Story of Yama and Nachiketa

Through the  Upanishads, an attempt has been made to understand the mysteries related to life in simple way by using  stories.  From today's article we will try to know one more fact......

There was an ascetic named Vajashrava throughout his time. He performed Sarvamedha Yagya i.e. whatever he had, he donated everything. His son's name was Nachiketa. Although Nachiketa was young in age, but being thoughtful, seeing the things given by his father as dakshina, he began to think, "My father has donated cows, who are old and unable to give milk, as dakshina for the sacrifice. The scriptures say that a person who gives such a useless charity can never be happy." Thinking all this, he became a little sad and said to his father - "O father! you donated these old cows, now tell me to whom will you donate me?" Naturally, there was anger in Nachiketa's speech. Knowing the anger of his son, the father did not answer anything, but when the son asked the same question for the second time and for the third time, the father said in anger: - "I will give you to death." When Nachiketa got the father's order, he Immediately  started walking to the lord of Death, Acharya Yama & started thinking on the way: - "Among my companions I am first in some things and middle in other things but not inferior, so what is the work that Acharya Yama will get me to be done." But see the coincidence!  the Acharya was not at home at that time, so the Brahmin son had to wait for 3 days at Yama's door, now on the fourth day when Acharya Yama came to his house, a well-wisher pointed to the sins caused by disobeying the guest religion. He said as a warning to him: - "Acharya! Someone has come to your house in the form of a brilliant scholar guest. You  must welcome this visitor by giving him water." Scriptures say that the person in whose house the guest stays hungry and thirsty, his auspicious condition has been destroyed. Therefore the Acharya says: - O learned guest!  Namaste! & Thank you, please accept my regard . You have been hungry and thirsty  for three days and nights at my door, so accept three boons as atonement for that. After listening to the Acharya, Nachiketa said: - Grant me the first boon that my father's anger towards me goes away and when I return home again, he should accept me as before. Acharya blessed Nachiketa and said that your father Vajshrava, the son of Arun, who was born in the dynasty of Maharishi Uddalaka, will accept you as he was in the past.

Nachiketa said while talking the role of accepting the second boon, the heaven world ,we hear about (that is, a world full of happiness) neither lives in fear nor  it is affected by the fear of old age and death, the scriptures say that such heaven is proved by the actions of Agnihotri etc. If a person desirous of heaven hemust perform Agnihotra, so give me the second boon  that I may know the knowledge of fire which leads the seeker to heaven. The Acharya described that fire science in detail, how bricks should be used in the Yagya altar and told him all the fire laws. Impressed by the humility and decency of this humble boy, I give you one more boon in the context of this second one. The fire which I have rendered before you will be known in future by your name as Nachiketagni. Acharya also described the greatness of this Nachiketagni - the one who holds and practices this fire science, by making rituals a means, transcends birth and death and attains peace by knowing the supreme Brahman over it. The one who comes down with the speed of mourning while teasing the mortals reaches the heavenly world. In this way, giving the second boon and the other boon related to it, the Acharya asked Nachiketa to ask for the third one.

Now Nachiketa came to his main topic, he said ,"There are two views among the people about 'what remains after the death of a person'; some people have the belief that the soul remains even after death, while others say the soul is separated from the body. Doubts about it's existence, this is a doubtful position, please explain as third boon what is the condition of the soul after death? This question is so deep that scholars have always said things of uncertainty in this regard and this subject is also subtle. That is why, O Nachiketa! It would be better that don't insist on this question, you should ask for some other boon.

 When Nachiketa saw this attitude of Acharya Yama towards his proposal, he started saying: - "When scholars have also expressed their differences on this question, in this situation you must solve this question 

 Aacharya Yama thought to test Nachiketa & began to tempt him. He wanted to know  if he was not a true Mumukshu, then he would fall into the web of worldly opulences &  give up the curiosity of Brahma Vidya or self-knowledge If there was genuine curiosity then it would not talk about material resources at all and must stick to his curiosity. Therefore he said: - In exchange for this boon, you get a healthy life for a century, son and grandson, ask for elephants horses, heavenly land or a big mandalik kingdom, if you yourself wish to live as a centenary, then I will also give you the boon of being a centurion. In place of your groom, you should ask for money and livelihood, even being a resident of this earth, all your wishes will be fulfilled . But don't ask questions related to the soul. But Nachiketa has no attachment to material things, so he says: - I request that you should solve this question whether the soul remains after death or not, this question is present in my mind . This question needs a solution and nothing more." Kindly explain about the soul to the  bless me in the form of third boon . 

To be continued...