- Invocation
saha nau avatu. saha nau bhunaktu. saha vīryaṁ kāravāvahai. tejasvinau adhītam astu. mā vidviṣāvahai॥
May He protect both of us together. May He nourish both of us together. May we work together with great energy. May our study be enlightening. May we not hate one another.
oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ॥
Om. Peace, peace, peace.
Bhā.: Obeisance to that Supreme Lord Vāmana who is beyond all, who dwells in the hearts of all beings.
- 1.1.01-03
uśan ha vai vājaśravasaḥ sarvavedasaṁ dadau. tasya ha naciketā nāma putra āsa. taṁ ha kumāraṁ santaṁ dakṣiṇāsu nīyamānāsu śraddhā'viveśa ॥1॥
Desiring (reward), indeed, Vājashravasa gave away all his possessions. He had a son named Nachiketas. As the boy saw the gifts being carried away, 'śraddhā', i.e. honest-interest arose in him.
pītodakā jagdhatṛṇā dugdhadohā nirindriyāḥ. anandā nāma te lokāḥ tān sa gacchati tā dadat ॥2॥
Those who give cows whose water has been drunk, grass eaten, milk drawn, and who are feeble—go to the joyless realms known by that name.
sa hovāca pitaraṁ tāta kasmai māṁ dāsyasīti. dvitīyaṁ tṛtīyam. taṁ hovāca mṛtyave tvā dadānīti ॥3॥
He said to his father, “O father, to whom will you give me?” A second time, and a third time he asked. To him, he said, “To Death I give you.”
Bhā.: Ancient testimonials from Brahmasāra and Gatisāra are quoted to set the context.
- 1.1.04-06
bahūnām emi prathamaḥ bahūnām emi madhyamaḥ. kiṁ svid yamasya kartavyaṁ yan mayā adya kariṣyati ॥4॥
I am the first among many; I am the middle among many. What indeed is the duty of Yama that I shall perform today?
anupaśya yathā pūrve pratipaśya tathā pare. sasyam iva martyaḥ pacyate sasyam iva jāyate punaḥ ॥5॥
Observe how the former ones passed and likewise see the latter. Like grain, the mortal ripens and is cooked; like grain, he is born again.
vaiśvānaraḥ praviśati atithiḥ brāhmaṇo gṛhān. tasya etāṁ śāntiṁ kurvanti hara vaivasvatodakam ॥6॥
The Brāhmaṇa, the fiery one, enters as a guest — into homes. To him they offer this peace — bring water for Vaivasvata, the son of the radiant one.
Bhā.: Honored by Yama's wife, he accepted not the offerings.
- 1.1.07-08
āśā-pratīkṣe saṅgataṁ sūnṛtāṁ ca iṣṭā-pūrte putra-paśūṁś ca sarvān. etad vṛṅkte puruṣasya alpamedhaso yasya anaśnan vasati brāhmaṇo gṛhe ॥7॥
Hope, expectation, companionship, pleasant speech, sacrificial and charitable acts, sons and cattle — all these deprive a man of little understanding, in whose house a Brāhmaṇa dwells unfed.
tisro rātrīr yad avātsīr gṛhe me anaśnan brahman atithiḥ namasyaḥ. namaḥ te astu brahman svasti me astu tasmāt prati trīn varān vṛṇīṣva ॥8॥
You, O Brāhmaṇa, the revered guest, have stayed in my house unfed for three nights. O Brāhmaṇa, let there be salutations to you and well-being for me. Therefore, ask three boons in return.
Bhā.: Up on arrival, Yama honoured him and granted three boons.
- 1.1.09-10
śānta-saṅkalpaḥ sumanā yathā syāt vīta-manyur gautamaḥ mā abhi mṛtyo. tvat-prasṛṣṭaṁ mā abhi vadet pratīta etat trayāṇāṁ prathamaṁ varaṁ vṛṇe ॥9॥
May Gautama, of peaceful resolve and cheerful mind, free from anger, be not harsh toward me, O Death, nor reproach me as having been sent by you. Assured of this, I choose this as the first of the three boons.
yathā purastāt bhavitā pratītaḥ auddālakir āruṇir mat-prasṛṣṭaḥ. sukhaṁ rātrīḥ śayitā vīta-manyuḥ tvām dadṛśivān mṛtyu-mukhāt pramuktam ॥10॥
As it shall be, assuredly, that Uddālaka Āruṇi will peacefully sleep through the nights, free from anger, having sent forth by me, found and seen you released from the jaws of death.
Bhā.: Ancient testimonial declared the three boons given by lord Yama as: (1) Peace of mind for his father, (2) the radiant knower of the Nāchiketa fire, and (3) that One Viṣṇu, who is established in liberation.
- 1.1.11-12
svarge loke na bhayaṁ kiñcanāsti na tatra tvaṁ na jarayā bibheti. ubhe tīrtvā aśanāyāpipāse śokātigo modate svargaloke ॥11॥
In the heavenly world, there is no fear of any kind; there, you are not afflicted by old age. Having crossed both hunger and thirst, one who has transcended sorrow rejoices in the heavenly world.
sa tvam agniṁ svargyam adhyeṣi mṛtyo prabrūhi taṁ śraddadhānāya mahyam. svargalokā amṛtatvaṁ bhajante etad dvitīyena vṛṇe vareṇa ॥12॥
O Death, you know that heavenly fire; tell it to me, who is faithful. The heavenly worlds attain immortality through it. This I choose as my second boon.
Bhā.: Lord Hari, being foremost among all, is associated with the Naciketa fire.
- 1.1.13
pra te bravīmi tadu me nibodha svargyam agniṁ naciketaḥ prajānan. anantalokāptim atho pratiṣṭhāṁ viddhi tvam etaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyām ॥13॥
To you I declare—do learn this from me, O Naciketas, the heavenly fire, understanding which one attains infinite worlds and the firm foundation. Know this, placed within the secret cave (of the heart).
Bhā.: It is lord Vishnu, the foundation of all worlds, who dwells in all hearts.
- 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.
Bhā.: 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.
- 1.1.19
yeyaṁ prete vicikitsā manuṣye astītyeke nāyam astīti ca eke. etad vidyām anuśiṣṭaḥ tvayāhaṁ varāṇām eṣa vṛtaḥ tṛtīyaḥ ॥19॥
This is the doubt that arises in a person after death: some say IT exists, others say IT does not. I seek to be instructed by you in this knowledge. This is the third boon I have chosen.
Bhā.: The question asked is - "The wise say the Lord exists as the controller in both the dead and the liberated person. The ignorant say he does not. I wish to know correctly the nature of that regulator."
- 1.1.20
devair atrāpi vicikitsitaṁ purā na hi sujñeyo 'ṇur eṣa dharmaḥ. anyaṁ varaṁ naciketo vṛṇīṣva mā moparotsīr ati mā sṛjaivam ॥20॥
This subtle dharma was once doubted even by the gods; it is not easily understood. Choose another boon, O Naciketas. Do not press me further — do not compel me thus.
Bhā.: Dharma is revered as Bhagavān because it sustains all.
- 1.1.21
devair atrāpi vicikitsitaṁ kila tvaṁ ca mṛtyo yan na sujñeyam āttha. vaktā cāsya tvādṛg anyo na labhyo nānyo varas tulya etasya kaścit ॥21॥
This was indeed doubted even by the gods, O Death, and you have said it is not easily understood. No one like you can speak of it, and no other boon is equal to this one.
- 1.1.22
śatāyuṣaḥ putrapautrān vṛṇīṣva bahūn paśūn hastihiraṇyamaśvān. bhūmeḥ mahad āyatanaṁ vṛṇīṣva svayaṁ ca jīva śarado yāvad icchasi ॥22॥
Choose sons and grandsons who live a hundred years, many cattle, elephants, gold, and horses. Choose a great domain of the earth and live yourself as many years as you desire.
- 1.1.23
etat tulyaṁ yadi manyase varaṁ vṛṇīṣva vittaṁ cirajīvikāṁ ca. mahābhūmau naciketas tvaṁ medhi kāmānāṁ tvā kāmabhājaṁ karomi ॥23॥
If you consider any boon equal to this, choose wealth and a long life. O Naciketas, be established over a great domain; I make you the enjoyer of all desires.
- 1.1.24
ye ye kāmā durlabhā martyaloke sarvān kāmāṁś chandataḥ prārthayasva. imā rāmāḥ sarathāḥ satūryā na hīdṛśā lambhanīyā manuṣyaiḥ॥ ābhir matprattābhiḥ paricārayasva naciketo maraṇaṁ mā'nuprākṣīḥ ॥24॥
Whatever rare desires exist in the mortal world, ask for all of them freely. Here are celestial maidens with chariots and music; such are not to be gained by mortals. Enjoy their service, given by me, O Naciketas, but do not inquire about death.
Bhā.: Do not inquire about the revered one who abides in death.
- 1.1.25
śvo'bhāvā martyasya yad antaka etat sarvendriyāṇāṁ jarayanti tejaḥ. api sarvaṁ jīvitam alpam eva tavaiva vāhās tava nṛttagītam ॥25॥
O Death, What is destined to perish tomorrow, this, weakens the brilliance of all the senses of mortals. Even the Life, and all its brilliance, is indeed small. Your chariots, your dance, and even music — keep them for yourself.
- 1.1.26
na vittena tarpaṇīyo manuṣyo lapsyāmahe vittam adrākṣma cet tvām. jīviṣyāmo yāvad īśiṣyasi tvaṁ varas tu me varaṇīyaḥ sa eva ॥26॥
A man is not to be satisfied by wealth. We may obtain unseen wealth, we may live as long as you grant. But the boon for me to choose is that alone.
- 1.1.27
ajīryatām amṛtānām upetya jīryan martyaḥ kva adhasthaḥ prajānan. abhidhyāyan varṇa-rati-pramodān atidīrghe jīvite ko rameta ॥27॥
Having approached the undecaying immortals, how could a decaying mortal, knowing (this), being inferior, delight in pleasures of form, gratification, and joy? Who would rejoice in a very long life?
- 1.1.28
yasminn idaṁ vicikitsanti mṛtyo sāmparāye mahati brūhi nas tat. yo'yaṁ varo gūḍham anupraviṣṭaḥ nānyaṁ tasmāt naciketā vṛṇīte ॥28॥
O Death, regarding that great mystery about which people doubt — tell us that. This boon, which is deeply hidden, Naciketas chooses none other than that.
Bhā.: 'mahati sāmparāye' - means concerning the great hereafter, which is nothing but liberation.
