Source:
The story is a conversation between Nachiketa (a teenage boy) and Yama (Lord of death) from ''KATHOPANISHAD'' (5th Century BC).
Story:
Nachiketa was the son of the sage Vājashravas. He was performing a sacrifice named Viswajet Yajna. In this Yajna, the performer had to give away all his wealth. In ancient times, Cows were designated as valuable and special possessions and hence Vajashrava, desiring a gift from the gods, decided to donate all his cows to Brahmins.
Nachiketa was in his teens, and he was observing the sacrificial ritual with innocent interest. He was surprised to notice that his father was giving away only old and disabled cows unable to give milk.
Nachiketa was very intelligent & with pure heart. He said his father that he has heard in this Yajna, one has to give up all that one possesses. This being the case to whom will you give me?” Vajashravas did not give any reply. After some time Nachiketa asked again the same question, but in vain. He did not get any response from his father. Again for the third time, Nachiketa repeated the same question.
Vajashravas could not control his temper; he burst out saying to his own son, “I will give you Yama, the God of Death.” Nachiketa followed the words of his father and went to the kingdom of Death. However, during that time Yama was not present. None dared to admit Nachiketa. So he waited near the gate for three days and three nights without taking even a drop of water. When Yama returned and found Nachiketa at his doorstep he felt sad for keeping a Brahmin waiting for three days and three nights. He ordered his attendants to fetch holy water to invite and welcome Nachiketa. After the hospitality offered to Nachiketa, Yama told Nachiketa, “Dear child, I have not done good by keeping you waiting for three days. So I request you to ask for three boons.”
Nachiketa asked Yama:
1. First boon - O Lord, let my father not be anxious about me, and let his anger against me vanish. When I go back to earth, let him recognize me and receive me back gladly.” “Granted son,” said Yama.
2. Second boon - Teach me the proper ritual for the fire sacrifice. Yama agreed and taught Nachiketa the proper ritual for the fire sacrifice.
3. The Third Boon
When Yama asked Nachiketa to ask for the third boon, the latter asked him to impart the knowledge of the Supreme Self (Atmavidya) and the mystery of death.
But before granting the boon, Yama wanted to test whether Nachiketa deserved to be the able recipient of that knowledge.
Accordingly, he first described the difficulty of acquiring the knowledge of the Supreme Self (atmavidya), as it is too subtle to be realized and even demigods (Devas) are confused about this.
Yama advised him to seek any other boon than knowledge of atman.
Yama Attempts To Tempt Nachiketa With Worldly Pleasures
But Nachiketa remained steadfast in his resolve, and so Yama tried to divert him by asking him to seek boons such as having sons and grandsons who would live a hundred years, having unlimited numbers of cattle, elephants, horses, and gems, ruling over a very big kingdom or any other boon equal to those, or full enjoyment of worldly pleasures not available to a mortal being in this world.
Nachiketa, as a true lover of knowledge, refused to accept any of these, saying that all these things are transient.
Nachiketa was bold enough saying that one can never reach the eternal through the worldly possessions. Therefore he has renounced all desires for worldly pleasures and have come here with the hope of wining the Eternal through the instructions of the God of Death.
It was too difficult for Yama to change the mind of young Nachiketa. So finally, he agreed to tell Nachiketa about the mysteries of life and death with the following words:
“The Self is immortal. It was not born, nor does it die. It did not come out of anything, neither did anything came out of it. Even if this body is destroyed, the soul is not destroyed.”
“The one who thinks that he is the slayer and the one who thinks that he is slain, both are ignorant. For the Self neither slays nor is it slain.”
“Smaller than the smallest and larger than the largest, the Self is living in all beings.”
“The knowledge about it can neither be obtained by discussion, nor by brain power, nor even by much learning. It reveals itself to the deserving one.”
“This body is the chariot, intelligence the driver, the senses are the horses, conscience the rein and the soul is the lord of the chariot. The Self is superior to body, mind and senses.
“Greater than the individual soul is the enveloping super consciousness, the seed of everything in the universe, still greater is the Ultimate Person than whom there is nothing greater. He is the goal of our aspiration. Once That (Supreme Self) is realized, death loses all its terrors, and the one who has realized becomes immortal.
“The path to realization is long and difficult, like the razor’s edge, narrow and sharp. Therefore there is no time to be lost. Awake, arise, bestir yourself, and do not stop until the goal is reached.”
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nachiketa
http://upanishads.org.in/stories/a-dialogue-with-the-god-of-death
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