, p. 2831?”; the author, American 5702;me of sz'lolagy, vol. xvii, 113. 408 j”.