Changes

While the story of Nachiketa as given in Kathopanishad is discussed and widely discoursed, this episode is also described much earlier in the Rig veda, which are the oldest available texts, where the name Nachiketa is not mentioned, but the rest of the events are described to be congruent with the version given in Kathopanishad.  

While the story of Nachiketa as given in Kathopanishad is discussed and widely discoursed, this episode is also described much earlier in the Rig veda, which are the oldest available texts, where the name Nachiketa is not mentioned, but the rest of the events are described to be congruent with the version given in Kathopanishad.  

=== ऋग्वेदस्थ मन्त्राणि ॥ Rig Veda ===

=== ऋग्वेदस्थ मन्त्राणि ॥ Rig Veda ===

In Rig veda 10th Mandala 135th Sukta, mantras<ref name=":1">[http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-10-sukta-135/ http://ignca.nic.in/Vedic_portal_rigveda_shakala_Samhita_m10.htm]</ref> (1 to 7) mention a story about a rishikumaara (unnamed),very similar to that of Nachiketa <ref name=":2">Pt. Jayadevji Sharma, (2008) Rigveda Samhita, Part 7 Ajmer: Arya Sahitya Mandal Ltd (Page 609 of PDF)</ref>.   

In Rig veda 10th Mandala 135th Sukta, mantras<ref name=":1">[http://vedicheritage.gov.in/samhitas/rigveda/shakala-samhita/rigveda-shakala-samhita-mandal-10-sukta-135/ http://ignca.nic.in/Vedic_portal_rigveda_shakala_Samhita_m10.htm]</ref> (1 to 7) mention a story about a rishikumaara (unnamed),very similar to that of Nachiketa <ref name=":2">Pt. Jayadevji Sharma, (2008) ''Rigveda Samhita'', Part 7 Ajmer: Arya Sahitya Mandal Ltd (Page 609 of PDF)</ref>.   

Once a rishi cursed his son to "visit Yama" and advised him the way to return back after visiting him. Even though kumara was at first anguished by his father's words, kumara comforted himself as his father's order to "tread in the path of his ancestors" to "stay with his ancestors", so he ascends to the abode of Yama<ref name=":023222">Kodandaramacharyulu. K. (2011) Kathopanishat - Samajikaamsamulu (Pages 78 to 92) from Upanishat Sudha Lahari, Hyderabad: Sahiti Samskritika Samstha</ref>. In the conversation with Yama it is revealed that the world is the कर्मक्षेत्र ॥ karmakshetra (the ground for enacting the karma) and all living beings take birth, blame themselves and yet again be born based on their past actions. Paramatma is eternal and bears witness to all actions.  

Once a rishi cursed his son to "visit Yama" and advised him the way to return back after visiting him. Even though kumara was at first anguished by his father's words, kumara comforted himself as his father's order to "tread in the path of his ancestors" to "stay with his ancestors", so he ascends to the abode of Yama<ref name=":023222">Kodandaramacharyulu. K. (2011) Kathopanishat - Samajikaamsamulu (Pages 78 to 92) from Upanishat Sudha Lahari, Hyderabad: Sahiti Samskritika Samstha</ref>. In the conversation with Yama it is revealed that the world is the कर्मक्षेत्र ॥ karmakshetra (the ground for enacting the karma) and all living beings take birth, blame themselves and yet again be born based on their past actions. Paramatma is eternal and bears witness to all actions.