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== अतिथिमर्यादा ॥ Atithi maryada ==

== अतिथिमर्यादा ॥ Atithi maryada ==

When the 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.

When the 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)</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.  

 

वैश्वानरः प्रविशति अतिथिर्ब्राह्मणो गृहान् । तस्यैताँ् शान्तिं कुर्वन्ति हर वैवस्वतोदकम् ॥ ७॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.7)

 

Meaning : Like fire a brahmin guest enters the house (of a grhasta). It is wise to quench the fire by offering water, O Vaivasvata!

 

आशाप्रतीक्षे सङ्गतँ् सूनृतां च इष्टापूर्ते पुत्रपशू्ँ्श्च सर्वान् । एतद्वृङ्क्ते पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसो यस्यानश्नन्वसति ब्राह्मणो गृहे ॥ ८॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.8)

 

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.  

Yama hastily comes to the gates to receive Nachiketa and duly offers him three boons, one for each night (of his stay) in an act to remedy the evil effect of an honorable guest lying without food at his doorstep.

Yama hastily comes to the gates to receive Nachiketa and duly offers him three boons, one for each night (of his stay) in an act to remedy the evil effect of an honorable guest lying without food at his doorstep.

A spark even though it is just a spark, possesses all the qualities of the fire. Therefore it is not at all surprising that when Nachiketa entered Yamapuri after fasting for three days, Yama’s associates were told to bring him water and give him a resting place immediately. 

A spark even though it is just a spark, possesses all the qualities of the fire. Therefore it is not at all surprising that when Nachiketa entered Yamapuri after fasting for three days, Yama’s associates were told to bring him water and give him a resting place immediately. 

Nachiketa who had already reached the platform of immortality has not come to Yamaloka for boons. However, Yamaraja begging Nachketa to ask him for a boon is one of most delightful aspects of this Vedic compilation. Nachiketa was forced to ask the boons, not for himself but as a favour to Yama.  

Nachiketa who had already reached the platform of immortality has not come to Yamaloka for boons. However, Yamaraja begging Nachketa to ask him for a boon is one of most delightful aspects of this Vedic compilation. Nachiketa was forced to ask the boons, not for himself but as a favour to Yama. <blockquote>किँ्स्विद्यमस्य कर्तव्यं यन्मयाऽद्य करिष्यति ॥ ५॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.5)</blockquote><blockquote>kim̐svidyamasya kartavyaṁ yanmayā'dya kariṣyati ॥ 5॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.5)</blockquote>Meaning : what purpose can there of Yama, that my father will achieve through me (by sending me here). 

 

किँ्स्विद्यमस्य कर्तव्यं यन्मयाऽद्य करिष्यति ॥ ५॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.5) 

 

Meaning : what purpose can there of Yama, that my father will achieve through me (by sending me here). 

"What will my father achieve of Yama by sending me to him" was Nachiketa’s first thought as he was coming to Yamapuri, but is received with good reception and grant of boons upon arrival.  

"What will my father achieve of Yama by sending me to him" was Nachiketa’s first thought as he was coming to Yamapuri, but is received with good reception and grant of boons upon arrival.  

Nachiketa's boons from Yamaraja reveals his sterling qualities and character.  

Nachiketa's boons from Yamaraja reveals his sterling qualities and character.  

== प्रथम वरम् ॥ First boon - Saadhaka Gunas  ==

== प्रथम वरम् ॥ First boon - Saadhaka Gunas  ==

शान्तसङ्कल्पः सुमना यथा स्याद्वीतमन्युर्गौतमो माभिमृत्यो । त्वत्प्रसृष्टं माऽभिवदेत्प्रतीत एतत् त्रयाणां प्रथम वरं वृणे ॥ १०॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.10)

<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.  

 

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.  

 

 

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 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. 

=== Esoteric meaning ===

=== Esoteric meaning ===