Changes

Nachiketa (Samskrit : नचिकेता) is the son of Vaajasrava (also Auddalaka) who at a young age is known to have sought [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|brahmavidya]] from Yama (Mrityu devata) himself. Kathopanishad describes in great detail the story of brahmajnani Nachiketa, with lofty thoughts, who takes upon the consequences of the imperfection he observes in his father's Vaajasrava's performance of Visvajit yagna.  

Nachiketa (Samskrit : नचिकेता) is the son of Vaajasrava (also Auddalaka) who at a young age is known to have sought [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|brahmavidya]] from Yama (Mrityu devata) himself. Kathopanishad describes in great detail the story of brahmajnani Nachiketa, with lofty thoughts, who takes upon the consequences of the imperfection he observes in his father's Vaajasrava's performance of Visvajit yagna.  

Accordingly, upon questioning his father thus he receives the answer that he will be given to Mrityu (Death)<blockquote>'''कस्मै मां दास्यसीति ॥ to whom will you offer me to?'''</blockquote><blockquote>'''मृत्यवे त्वा ददामीति  ॥ to Mrityu (Death) I offer you.'''</blockquote>With perseverance he undertakes the journey to the Yamapuri (land of death) and awaits the return of Yama at his abode for three nights. For his exceptional courage to face death, Yama grants him three boons, the dialogue between them forms the essence of brahmavidya as elucidated in Kathopanishad (Krishna Yajurveda shaka of Taittriya Samhita) as put forth in this article<ref>Vasu, Srisa Chandra. (1905). ''Kathopanishad.'' Allahabad: Allahabad Press. https://archive.org/stream/KathaUpanisad/Katha_upani%E1%B9%A3ad#page/n11/mode/1up</ref><ref name=":1">Saraswati, Sw. Sivananda, (1936). ''Dialogues from Upanishads.''Amritsar: Em. Airi, Editor Ideal Home Magazine.</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">Asopa, Govind Narayan (1940) ''Dasopanishatsaara, With Hindi Translation.'' Jodhpur: Govind Bhavan</ref>.  

Accordingly, upon questioning his father thus he receives the answer that he will be given to Mrityu (Death)<blockquote>'''कस्मै मां दास्यसीति ॥ to whom will you offer me to?'''</blockquote><blockquote>'''मृत्यवे त्वा ददामीति  ॥ to Mrityu (Death) I offer you.'''</blockquote>With perseverance he undertakes the journey to the Yamapuri (land of death) and awaits the return of Yama at his abode for three nights. For his exceptional courage to face death, Yama grants him three boons, the dialogue between them forms the essence of brahmavidya as elucidated in Kathopanishad (Krishna Yajurveda shaka of Taittriya Samhita) as put forth in this article<ref>Vasu, Srisa Chandra. (1905). ''Kathopanishad.'' Allahabad: Allahabad Press. https://archive.org/stream/KathaUpanisad/Katha_upani%E1%B9%A3ad#page/n11/mode/1up</ref><ref name=":1">Saraswati, Swami Sivananda, (1936). ''Dialogues from Upanishads.''Amritsar: Em. Airi, Editor Ideal Home Magazine.</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">Asopa, Govind Narayan (1940) ''Dasopanishatsaara, With Hindi Translation.'' Jodhpur: Govind Bhavan</ref>.  

== कठोपनिषद्सारम् ॥ Kathopanishad Saaram ==

== कठोपनिषद्सारम् ॥ Kathopanishad Saaram ==

In Upanishad Shri<ref>Dasopanishad Rahasya of Ramachandra Pandita by ML Wadekar (2001) extracted from ''[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.273637 Upanishad Shree]'' by Urmila Srivatsav  </ref>, Pandit Ramachandra summarizes the essence of Kathopanishad as follows <blockquote>स्वान्तःप्राणाक्षिवाणीप्रभृति च विषयाभासकं यस्य योगाद् यन्न प्राप्नोति चैतद्विदितं यद्भवेन्नात्मरूपम्। इन्द्राद्या देवमुख्या अपि किल न विदुर्यस्य शक्तिं निगूढां तद्बुद्धं येन सोऽसौ भवति नरवरोऽनन्तसौख्यप्रतिष्ठः ॥</blockquote><blockquote>svāntaḥprāṇākṣivāṇīprabhr̥ti ca viṣayābhāsakaṁ yasya yogād yanna prāpnoti caitadviditaṁ yadbhavennātmarūpam। indrādyā devamukhyā api kila na viduryasya śaktiṁ nigūḍhāṁ tadbuddhaṁ yena so'sau bhavati naravaro'nantasaukhyapratiṣṭhaḥ ॥</blockquote>

In Upanishad Shri<ref>Dasopanishad Rahasya of Ramachandra Pandita by ML Wadekar (2001) extracted from ''[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.273637 Upanishad Shree]'' by Urmila Srivatsav  </ref>, Pandit Ramachandra summarizes the essence of Kathopanishad as follows <blockquote>स्वान्तःप्राणाक्षिवाणीप्रभृति च विषयाभासकं यस्य योगाद् यन्न प्राप्नोति चैतद्विदितं यद्भवेन्नात्मरूपम्। इन्द्राद्या देवमुख्या अपि किल न विदुर्यस्य शक्तिं निगूढां तद्बुद्धं येन सोऽसौ भवति नरवरोऽनन्तसौख्यप्रतिष्ठः ॥</blockquote><blockquote>svāntaḥprāṇākṣivāṇīprabhr̥ti ca viṣayābhāsakaṁ yasya yogād yanna prāpnoti caitadviditaṁ yadbhavennātmarūpam। indrādyā devamukhyā api kila na viduryasya śaktiṁ nigūḍhāṁ tadbuddhaṁ yena so'sau bhavati naravaro'nantasaukhyapratiṣṭhaḥ ॥</blockquote>

== अतिथिमर्यादा ॥ Atithi maryada ==

== अतिथिमर्यादा ॥ Atithimaryada ==

When Yama’s family offered entry and welcome to Nachiketa, he refuses and remains at the gate of Yamapuri for three nights without food as Yama, the host, was not present. Upon return the gate-keepers address Yama as follows to carry water for Nachiketa.<blockquote>वैश्वानरः प्रविशति अतिथिर्ब्राह्मणो गृहान् । तस्यैताँ् शान्तिं कुर्वन्ति हर वैवस्वतोदकम् ॥ ७॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.7)<ref name=":4" /></blockquote><blockquote>vaiśvānaraḥ praviśati atithirbrāhmaṇō gr̥hān । tasyaitām̐ śāntiṁ kurvanti hara vaivasvatōdakam ॥ 7॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.7)</blockquote>Meaning : Like fire a brahmin guest enters the house (of a grhasta). It is wise to quench the fire by offering water, O Vaivasvata!<blockquote>आशाप्रतीक्षे सङ्गतँ् सूनृतां च इष्टापूर्ते पुत्रपशू्ँ्श्च सर्वान् । एतद्वृङ्क्ते पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसो यस्यानश्नन्वसति ब्राह्मणो गृहे ॥ ८॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.8)</blockquote><blockquote>āśāpratīkṣē saṅgatam̐ sūnr̥tāṁ ca iṣṭāpūrtē putrapaśūm̐śca sarvān । ētadvr̥ṅktē puruṣasyālpamēdhasō yasyānaśnanvasati brāhmaṇō gr̥hē ॥ 8॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.8)</blockquote>Meaning :  Hope, expectation, company of holy men, righteousness and good opinion of men, fruits of religious and charitable deeds, sons and cattle - all these - of that man of little intelligence get destroyed in whose house a Brahmin guest stays without taking food.  

When Yama’s family offered entry and welcome to Nachiketa, he refuses and remains at the gate of Yamapuri for three nights without food as Yama, the host, was not present. Upon return the gate-keepers address Yama as follows to carry water for Nachiketa.<blockquote>वैश्वानरः प्रविशति अतिथिर्ब्राह्मणो गृहान् । तस्यैताँ् शान्तिं कुर्वन्ति हर वैवस्वतोदकम् ॥ ७॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.7)<ref name=":4" /></blockquote><blockquote>vaiśvānaraḥ praviśati atithirbrāhmaṇō gr̥hān । tasyaitām̐ śāntiṁ kurvanti hara vaivasvatōdakam ॥ 7॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.7)</blockquote>Meaning : Like fire a brahmin guest enters the house (of a grhasta). It is wise to quench the fire by offering water, O Vaivasvata!<blockquote>आशाप्रतीक्षे सङ्गतँ् सूनृतां च इष्टापूर्ते पुत्रपशू्ँ्श्च सर्वान् । एतद्वृङ्क्ते पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसो यस्यानश्नन्वसति ब्राह्मणो गृहे ॥ ८॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.8)</blockquote><blockquote>āśāpratīkṣē saṅgatam̐ sūnr̥tāṁ ca iṣṭāpūrtē putrapaśūm̐śca sarvān । ētadvr̥ṅktē puruṣasyālpamēdhasō yasyānaśnanvasati brāhmaṇō gr̥hē ॥ 8॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.8)</blockquote>Meaning :  Hope, expectation, company of holy men, righteousness and good opinion of men, fruits of religious and charitable deeds, sons and cattle - all these - of that man of little intelligence get destroyed in whose house a Brahmin guest stays without taking food.