29 verses · 1 of 6
Vajashravasa gives away all he owns in a sacrifice, but the cows are old and barren. His young son Nachiketa, troubled, asks three times to whom he himself will be given. In anger the father says: to Death. Nachiketa goes to Yama's house and waits three nights unfed. Yama returns and offers three boons. The first: that his father be calm and welcome him back. The second: the fire that leads to svarga, which Yama teaches and names the Nachiketa fire. The third: when a man dies, some say he is, some say he is not; teach me this. Yama tests him with long life, sons, wealth, kingdoms and celestial women. Nachiketa refuses them all and holds to his question.
ॐ सह नाववतु ।
oṃ saha nāvavatu |
सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
सहवीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु ।
मा विद्विषावहै ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
saha nau bhunaktu |
sahavīryaṃ karavāvahai |
tejasvi nāvadhītamastu |
mā vidviṣāvahai ||
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||
ॐ उशन् ह वै वाजश्रवसः सर्ववेदसं ददौ ।
तस्य ह नचिकेता नाम पुत्र आस ॥
oṃ uśan ha vai vājaśravasaḥ sarvavedasaṃ dadau |
tasya ha naciketā nāma putra āsa ||
Om. Vajashravasa, eager for the fruit of his yajna, gave away all that he owned. He had a son named Nachiketa.
तँ ह कुमारँ सन्तं दक्षिणासु
नीयमानासु श्रद्धाविवेश सोऽमन्यत
tam̐ ha kumāram̐ santaṃ dakṣiṇāsu
nīyamānāsu śraddhāviveśa so'manyata
Though only a boy, as the gifts were being led away, shraddha, faith, entered him, and he reflected.
पीतोदका जग्धतृणा दुग्धदोहा निरिन्द्रियाः ।
अनन्दा नाम ते लोकास्तान् स गच्छति ता ददत्
pītodakā jagdhatṛṇā dugdhadohā nirindriyāḥ |
anandā nāma te lokāstān sa gacchati tā dadat
'These cows have drunk their last water, eaten their last grass, given their last milk, and are barren. Joyless are the worlds to which he goes who gives such gifts.'
स होवाच पितरं तत कस्मै मां दास्यसीति ।
द्वितीयं तृतीयं तँ होवाच मृत्यवे त्वा ददामीति
sa hovāca pitaraṃ tata kasmai māṃ dāsyasīti |
dvitīyaṃ tṛtīyaṃ tam̐ hovāca mṛtyave tvā dadāmīti
He said to his father, 'Father, to whom will you give me?' He asked a second time and a third. His father said to him, 'To Death I give you.'
बहूनामेमि प्रथमो बहूनामेमि मध्यमः ।
किँ स्विद्यमस्य कर्तव्यं यन्मयाऽद्य करिष्यति
bahūnāmemi prathamo bahūnāmemi madhyamaḥ |
kim̐ svidyamasya kartavyaṃ yanmayā'dya kariṣyati
Nachiketa thought: 'Among many I go as the first, among many as the middling. What work of Yama's will he accomplish through me today?'
अनुपश्य यथा पूर्वे प्रतिपश्य तथाऽपरे ।
सस्यमिव मर्त्यः पच्यते सस्यमिवाजायते पुनः
anupaśya yathā pūrve pratipaśya tathā'pare |
sasyamiva martyaḥ pacyate sasyamivājāyate punaḥ
'Look back at how our forefathers acted; look around at how others act now. A mortal ripens like corn and like corn is born again.' (So he urged his father to keep his word.)
वैश्वानरः प्रविशत्यतिथिर्ब्राह्मणो गृहान् ।
तस्यैताँ शान्तिं कुर्वन्ति हर वैवस्वतोदकम्
vaiśvānaraḥ praviśatyatithirbrāhmaṇo gṛhān |
tasyaitām̐ śāntiṃ kurvanti hara vaivasvatodakam
(Nachiketa reached Yama's house and waited three days while Yama was away. On his return Yama is told:) 'A brahmana guest enters a house like Agni himself. People pacify him with water; bring water, O son of Vivasvan.'
आशाप्रतीक्षे संगतँ सूनृतां
चेष्टापूर्ते पुत्रपशूँश्च सर्वान् ।
एतद्वृङ्क्ते पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसो
यस्यानश्नन्वसति ब्राह्मणो गृहे
āśāpratīkṣe saṃgatam̐ sūnṛtāṃ
ceṣṭāpūrte putrapaśūm̐śca sarvān |
etadvṛṅkte puruṣasyālpamedhaso
yasyānaśnanvasati brāhmaṇo gṛhe
Hope and expectation, the fruit of good company and kind speech, sacrifices and pious works, sons and cattle, all these are taken from the man of little sense in whose house a brahmana stays without food.
तिस्रो रात्रीर्यदवात्सीर्गृहे मे-
ऽनश्नन् ब्रह्मन्नतिथिर्नमस्यः ।
नमस्तेऽस्तु ब्रह्मन् स्वस्ति मेऽस्तु
तस्मात्प्रति त्रीन्वरान्वृणीष्व
tisro rātrīryadavātsīrgṛhe me-
'naśnan brahmannatithirnamasyaḥ |
namaste'stu brahman svasti me'stu
tasmātprati trīnvarānvṛṇīṣva
Yama said: 'O brahmana, honoured guest, you have stayed three nights in my house without food. Salutations to you; may it be well with me. In return, choose three boons.'
शान्तसंकल्पः सुमना यथा स्याद्
वीतमन्युर्गौतमो माऽभि मृत्यो ।
त्वत्प्रसृष्टम् माऽभिवदेत्प्रतीत
एतत् त्रयाणां प्रथमं वरं वृणे
śāntasaṃkalpaḥ sumanā yathā syād
vītamanyurgautamo mā'bhi mṛtyo |
tvatprasṛṣṭam mā'bhivadetpratīta
etat trayāṇāṃ prathamaṃ varaṃ vṛṇe
Nachiketa said: 'O Death, may Gautama, my father, be calm in mind, cheerful and free of anger towards me. When I am released by you, may he know me and greet me. This is the first of the three boons I choose.'
यथा पुरस्ताद् भविता प्रतीत
औद्दालकिरारुणिर्मत्प्रसृष्टः ।
सुखँ रात्रीः शयिता वीतमन्युः
त्वां ददृशिवान्मृत्युमुखात् प्रमुक्तम्
yathā purastād bhavitā pratīta
auddālakirāruṇirmatprasṛṣṭaḥ |
sukham̐ rātrīḥ śayitā vītamanyuḥ
tvāṃ dadṛśivānmṛtyumukhāt pramuktam
Yama said: 'Auddalaki Aruni, your father, will know you as before and, by my leave, will be free of anger. He will sleep peacefully at night, seeing you freed from the jaws of death.'
स्वर्गे लोके न भयं किंचनास्ति
न तत्र त्वं न जरया बिभेति ।
उभे तीर्त्वाऽशनायापिपासे
शोकातिगो मोदते स्वर्गलोके
svarge loke na bhayaṃ kiṃcanāsti
na tatra tvaṃ na jarayā bibheti |
ubhe tīrtvā'śanāyāpipāse
śokātigo modate svargaloke
Nachiketa said: 'In the world of heaven there is no fear at all. You are not there, and no one fears old age. Having crossed beyond both hunger and thirst, and beyond sorrow, one rejoices in heaven.'
स त्वमग्निँ स्वर्ग्यमध्येषि मृत्यो
प्रब्रूहि त्वँ श्रद्दधानाय मह्यम् ।
स्वर्गलोका अमृतत्वं भजन्त
एतद् द्वितीयेन वृणे वरेण
sa tvamagnim̐ svargyamadhyeṣi mṛtyo
prabrūhi tvam̐ śraddadhānāya mahyam |
svargalokā amṛtatvaṃ bhajanta
etad dvitīyena vṛṇe vareṇa
'You know, O Death, the fire that leads to heaven. Explain it to me, for I have faith. Those who reach heaven enjoy immortality. This I choose as my second boon.'
प्र ते ब्रवीमि तदु मे निबोध
स्वर्ग्यमग्निं नचिकेतः प्रजानन् ।
अनन्तलोकाप्तिमथो प्रतिष्ठां
विद्धि त्वमेतं निहितं गुहायाम्
pra te bravīmi tadu me nibodha
svargyamagniṃ naciketaḥ prajānan |
anantalokāptimatho pratiṣṭhāṃ
viddhi tvametaṃ nihitaṃ guhāyām
Yama said: 'I will tell you, Nachiketa; learn it from me, for I know the fire that leads to heaven. Know that this fire is the means of attaining the endless world, its support, and that it lies hidden in the cave of the heart.'
लोकादिमग्निं तमुवाच तस्मै
या इष्टका यावतीर्वा यथा वा ।
स चापि तत्प्रत्यवदद्यथोक्तं
अथास्य मृत्युः पुनरेवाह तुष्टः
lokādimagniṃ tamuvāca tasmai
yā iṣṭakā yāvatīrvā yathā vā |
sa cāpi tatpratyavadadyathoktaṃ
athāsya mṛtyuḥ punarevāha tuṣṭaḥ
Yama told him of that fire, the source of the worlds: what bricks to use, how many, and how to lay them. Nachiketa repeated it all just as it had been told. Then Death, pleased with him, spoke again.
तमब्रवीत् प्रीयमाणो महात्मा
वरं तवेहाद्य ददामि भूयः ।
तवैव नाम्ना भविताऽयमग्निः
सृङ्कां चेमामनेकरूपां गृहाण
tamabravīt prīyamāṇo mahātmā
varaṃ tavehādya dadāmi bhūyaḥ |
tavaiva nāmnā bhavitā'yamagniḥ
sṛṅkāṃ cemāmanekarūpāṃ gṛhāṇa
The great-souled one, delighted, said to him: 'I give you here and now one more boon. This fire shall be known by your name. Take also this many-coloured chain.'
त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रिभिरेत्य सन्धिं
त्रिकर्मकृत्तरति जन्ममृत्यू ।
ब्रह्मजज्ञं देवमीड्यं विदित्वा
निचाय्येमाँ शान्तिमत्यन्तमेति
triṇāciketastribhiretya sandhiṃ
trikarmakṛttarati janmamṛtyū |
brahmajajñaṃ devamīḍyaṃ viditvā
nicāyyemām̐ śāntimatyantameti
He who has kindled the Nachiketa fire three times, who is united with the three (mother, father and teacher), and who performs the three duties (yajna, study and charity), crosses beyond birth and death. Knowing the adorable Deva born of Brahman and realising Him, he attains lasting peace.
त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रयमेतद्विदित्वा
य एवं विद्वाँश्चिनुते नाचिकेतम् ।
स मृत्युपाशान् पुरतः प्रणोद्य
शोकातिगो मोदते स्वर्गलोके
triṇāciketastrayametadviditvā
ya evaṃ vidvām̐ścinute nāciketam |
sa mṛtyupāśān purataḥ praṇodya
śokātigo modate svargaloke
He who has kindled the Nachiketa fire three times, knowing these three, and builds it with this knowledge, casts off the snares of death before him, goes beyond sorrow and rejoices in heaven.
एष तेऽग्निर्नचिकेतः स्वर्ग्यो
यमवृणीथा द्वितीयेन वरेण ।
एतमग्निं तवैव प्रवक्ष्यन्ति जनासः
तृतीयं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व
eṣa te'gnirnaciketaḥ svargyo
yamavṛṇīthā dvitīyena vareṇa |
etamagniṃ tavaiva pravakṣyanti janāsaḥ
tṛtīyaṃ varaṃ naciketo vṛṇīṣva
'This, Nachiketa, is your fire that leads to heaven, which you chose as your second boon. People will call this fire by your name. Now choose the third boon, Nachiketa.'
येयं प्रेते विचिकित्सा मनुष्ये-
ऽस्तीत्येके नायमस्तीति चैके ।
एतद्विद्यामनुशिष्टस्त्वयाऽहं
वराणामेष वरस्तृतीयः
yeyaṃ prete vicikitsā manuṣye-
'stītyeke nāyamastīti caike |
etadvidyāmanuśiṣṭastvayā'haṃ
varāṇāmeṣa varastṛtīyaḥ
Nachiketa said: 'When a man has died there is this doubt. Some say he exists; others say he does not. Taught by you, I would know this. Of the boons, this is the third.'
देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं पुरा
न हि सुविज्ञेयमणुरेष धर्मः ।
अन्यं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व
मा मोपरोत्सीरति मा सृजैनम्
devairatrāpi vicikitsitaṃ purā
na hi suvijñeyamaṇureṣa dharmaḥ |
anyaṃ varaṃ naciketo vṛṇīṣva
mā moparotsīrati mā sṛjainam
Yama said: 'Even the devas of old had doubt on this point. It is not easy to understand; this truth is subtle. Choose another boon, Nachiketa. Do not press me; release me from this.'
देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं किल
त्वं च मृत्यो यन्न सुज्ञेयमात्थ ।
वक्ता चास्य त्वादृगन्यो न लभ्यो
नान्यो वरस्तुल्य एतस्य कश्चित्
devairatrāpi vicikitsitaṃ kila
tvaṃ ca mṛtyo yanna sujñeyamāttha |
vaktā cāsya tvādṛganyo na labhyo
nānyo varastulya etasya kaścit
Nachiketa said: 'Even the devas doubted here, you say, and you, O Death, say it is not easy to know. Yet no other teacher of it like you can be found, and no other boon is equal to this one.'
शतायुषः पुत्रपौत्रान्वृणीष्वा
बहून्पशून् हस्तिहिरण्यमश्वान् ।
भूमेर्महदायतनं वृणीष्व
स्वयं च जीव शरदो यावदिच्छसि
śatāyuṣaḥ putrapautrānvṛṇīṣvā
bahūnpaśūn hastihiraṇyamaśvān |
bhūmermahadāyatanaṃ vṛṇīṣva
svayaṃ ca jīva śarado yāvadicchasi
Yama said: 'Choose sons and grandsons who will live a hundred years, many cattle, elephants, gold and horses. Choose a great expanse of land, and live yourself for as many autumns as you wish.'
एतत्तुल्यं यदि मन्यसे वरं
वृणीष्व वित्तं चिरजीविकां च ।
महाभूमौ नचिकेतस्त्वमेधि
कामानां त्वा कामभाजं करोमि
etattulyaṃ yadi manyase varaṃ
vṛṇīṣva vittaṃ cirajīvikāṃ ca |
mahābhūmau naciketastvamedhi
kāmānāṃ tvā kāmabhājaṃ karomi
'If you think of any boon equal to this, choose it: wealth and long life. Be a ruler over the wide earth, Nachiketa. I will make you the enjoyer of all your desires.'
ये ये कामा दुर्लभा मर्त्यलोके
सर्वान् कामाँश्छन्दतः प्रार्थयस्व ।
इमा रामाः सरथाः सतूर्या
न हीदृशा लम्भनीया मनुष्यैः ।
आभिर्मत्प्रत्ताभिः परिचारयस्व
नचिकेतो मरणं माऽनुप्राक्षीः
ye ye kāmā durlabhā martyaloke
sarvān kāmām̐śchandataḥ prārthayasva |
imā rāmāḥ sarathāḥ satūryā
na hīdṛśā lambhanīyā manuṣyaiḥ |
ābhirmatprattābhiḥ paricārayasva
naciketo maraṇaṃ mā'nuprākṣīḥ
'Whatever desires are hard to win in the world of mortals, ask for them all as you please. Here are lovely maidens with chariots and music, such as men cannot obtain. Be served by them, my gifts. But Nachiketa, do not ask about death.'
श्वोभावा मर्त्यस्य यदन्तकैतत्
सर्वेंद्रियाणां जरयंति तेजः ।
अपि सर्वं जीवितमल्पमेव
तवैव वाहास्तव नृत्यगीते
śvobhāvā martyasya yadantakaitat
sarveṃdriyāṇāṃ jarayaṃti tejaḥ |
api sarvaṃ jīvitamalpameva
tavaiva vāhāstava nṛtyagīte
Nachiketa said: 'These things last only till tomorrow, O Ender, and they wear out the vigour of all the senses. Even the whole of life is short. Keep your chariots, keep your dance and song.'
न वित्तेन तर्पणीयो मनुष्यो
लप्स्यामहे वित्तमद्राक्ष्म चेत्त्वा ।
जीविष्यामो यावदीशिष्यसि त्वं
वरस्तु मे वरणीयः स एव
na vittena tarpaṇīyo manuṣyo
lapsyāmahe vittamadrākṣma cettvā |
jīviṣyāmo yāvadīśiṣyasi tvaṃ
varastu me varaṇīyaḥ sa eva
'A man is never satisfied with wealth. We shall have wealth anyway, now that we have seen you. We shall live as long as you rule. The boon I choose is that one alone.'
अजीर्यताममृतानामुपेत्य
जीर्यन्मर्त्यः क्वधःस्थः प्रजानन् ।
अभिध्यायन् वर्णरतिप्रमोदान्
अतिदीर्घे जीविते को रमेत
ajīryatāmamṛtānāmupetya
jīryanmartyaḥ kvadhaḥsthaḥ prajānan |
abhidhyāyan varṇaratipramodān
atidīrghe jīvite ko rameta
'What mortal, decaying here below, who has come near the undecaying immortals and come to know, would delight in a very long life, brooding on the pleasures of beauty and love?'
यस्मिन्निदं विचिकित्सन्ति मृत्यो
यत्साम्पराये महति ब्रूहि नस्तत् ।
योऽयं वरो गूढमनुप्रविष्टो
नान्यं तस्मान्नचिकेता वृणीते
yasminnidaṃ vicikitsanti mṛtyo
yatsāmparāye mahati brūhi nastat |
yo'yaṃ varo gūḍhamanupraviṣṭo
nānyaṃ tasmānnaciketā vṛṇīte
'That about which people doubt, O Death, what lies in the great passage beyond, tell us that. This boon goes into the hidden mystery; Nachiketa chooses no other.'
1. Vâgasravasa, desirous (of heavenly rewards), surrendered (at a sacrifice) all that he possessed. He had a son of the name of Nakiketas.
2. When the (promised) presents were being given (to the priests), faith entered into the heart of Nakiketas, who was still a boy, and he thought:
3. "Unblessed, surely, are the worlds to which a man goes by giving (as his promised present at a sacrifice) cows which have drunk water, eaten hay, given their milk, and are barren."
4. He (knowing that his father had promised to give up all that he possessed, and therefore his son also) said to his father: "Dear father, to whom wilt thou give me?"
He said it a second and a third time. Then the father replied (angrily):
"I shall give thee unto Death."
(The father, having once said so, though in haste, had to be true to his word and to sacrifice his son.)
5. The son said: "I go as the first, at the head of many (who have still to die); I go in the midst of many (who are now dying). What will be the work of Yama (the ruler of the departed) which to-day he has to do unto me?
6. Look back how it was with those who came before, look forward how it will be with those who come hereafter. A mortal ripens like corn, like corn he springs up again."
(Nakiketas enters into the abode of Yama Vaivasvata, and there is no one to receive him. Thereupon one of the attendants of Yama is supposed to say:)
7. "Fire enters into the houses, when a Brâhmana enters as a guest. That fire is quenched by this peace-offering; — bring water, O Vaivasvata!
8. A Brâhmana that dwells in the house of a foolish man without receiving food to eat, destroys his hopes and expectations, his possessions, his righteousness, his sacred and his good deeds, and all his sons and cattle."
(Yama, returning to his house after an absence of three nights, during which time Nakiketas had received no hospitality from him, says:)
9. "O Brâhmana, as thou, a venerable guest, hast dwelt in my house three nights without eating, therefore choose now three boons. Hail to thee! and welfare to me!"
10. Nakiketas said: "O Death, as the first of the three boons I choose that Gautama, my father, be pacified, kind, and free from anger towards me; and that he may know me and greet me, when I shall have been dismissed by thee."
11. Yama said: "Through my favour Auddâlaki Âruni, thy father, will know thee, and be again towards thee as he was before. He shall sleep peacefully through the night, and free from anger, after having seen thee freed from the mouth of death."
12. Nakiketas said: "In the heaven-world there is no fear; thou art not there, O Death, and no one is afraid on account of old age. Leaving behind both hunger and thirst, and out of the reach of sorrow, all rejoice in the world of heaven.
13. Thou knowest, O Death, the fire-sacrificef which leads us to heaven; tell it to me, for I am full of faith. Those who live in the heaven-world reach immortality,- this I ask as my second boon."
14. Yama said: "I tell it thee, learn it from me, and when thou understandest that fire-sacrifice which leads to heaven, know, O Nakiketas, that it is the attainment of the endless worlds, and their firm support, hidden in darkness."
15. Yama then told him that fire-sacrifice, the beginning of all the worlds, and what bricks are required for the altar, and how many, and how they are to be placed. And Nakiketas repeated all as it had been told to him. Then Mrityu, being pleased with him, said again:
16. The generous, being satisfied, said to him: "I give thee now another boon; that fire-sacrifice shall be named after thee, take also this many-coloured chain.
17. He who has three times performed this Nâkiketa-rite and has been united with the three (father, mother, and teacher), and has performed the three duties (study, sacrifice, almsgiving) overcomes birth and death. When he has learnt and understood this fire, which knows (or makes us know) all that is born of Brahman, which is venerable and divine, then he obtains everlasting peace.
18. He who knows the three Nâkiketa fires, and knowing the three, piles up the Nâkiketa sacrifice, he, having first, thrown off the chains of death, rejoices in the world of heaven, beyond the reach of grief.
19. This, O Nakiketa, is thy fire which leads to heaven, and which thou hast chosen as thy second boon. That fire all men will proclaim. Choose now, O Nakiketa, thy third boon."
20. Nakiketa said: "There is that doubt, when a man is dead, — some saying, he is; others, he is not. This I should like to know, taught by thee; this is the third of my boons."
21. Death said: "On this point even the gods have doubted formerly; it is not easy to understand. That subject is subtle. Choose another boon, O Nakiketas, do not press me, and let me off that boon."
22. Nakiketas said: "On this point even the gods have doubted indeed, and thou, Death, hast declared it to be not easy to understand, and another teacher like thee is not to be found: — surely no other boon is like unto this."
23. Death said: "Choose sons and grandsons who shall live a hundred years, herds of cattle, elephants, gold, and horses. Choose the wide abode of the earth, and live thyself as many harvests as thou desirest.
24. If you can think of any boon equal to that, choose wealth, and long life. Be (king), Nakiketas, on the wide earth. I make thee the enjoyer of all desires.
25. Whatever desires are difficult to attain among mortals, ask for them according to thy wish; — these fair maidens with their chariots and musical instruments, — such are indeed not to be obtained by men, — be waited on by them whom I give to thee, but do not ask me about dying."
26. Nakiketas said: "These things last till tomorrow, O Death, for they wear out this vigour of all the senses. Even the whole of life is short. Keep thou thy horses, keep dance and song for thyself.
27. No man can be made happy by wealth. Shall we possess wealth, when we see thee? Shall we live, as long as thou rulest? Only that boon (which I have chosen) is to be chosen by me.
28. What mortal, slowly decaying here below, and knowing, after having approached them, the freedom from decay enjoyed by the immortals, would delight in a long life, after he has pondered on the pleasures which arise from beauty and love?
29. No, that on which there is this doubt, O Death, tell us what there is in that great Hereafter. Nakiketas does not choose another boon but that which enters into the hidden world."
Public-domain translation by F. Max Müller (1884).
Text source: Wikisource · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikisource transcription of a public-domain text)
