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6-Dialog Between Yam and Nachiketaa

The following story is taken from Kath Upanishad. It is the dialog between Yam Raaj and a Rishi's son Nachiketaa.

PROLOG -
Uddaalak Muni had a son named Nachiketaa. Once he was donating his everything after doing a Yagya, Nachiketaa came and ask - "To whom you will give me? I am also your possession." First Muni did not pay any attention, but when Nachiketaa kept on asking, he said - "I will give you to Yam." Nachiketaa went to Yam Raaj, but Yam Raaj was not there. His wife asked him to wait for Yam Raaj. Nachiketaa waited outside Yam's palace for three days and three nights without eating and drinking and sleeping. When Yam Raaj came he was very sorry to find that his guest was not treated well enough, so he asked him to ask for three boons for waiting for three days and three nights.

The first boon Nachiketaa asked that when goes back from there, his father should be as happy as he was when he saw him for the first time he was born and forget his anger. The second boon he asked, "I have heard that there is a land in which one lives free from old age and is forever young. They also say that you know a Agni Vidyaa (fire sacrifice or Yagya) that leads to this land. Teach me that sacrifice as my second boon." In his third boon, he said --

Nachiketaa said - "That which thou seest as other than virtue and vice, other than cause and effect, other than the past and future, tell me that, O Lord Yam. This is my third boon from thee."

Yam replied - "The goal which all the Ved speak of, which all penances proclaim and wishing for, which the aspirants lead the life of a Brahmchaaree or celibate for, that goal I will briefly tell thee. It is Om. This word is verily Brahm; this word is verily the highest; he who knows this word, obtains, verily, whatever he wishes he attains - Immortality and Eternal Bliss. This Aatmaa is beginningless, endless, birthless, deathless, changeless, formless, attributeless, and colorless. He is without sound, touch, smell and taste. He is eternal, immortal, all-pervading, self-luminous, indivisible, one without a second. He is beyond, Avyakt or the un-manifested. He dwells in the intellect or the cave of the heart. He is the inner Self of all beings.
He who is free from desires, whose mind is concentrated and peaceful, whose senses are subdued, beholds this mysterious Atman through meditation and intuition in his own intellect and enjoys immortality and everlasting peace and bliss. This Aatmaa is hidden in all beings. It is realized by subtle seers through their sharp and subtle intellect, with eyes and other senses turned from sensual objects.

When all desires are destroyed, when the three knots of the heart, ie, A-Vidyaa (ignorance), Kaam (desire), Karm (work) are rent asunder, when, the five organs of knowledge are at rest together with the mind and when the intellect ceases functioning or becomes calm, you will attain immortality or Param Gati or the highest state.

Just as you draw the pith or stalk from a reed, so also, you will have to draw or take out this essence of Aatmaa from the body or the five sheaths patiently and boldly through meditation, Vichaar or enquiry and Vivek (discrimination)".

Nachiketaa got clear instructions on Brahm Vidyaa from Lord Yam through the third boon granted by Yam, practiced meditation and attained Brahm, ie, became immortal through knowledge of the Self. Any qualified student like Nachiketaa who knows the Aatmaa can surely attain immortality.
Om Saha navavatu, Saha nau bhunaktu,
Saha veeryam Karavavahai; Tejasvinaavadhitamastu, Ma vidwishavahai."
Om Shaantih! Shaantih! Shaantih!

Om! May He protect us both (teacher and pupil). May He cause us both to enjoy the bliss of Mukti. May we both exert together to find out the true meaning of the scriptures. May our studies be fruitful. May we never quarrel with each other.

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