The story of Nachiketa: The son who waited three days at the doors of Yamaraj.
Religion is one of the most common topics of conversation among us humans who think freely. One of the greatest questions answered in mysteries is, what comes after life? What exists beyond the Vyakta and the Avyakta, what does the spirit mean? What is it that awaits us in the afterlife? Hindu philosophy answered this question very enlighteningly for the believers. It did so in the Kathopanishad, a part of the Krishna Yajurveda. There was some mystery to develop thought and consciousness.
The ‘Agyakari’ son.
Nachiketa, a young and curious boy, is the son of the sage Vajasravasa. During a ritual sacrifice, his father donates old and weak cows, which upsets Nachiketa. He questions his father about the value of such a sacrifice and asks, “To whom will you give me?” Frustrated, his father replies, “I give you to Yama (the Lord of Death).”
Nachiketa, taking his father’s words seriously, goes to the abode of Yama. Still, Yama is not there, and Nachiketa waits for three days without food or water. When Yama returns, he is impressed by patience of Nachiketa and offers him three boons to compensate for the delay.
God of Death’s boons
First Boon:
Nachiketa asks for his father’s peace of mind and forgiveness. Yama grants this, and his father welcomes him back with love.
Second Boon:
Nachiketa asks to learn the fire sacrifice (Yajna) that leads to heaven. Yama teaches him the ritual, which later becomes known as the Nachiketa Fire Sacrifice.
Third Boon:
Nachiketa asks a deep and profound question, “Some say, after death, man still exists. Some say differently. At last, what should I believe in, oh great Yamaraj? What is the truth of the afterlife?” Yama is initially reluctant to answer, as this knowledge is not meant for ordinary minds. He tries to dissuade Nachiketa by offering him worldly pleasures, wealth, and power instead. Yet, Nachiketa remains steadfast, rejecting all material temptations and insisting on knowing the truth. Nachiketa is true to himself and has put himself above worldly temptations at such an innocent age. Seeing this, Yama agrees to tell Nachiketa the secrets he so wished to know.
The truth, and the whole truth
Yama begins his long-winded answer, by telling Yama the significance of the symbol ‘Om’. He explains why it is the reason for penance, and the bringer of needs for those who pray with heart. He correlates ‘Om’ with Brahman. Yama tells Nachiketa, Brahman is the truth, it is the only truth. It is the mind, the brain, the feet, the body. Brahman is all, but Brahman may also be none. He tells Nachiketa of the Atman (soul), the eternal, the never born, but above all, the everlasting. Yama explains how both the murderer who believes he has killed and the victim who is killed are mistaken. They falsely believe their states to be true. The eternal, the soul, is never dying. If it exists, it exists to be, and if it is not, then it never was.
Yama tells the curious Nachiketa that the body is true, but not eternal. The soul is true, yet also eternal. When the body perishes, the soul finds a new one. The true thinkers, true believers, and true questioners live with dharma in every breath. They can differentiate the soul from the body. These individuals find themselves with the truth, which is Brahma.
He tells Nachiketa,
- Beyond the senses, is the mind.
- Beyond the mind, is reason.
- Beyond the reason, is the soul.
- Beyond the soul is the Purusha, manifestation of Brahma. (Who we sometimes call Lord Krishna)
- Beyond Purusha, is Brahma.
- The body is the chariot.
- The senses are horses.
- The mind is the reins.
- The intellect is the charioteer.
- The soul (Atma) is the master of the chariot.
When man realises this whole truth, and sees beyond the words that tell of it, he is liberated (Moksha Praapti). He becomes a true immortal.
“Arre kehna kya chahte ho?”
So, what does this all mean? Why does Yama tell us all this? The soul (Atman) is immortal, unchanging, and beyond birth and death. The physical body is temporary, but the soul is eternal. This teaches us to focus on the eternal self rather than the transient material world. The individual soul (Atman) and the Supreme Reality (Brahman) are one. his realization leads to liberation (Moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara).
It teaches us that our true nature is divine and infinite. Death is not the end but a transition. Understanding the eternal nature of the soul removes the fear of death and helps us live a purposeful life.
