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Nachiketa (Samskrit : नचिकेता) is the son of Vaajasrava (also Uddalaka) 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, 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>.  

<blockquote>शान्तसङ्कल्पः सुमना यथा स्याद्वीतमन्युर्गौतमो माभिमृत्यो । त्वत्प्रसृष्टं माऽभिवदेत्प्रतीत एतत् त्रयाणां प्रथम वरं वृणे ॥ १०॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.10)</blockquote><blockquote>śāntasaṅkalpaḥ sumanā yathā syādvītamanyurgautamō mābhimr̥tyō । tvatprasr̥ṣṭaṁ mā'bhivadētpratīta ētat trayāṇāṁ prathama varaṁ vr̥ṇē ॥ 10॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.10)</blockquote>Meaning : Oh Mrityu, give me as the first boon, that Gautama (my father), have शान्तसङ्कल्पः  calmness (free from anxiety on my account), सुमना be pleased in mind वीतमन्युः free from anger towards me, and greet me with the same old affection, when sent back by you.  

<blockquote>शान्तसङ्कल्पः सुमना यथा स्याद्वीतमन्युर्गौतमो माभिमृत्यो । त्वत्प्रसृष्टं माऽभिवदेत्प्रतीत एतत् त्रयाणां प्रथम वरं वृणे ॥ १०॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.10)</blockquote><blockquote>śāntasaṅkalpaḥ sumanā yathā syādvītamanyurgautamō mābhimr̥tyō । tvatprasr̥ṣṭaṁ mā'bhivadētpratīta ētat trayāṇāṁ prathama varaṁ vr̥ṇē ॥ 10॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.10)</blockquote>Meaning : Oh Mrityu, give me as the first boon, that Gautama (my father), have शान्तसङ्कल्पः  calmness (free from anxiety on my account), सुमना be pleased in mind वीतमन्युः free from anger towards me, and greet me with the same old affection, when sent back by you.  

Yama is pleased and replies  <blockquote>यथा पुरस्ताद्भविता प्रतीत औद्दालकिरारुणिर्मत्प्रसृष्टः । सुखँ् रात्रीः शयिता वीतमन्युः त्वां ददृशिवान्मृत्युमुखात् प्रमुक्तम् ॥ ११॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.11)</blockquote><blockquote>yathā purastādbhavitā pratīta auddālakirāruṇirmatprasr̥ṣṭaḥ । sukham̐ rātrīḥ śayitā vītamanyuḥ tvāṁ dadr̥śivānmr̥tyumukhāt pramuktam ॥ 11॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.11)</blockquote>Meaning : Your father Auddalakiaruni will consider you as affectionately as he does normally and will be freed from anger.  When you return from the jaws of death he will get over his anger and with my blessings will, for many nights henceforth, be happily resting. 

Yama is pleased and replies  <blockquote>यथा पुरस्ताद्भविता प्रतीत औद्दालकिरारुणिर्मत्प्रसृष्टः । सुखँ् रात्रीः शयिता वीतमन्युः त्वां ददृशिवान्मृत्युमुखात् प्रमुक्तम् ॥ ११॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.11)</blockquote><blockquote>yathā purastādbhavitā pratīta auddālakirāruṇirmatprasr̥ṣṭaḥ । sukham̐ rātrīḥ śayitā vītamanyuḥ tvāṁ dadr̥śivānmr̥tyumukhāt pramuktam ॥ 11॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.11)</blockquote>Meaning : Your father Auddalaki or Aruni will consider you as affectionately as he does normally and will be freed from anger.  When you return from the jaws of death he will get over his anger and with my blessings will, for many nights henceforth, be happily resting. 

=== साधकलक्षणम् ''||'' Sadhaka Lakshana ===

=== साधकलक्षणम् ''||'' Sadhaka Lakshana ===