kaṭhopaniṣad - adhyāya 1, vallī 1

Om. Desiring heavenly rewards, Vajasravasa performed a sacrifice and gave away all his possessions. He had a son named Nachiketa.

As the sacrificial gifts were being led away, faith entered the heart of the boy Nachiketa, and he began to reflect.

He thought: "These cows have drunk their last water, eaten their last grass, given their last milk, and are barren. Verily, the worlds attained by giving such gifts are joyless."

He asked his father, "Father, to whom will you give me?" He asked this a second and a third time. Exasperated, his father replied, "I give you to Death (Yama)."

Nachiketa reflected: "Among many, I go as the first; among many, I go as the middle one. What purpose of Yama does my father intend to fulfill by sending me to him today?"

"Look back at how those who came before lived, and look forward to how those who come after will live. Like corn, a mortal ripens and falls; like corn, he is born again."

(Yama says:) "As a fire, a Brahmana guest enters a house; the wise offer him peace and water. O Son of Vivasvan (Yama), bring the water."

"Hope, expectation, the fruit of association, holy discourse, sacrifices, good deeds, sons, and cattle—all these are snatched away from the foolish man in whose house a Brahmana guest remains unfed."

(Yama says:) "O Brahmana, because you, a venerable guest, have remained in my house unfed for three nights, I bow to you. May welfare be mine. Therefore, choose three boons in return."

Nachiketa replied: "O Death, may Gautama, my father, be appeased in his heart, his anger calmed, and may he be gracious toward me when I return. This is the first of the three boons I choose."

As he was before, Auddalaki Aruni will be peaceful towards you, having received my permission. He will sleep soundly at night, his anger having departed, once he sees you liberated from the jaws of Death.

In the heavenly world, there is no fear whatsoever. You are not there, O Death, nor does one fear old age in that realm. Having transcended both hunger and thirst, and having overcome sorrow, one rejoices in the world of heaven.

You, O Death, know that fire which leads to heaven; instruct me, for I am full of faith. Those who attain the heavenly world partake of immortality; this is the boon I choose as my second.

I do speak to you; listen to me, O Nachiketa, for I know that heavenly fire. Know that this fire is the means to attain the infinite worlds, the very foundation of the universe, and that it resides hidden in the secret chamber of the heart.

Yama then explained to him that fire, which is the origin of the worlds—which bricks were to be used, how many, and how they should be laid. Nachiketa repeated all that exactly as it was told, and thereupon, Death, being pleased, spoke again.

The high-souled Yama, being gratified, said to him, "I grant you here another boon today. This fire shall be known by your name alone. Accept also this garland of many colors."

He who has performed the Nachiketa sacrifice three times, having attained union with the three—father, mother, and teacher—and having performed the three-fold duties, overcomes birth and death. By realizing this adorable, luminous Being, who is born of Brahman, and by perceiving Him, one attains supreme peace.

He who knows this three-fold Nachiketa fire and performs the Nachiketa sacrifice with this knowledge, casts off the snares of death even while living, and having crossed over sorrow, rejoices in the heavenly world.

This, O Nachiketa, is your heavenly fire, which you chose as your second boon. People will call this fire by your name alone. Now, O Nachiketa, choose your third boon.

When a man dies, there arises this doubt: some say he exists, others say he does not. I would like to know this, instructed by you. This is the third of my boons.

Even the gods of old had doubts about this matter, for it is subtle and not easily understood. Choose another boon, O Nachiketa; do not press me, and release me from this request.

Since you say that even the gods had doubts about this, and since you, O Death, acknowledge that it is difficult to understand, surely there is no teacher of this truth to be found equal to you, and no other boon is equal to this one.

Choose instead sons and grandsons who shall live a hundred years, choose abundance of cattle, elephants, gold, and horses. Choose a vast kingdom on earth, and live yourself as many autumns as you desire.

If you consider any other boon equal to this, ask for wealth and long life. Be a ruler of a vast territory, O Nachiketa, and I shall make you an enjoyer of all desires.

Whatever desires are difficult to attain in the mortal world, ask for them according to your wish. Here are women with chariots and musical instruments, such as are not obtainable by men. Be served by these whom I give to you, O Nachiketa, but do not ask me about death.

These things, O Death, last only until tomorrow, and they wear away the vigor of all the senses in man. Even the longest life is but short. Keep your chariots, your dances, and your songs for yourself.

Man is never satisfied by wealth. Shall we possess wealth when we have seen you? We shall live only as long as you allow. That alone is the boon that I choose.

Having approached the undecaying and immortal, what mortal, decaying and living here below, would rejoice in a life of long duration while contemplating the fleeting nature of beauty and sensual pleasure?

Tell us, O Death, that which is the subject of great uncertainty, regarding what happens in the great hereafter. Nachiketa does not choose any other boon than that which penetrates into this hidden mystery.