History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.150.4

v7.c95.150.4

tells the story that gods became immortal by means of the proper performance of Agnicayana as Prajāpati advised them viz by laying down 360 enclosing stones, 360 Yajuṣmatī bricks and 36 more thereon, 10800 Lokampṛṇā bricks. In X. 4. 4. 9 it is said 'he who is to become immortal through knowledge (vidyā)²⁴⁹³ and through sacred works (*karman*) shall become immortal after separating from the body', and then X. 4. 4. 10 asserts that 'those who know this or those who do this holy work come to life again after dying and coming to life they secure immortal life; but those who do not know this or do not perform this sacred work come to life again when they die and they become the food of him (Death) time after time.' In the Tai. Br. III. 11. 8 the story of Naciketas is narrated just as in the Kathopanisad (some of the verses are the same in both). Death grants Naciketas three boons in the Tai. Br., the third being different in the Kathopanisad. The third boon asked by Naciketas in Tai. Br. is 'Declare to me how to cast off *punarmṛtyu*.' Death declared to him the Nāciketa fire, thereby he (Naciketas) cast off or kept off *punarmṛtyu*.²⁴⁹⁴ The words 'apa punarmṛtyum jayati' occur in Kausītaki Br. 25. 1 and several times in the Br. Up. I. 2. 7., I. 5. 2, III. 2., 10, III. 3. 2.