Pathway to Heaven
Life in Rampur
In days gone by, there lived a young man named Haridas in the village of Rampur. He hardly had anyone to call his own. He worked in a shop during the day and spent his evenings attending various functions, such as dramatic performances in nearby villages or recitations of verses from the scriptures at local temples.
The Allure of Heaven
One evening, he heard a speaker addressing a gathering before a temple. The speaker described the comforts of heaven, and his words charmed Haridas. He wondered why he should not depart to heaven, a place filled with beautiful nymphs who were never tired of dancing.
A Desperate Question
Determined to find a way, Haridas approached the speaker the next day and asked, “Will you be pleased to tell me how one can go to heaven?”
“Through piety, my boy. But do not worry about it. If you do your duty properly and remain honest and truthful in life, you will automatically attain heaven after your death,” replied the speaker.
“Sir! What joy is there in this world? Is there no way to reach heaven quickly?” insisted Haridas.
“Perhaps there is. I have heard some people say that those who sacrifice themselves in the Ganga on a certain auspicious day attain heaven instantly!” said the speaker with a light-hearted laugh.
A Rash Decision
The speaker never thought Haridas would take his comment seriously, but that is exactly what he did. The said auspicious day was near, and Haridas made his way to the Ganga the day before. At dawn on the auspicious day, he jumped into the river.
However, he was puzzled to find himself not in heaven but in hell. He met Yama, the god of death, and exclaimed, “There must have been some error in judging my case. I should be sent to heaven, not hell.”
“Hell is the place for you, for you committed violence against yourself and ended your life before completing the span granted to you by Providence,” explained Yama. “However, because it is an auspicious day, we pardon you. Return to earth and lead an honest life,” added the god of death.
A New Beginning
Haridas regained consciousness and found himself splashing in the waters. He came ashore and returned home quietly.
The owner of the shop where Haridas worked was a kind man. Impressed by Haridas’s conduct, he gave his daughter in marriage to him. Soon, Haridas inherited the shop when his father-in-law decided to retire to a hermitage.
As time passed, Haridas grew prosperous. Several children were born to him, and he built a lovely house for his family while making proper arrangements for their education and welfare.
The Quest for Heaven
Despite his success, Haridas thought to himself, “I have known all the happiness life could give. Now, nothing but the happiness of heaven can please me.”
When the auspicious day came around again, Haridas drowned himself in the Ganga once more.
But, to his surprise, he found himself back in hell.
“Why did you kill yourself before completing your work in life?” asked an irate Yama.
“My lord! I have completed my work. I have done all I should have for my family and lived honestly,” insisted Haridas.
“Who are you to decide what your duty is and when it should be completed? Only Providence, who granted you life, can decide when it ends. Go back, you fool!” declared the god of death.
The Burden of Wealth
Haridas regained consciousness once more and returned to his family. Years passed. His sons and daughters came of age, and he arranged their marriages. Soon, he was blessed with a brood of grandchildren. He felt joy and pride but grew anxious about their future security.
To provide for his growing family, he expanded his business and resorted to means of wealth that were not all honest. He was determined to leave a fortune for each of his grandchildren.
The Final Judgment
While spending time with his grandchildren, Haridas suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. The next moment, he found himself being led to the realm of the dead.
“Sir, there has been an error in judgment!” he shouted upon seeing Yama. “I should have been allowed to continue living for a few more years.”
“What!” exclaimed Yama. “Is it not a fact that you lost interest in life years ago?”
“That was my foolishness. I had been happy with life lately,” explained Haridas.
But Yama only laughed, and his laughter convinced Haridas that he would have no chance to return to life.
“Heaven would have been mine only if I had lived a just life when the opportunity was there!” he lamented as he was shown the path to hell.