Vedas 36 - Kathopanishad- Part 1 C - The Generous Boons Of Yama Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon
Vedas 36 - Kathopanishad- Part 1 C - The Generous Boons Of Yama
Nachiketaa asked for the second boon:
"O Lord Yama - The Ruler of Death!
Please teach me the fire-sacrifice that leads to heaven.
Those who live on earth, die! But,
Those who live in heaven are free from old age and death.
I am keen on grasping this knowledge, dear Lord! "
Yama replied:
" I know the process of fire that leads to heaven.
I can teach you as you are a keen learner,
Full of ‘shraddha' or faith.
Listen! O Nachiketaa!
The secret of fire-sacrifice is hidden in the heart of all beings."
Yama, then proceeded to instruct Nachiketaa
The rituals of fire sacrifice.
The number of bricks to be placed on the alter,
The method and order of fire sacrifice,
The entire procedure in detail.
Nachiketaa listened, imbibed and repeated correctly.
Yama was so pleased with the boy that
He not only happily granted him the second boon,
But gifted him an additional boon of
A beautiful necklace of varied hues.
Yama named the fire ritual after Nachiketaa
And christened it as ‘Nachiketaagni'.
Nachiketaa was an exceptional person.
He was not attached to the worldly pleasures,
Nor were his thoughts like an ordinary mortal.
Only a person so disciplined, so controlled,
Could ever have access to the abode of Yama,
Or enter into a long conversation with Lord of Death!
One who performs the triad of ‘Nachiketaagni',
One who unites with Mother, Father and Teacher,
One who fulfills the three-fold duties of
Study of Vedas, sacrifice and donation;
Casts off the limitations and bonds of life and death.
Only he is rewarded with everlasting peace and happiness.
through profound dialogue between Yama and Nachiketaa.
Part-1 Dear madam, I was in waiting of 'Vedas 36 - Kathopanishad- Part 1 C in order to know your lofty expression about the conversation between Nachiketa and Yama, the king of death. Your composition has been started from the second boon to Nachiketa offered by Yama in which Nachiketa wanted to know about the fire-sacrifice that leads to heaven. Yama was so pleased with the boy and taught him. Nachiketa was so disciplined, so ontrolled
Hi, Geeta! Hope you are well in every way. Two things catch my attention is thie piece. One is the statement by Kama that the secret is hidden in the heart of all beings. The other is the double aa in Nachiketaa’s name; is this to signify an extended vowel sound or that this syllable gets the greatest stress? I’m interested from a linguistic point of view as I’ve recently been exposed to this is Japanese. -Glen
Thank you Akhtar Sahab for reading this poem. I am happy you found it appealing.
I am a bit late to reach here. Any way, the secret of fire-sacrifice or ‘Nachiketaagni' may intrigue the reader to some extent but takes him closer to understanding the philosophy envisaged in Kathopanishad and Vedanta. Geeta ji, you deserve appreciation and applause from all of us for doing such a neat and meticulous transport of scriptural essence from Classical Sanskrit to English. Thank you so much.
Part-2 that he could ever have access to the abode of Yama and received knowledge. It may be cited... One who performs the triad of ‘Nachiketaagni', One who unites with Mother, Father and Teacher, One who fulfills the three-fold duties of Study of Vedas, sacrifice and donation; Great write.10
Thank you Kumarmani ji for following this story of Nachiketaa so keenly. In the next one, i shall write on the third boon of Yama. After that follows a long conversation of profound philosophy which is the most enlightening part of Kathopanishad.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/22/2024 7:22:50 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Geeta, you have definitely captured my imagination. I will make an effort to read them all. Thank you so much for this enthralling poem. Love it!
Thanks a lot Richard, to see you on this Vedic page. Really feel happy. Stay blessed.