Realisation

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Then, a body of men made it their business to carry on these

sacrifices. These were the priests, who speculated on the sacrifices,

and the sacrifices became everything to them. The gods came to enjoy

the fragrance of the sacrifices, and it was considered that

everything in this world could be got by the power of sacrifices. If

certain oblations were made, certain hymns chanted, certain peculiar

forms of altars made, the gods would grant everything. So Nachiketas

asks by what form of sacrifice a man can go to heaven. The second

boon was also readily granted by Yama who promised that this

sacrifice should henceforth be named after Nachiketas.

 

Then the third boon comes, and with that the Upanishad proper begins.

The boy said, " There is this difficulty: when a man dies some say he

is, others that he is not. Instructed by you I desire to understand

this. " But Yama was frightened. He had been very glad to grant the

other two boons. Now he said, " The gods in ancient times were puzzled

on this point. This subtle law is not easy to understand. Choose some

other boon, O Nachiketas, do not press me on this point, release me. "

 

The boy was determined, and said, " What you have said is true, O

Death, that even the gods had doubts on this point, and it is no easy

matter to understand. But I cannot obtain another exponent like you

and there is no other boon equal to this. "

 

Death said, " Ask for sons and grandsons who will live one hundred

years, many cattle, elephants, gold, and horses. Ask for empire on

this earth and live as many years as you like. Or choose any other

boon which you think equal to these--wealth and long life. Or be thou

a king, O Nachiketas, on the wide earth. I will make thee the enjoyer

of all desires. Ask for all those desires which are difficult to

obtain in the world. These heavenly maidens with chariots and music,

which are not to be obtained by man, are yours. Let them serve you, O

Nachiketas, but do not question me as to what comes after death. "

 

Nachiketas said, " These are merely things of a day, O Death, they

wear away the energy of all the sense-organs. Even the longest life

is very short. These horses and chariots, dances and songs, may

remain with Thee. Man cannot be satisfied by wealth. Can we retain

wealth when we behold Thee? We shall live only so long as Thou

desirest. Only the boon which I have asked is chosen by me. "

 

Yama was pleased with this answer and said, " Perfection is one thing

and enjoyment another; these two having different ends, engage men

differently. He who chooses perfection becomes pure. He who chooses

enjoyment misses his true end. Both perfection and enjoyment present

themselves to man; the wise man having examined both distinguishes

one from the other. He chooses perfection as being superior to

enjoyment, but the foolish man chooses enjoyment for the pleasure of

his body. O Nachiketas, having thought upon the things which are only

apparently desirable, thou hast wisely abandoned them. " Death then

proceeded to teach Nachiketas.

 

- Swami Vivekananda

 

.... to be continued