Trials of Xibalba

THEN went One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu, guided by the messengers as they
descended along the path to Xibalba. They went down steep steps until they came out
again upon the banks of turbulent river canyons. Trembling Canyon and Murmuring
Canyon were the names of the canyons that they passed through.

They also passed through turbulent rivers. They passed through Scorpion River,
where there were innumerable scorpions. But they were not stung.

Then they arrived at Blood River. They were able to pass through it because they
did not drink from it.

Then they arrived at Pus River, which was nothing but a river of pus. Neither
were they defeated here but simply passed through it as well.

At length they arrived at a crossroads, and it was here at the four crossing roads
that they were defeated. One was Red Road and another was Black Road; White Road
was one while another was Yellow Road. Thus there were four roads.

Now this, the black road said:

“Me! Take me, for I am the lord’s road.” Thus spoke the road.

But it was there that they were defeated. They started then on the road to Xibalba.
At last they arrived at the council place of the lords of Xibalba, and there again they were
defeated.

They who were seated first in order were mere effigies of carved wood,
adorned by the Xibalbans. It was these, then, that they greeted:

“Morning, One Death,” they said to the first effigy.

“Morning, Seven Death,” they said again to the carved wood.

Thus they did not prevail. Instead, the lords of Xibalba roared with laughter.
They merely roared with laughter, all the lords, because they had completely prevailed. In
their hearts, they had defeated One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu.

And after they had laughed, One Death and Seven Death spoke:

“It is good that you have come. Tomorrow you shall put to use your yokes and
your arm protectors,” they were told.

“Sit down on our bench,” they were told.

But the bench that they were offered was nothing but a very hot stone, and they
were burned when they sat on it. Truly they spun around on top of it. Neither did they
find relief. Truly they leaped up when their seats were burned.

Thus the Xibalbans laughed again. They laughed until their insides hurt and their
chests became cramped from their laughter. All the lords of Xibalba grabbed
themselves and rolled around in their laughter.

“Now just go to the house. Someone will come to deliver your torch and your
cigars there at the sleeping place,” they were told.

Thus they arrived in the House of Darkness. There was nothing but darkness
inside that house.

Then the Xibalbans gathered their thoughts:

“Tomorrow we will merely sacrifice them. They only have to make a mistake and
straightaway they will die by means of our gaming things that we use to play ball,” said
the Xibalbans to each other.

For their ball was merely a round blade. White Dagger was the name of the ball
of Xibalba. Their ball was sharp, shattered bones pierced through the ball of Xibalba.

Thus One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu entered into the House of Darkness. At
length one came to give them their torch, which was already lit. It had been sent by One
Death and Seven Death, along with cigars for each of them which had also already been
lit.

These, then, were sent by the lords to One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu. They
were seated cross-legged there in the darkness when the courier arrived to give to them
their torch and their cigars. The torch was brightly burning when it arrived, and with it
were lit each one of the cigars:

“These are to be returned at dawn. They are not to be used up. Instead, they are to
be collected again intact. Thus say the lords to you,” they were told.

Therefore they were defeated. For they used up the torch as well as the cigars that
had been given to them.

Xibalba is crowded with trials, for there are many kinds of trials there.

The first of these is the House of Darkness, where nothing but darkness exists
within.

The second is named Shivering House, for its interior is thick with frost. A
howling wind clatters there. An icy wind whistles through its interior.

The third is named Jaguar House, where there are nothing but jaguars inside.
They bare their teeth, crowding one another, gnashing and snapping their teeth together.
They are captive jaguars within the house.

The fourth trial is named Bat House, for there are none but bats inside. In this
house they squeak. They shriek as they fly about in the house, for they are captive bats
and cannot come out.

The fifth, then, is named Blade House, for there are only blades inside—row
upon row of alternating blades that would clash and clatter there in the house.

Thus there are many trials in Xibalba. One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu did not
enter into them. These are merely the names of each of the houses of trial.

Thus One Hunahpu and Seven Hunahpu came out and appeared before One Death
and Seven Death:

“Where are my cigars and my torch that were given to you last night?” they were
asked.

“We finished them off, O lord.”

“Very well then, now your day is at an end. You are to die.”

Thus they were lost. They were broken as well.

“Here your faces shall be hidden, for you are to be sacrificed,” said One Death
and Seven Death.

Then they were sacrificed and buried. It was at the place named Crushing
Ballcourt that they were buried. The head of One Hunahpu was cut off, while the rest of
his body was buried with his younger brother.


- Popol Vuh