1.1.14-18
lokādim agniṁ tam uvāca tasmai yā iṣṭakā yāvatīr vā yathā vā. sa cāpi tat pratyavadad yathoktaṁ athāsya mṛtyuḥ punar āha tuṣṭaḥ ॥14॥
He explained to him the primeval fire of the worlds—what kind of bricks, how many, and how they are to be arranged. And he (Naciketas) too replied exactly as instructed. Then Death, being pleased, again spoke to him.
tam abravīt prīyamāṇo mahātmā varaṁ tava iha adya dadāni bhūyaḥ। tava eva nāmnā bhavitā ayam agniḥ śṛṅkāṁ ca imām anekarūpāṁ gṛhāṇa ॥15॥
The great soul, being pleased, said to him: “Here today I grant you another boon. This fire shall be known by your name alone. Take this jewellery chain of intricate forms.”
tri-nāciketaḥ tribhiḥ etya sandhiṁ tri-karma-kṛt tarati janma-mṛtyū। brahma-jajñaṁ devam īḍyaṁ viditvā nicāyyemāṁ śāntim atyantam eti ॥16॥
He who performs the threefold Nāciketa fire, having touched by threefold means, and the threefold actions, having approached and known the praiseworthy God who knows Brahman, crosses over birth and death, and, having rightly established this, attains supreme peace.
trināciketaḥ trayam etad viditvā ya evaṁ vidvān cinute nāciketam। sa mṛtyupāśān purataḥ praṇudya śokātigo modate svargaloke ॥17॥
He who, knowing this threefold Naciketa fire, wisely chooses it — he casts off the nooses of death, transcends sorrow, and rejoices in the heavenly world.
eṣa te'gnir nāciketaḥ svargyo'yam avṛṇīthāḥ dvitīyena vareṇa. etam agniṁ tavaiva pravakṣyanti janāsaḥ tṛtīyaṁ varaṁ naciketo vṛṇīṣva ॥18॥
This is the fire (ritual), O Naciketas, that leads to heaven, which you have chosen as your second boon. This fire shall be declared by people as yours indeed. Now choose the third boon, O Naciketas.
Bhāṣya 1.1.14-18
He who properly understands Viṣṇu as the deity of the bricks, numbering 360, indeed becomes free. Threefold means are the path unopposed to the Vedas, and understanding the principles concerning the Lord as taught in the Vedas. The threefold actions are sacrifice, charity, and austerity.
sa eva sarvalokādiḥ taṁ jñātvā mucyate dhruvam॥
He alone is the origin of all worlds; having known him, one is certainly liberated."
iti ca॥
- stated thus as well.
"yā iṣṭakā yā iṣṭakādevatāḥ. iṣṭakādevatāṁ viṣṇuṁ ṣaṣṭhyuttaraśatatrikam. yathāvadeva vijñāya mucyate karmabandhanāt॥"
"He who properly understands the bricks and their deities—Viṣṇu as the deity of the bricks, numbering 360—indeed becomes free from the bondage of karma."
iti ca॥
- stated thus as well.
tribhiḥ etya sandhim vedaiḥ aviruddhaḥ vedokta-prakāreṇa bhagavat-tattvādikam jānan nityārthaḥ। tri-karma-kṛt yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-kartā॥
The phrase 'tribhiḥ etya sandhim', i.e. having touched by threefold means, - conveys the path unopposed to the Vedas, and understanding the principles concerning the Lord as taught in the Vedas. A performer of the threefold action is one who engages in sacrifice, charity, and austerity.
"yajña-dāna-tapaḥ karma na tyājyaṁ kāryam eva tat।"
"The acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity must not be abandoned; they are indeed to be performed."
iti vacanāt।
- states the ancient proverb.
trayam etat "yā iṣṭakā" ityādi।
This is the triad, as referred to in "yā iṣṭakā" (1.14-16) and similar passages.
"brahmeti veda uddiṣṭaḥ tasmāt vyakto yato hariḥ। brahmajas tena kathitaḥ sa eva jño'khilajñataḥ॥"
"The word "Brahma" means Veda. So declared as Him as Lord Hari is conveyed by it. As that lord is all knowing he is known by the syllable 'jñaḥ'. Hence He is known as 'brahmajaḥ'."
iti nāmaniruktau।
- stated thus in the ancient testimonial named 'nāma-niruktau', i.e. the etymology of names.
anekarūpāṁ suvarṇamayīm।
The phrase 'anekarūpām', i.e. of many forms, also means of the form of gold.
"bahurūpaṁ ca puraṭaṁ kārtasvaram itīryate॥"
"It is said - that which is many-formed and covering is called gold."
iti vacanāt।
- stated thus in the ancient proverb.
"yamo'anuvādasantuṣṭo vahneḥ tannāmatām api। śṛṅkāṁ suvarṇamayīṁ caiva kaṇṭhamālāṁ adād vibhuḥ॥"
"Yama, pleased with the recital of Agni's name, gave a golden necklace and a throat-garland to him."
iti pādme।
- stated thus in the Padma Purāṇa.
lokādiḥ pratiṣṭhā brahmajajño anantalokāptiḥ ityādi viśeṣaṇaiś ca bhagavān eva।
He alone is the auspicious Lord, characterized by terms like "origin of worlds," "foundation," "knower of Brahman," "attainer of infinite worlds," and so on.
"stomamahadurugāyaṁ pratiṣṭhā"
"The vastly praised and of great praise, the foundation."
iti parāmarśāc ca bhagavato hy urugāyanāma prasiddham। guhānihitatvaṁ ca tasyaiva viśeṣataḥ prasiddham। na ca agniparijñānamātreṇa anantalokāptiḥ bhagavajjñānaṁ vinā।
Thus, by implication, the name "Urugāya", i.e. the vastly glorified, is known to pertain to the Lord. His hiddenness in the cave (of the heart) is especially known. The attainment of infinite worlds is not achieved by mere knowledge of Agni without knowledge of the Lord.
"tad vā etad akṣaraṁ gārgi aviditvā asmin loke juhoti yajate tapas tapyate bahūni varṣasahasrāṇi antavadevāsy tad bhavati॥"
"O Gārgī, one who, without knowing that imperishable, performs oblations, worship, and austerities for thousands of years — his result is finite indeed."
ityādiśruteḥ।
- stated thus in Vedic testimonials.
na ca mukhye sati amukhyārtho yujyate॥
When the primary meaning is relevant, the secondary meaning is not justified.
