Vedas 37 - Kathopanishad - Part I D - The Third Boon Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon
Vedas 37 - Kathopanishad - Part I D - The Third Boon
Yama, pleased with the lad said:
"Go ahead! Ask for the third boon! "
Nachiketaa requested:
"O Lord Yama! I have always pondered on
What happens to man after he dies.
Some say, he still exists,
Others say, death is the end.
I would like to know, learned Sir!
If a human being continues to exist,
Even, after the death of his physical body?
Please instruct me on this esoteric knowledge."
Yama replied:
"Even the Devas or the celestial beings
Have pondered on this subject.
This knowledge which you seek, Is indeed,
very mysterious,
very difficult,
very subtle.
Ask not for this boon, Nachiketaa!
Ask for anything else! "
Nachiketaa answered:
"O Lord of Death!
You say that Devas have doubts about this, and
It is not easy to know or learn about this subject.
That makes me more determined!
I am very keen to know about this.
I cannot get a better teacher than you.
Kindly teach me, O! Learned Sir!
On the Secrets of Death! "
Yama began testing the boy.
He wanted to know whether
Nachiketaa was really ready
To receive this subtle knowledge.
Dissuading him further, Yama said:
"Ask for sons and grandsons,
Ask for any amount of wealth,
Ask for elephants and horses,
Ask for silver and gold! "
Yama continued:
"Nachiketaa, enjoy your life,
I shall bestow on you all that you desire.
I shall make you the Ruler of this wide world.
Ask for beautiful maidens,
Ask for majestic chariots, music and dance.
Ask for the gift of a long life,
Be served by others and live like an emperor!
But, do not ask me, for the Secrets of Death! "
Nachiketaa was very firm:
" O Great Sire!
O Lord of Death!
I certainly, do not desire,
Any of these objects of pleasure,
They are all temporary temptations.
They weaken your purpose and goal in life,
Even the longest life is short on this earth.
Please keep your chariots, music and maidens."
"O Lord of Death! I firmly adhere to my third boon.
Instruct me! O Great Yama! The Secrets of Death! "
In third boon Nachiketa wanted to receive the knowledge from Lord of Death, Yama, about What happens to man after he dies But Yama did not agree to offer this knowledge easily and put Nachiketa in many tests. This theme has been so asuttely and incisively inscribed by you, dear madam, in 'Vedas 37 - Kathopanishad - Part I D' which is interesting to read over and over again. Many thanks for posting this beautiful poem. Full vote.
Thank you, dear Kumarmani ji for your beautiful comment. I feel blessed.
I must admit, you have created a spellbinding poem about The Third Boon and how! To write this poem in a precise way, you have to read carefully and repeatedly and that amazes me, since when I started to read this, it is so spellbinding that I cannot stop before I finished reading. All appreciations and respect for you Dr. Geeta, I have enjoyed a very lot this profound telling and it reminds me much at the Biblical history of the Garden of Eden
Thank you so much Sylvia. It is so good of you to read this Upanishadic poem and share your nice thoughts on them. So true, many of these stories have a likeness to the biblical stories too. God bless.
How succinct are the queries of Nachiketaa and the efforts of Yama to dissuade him from his quest. But Nachiketaa politely says- I certainly, do not desire..... Any of these objects of pleasure (being transient) . Thanks, Geeta ji, for a very fine presentation of a difficult section of the story. I would like to quote: Ask not for this boon, Nachiketaa! Ask for anything else! ..... That makes me more determined! ..... Kindly teach me, O! Learned Sir! ..... On the Secrets of Death!
So very happy that you are the first to read this poem and give your valuable comment. I feel blessed. Yes Rajnish ji, i find the dialogue between Nachiketaa and Yama, so interesting. Apart from writing a poem on a subject like this, the truth is, i have to read it many times in order to put the write words in the poem. So, a lot of thinking is involved. :)
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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6/15/2024 7:58:49 PM # 1.0.0.1119
At times we get distracted by the surroundings and the pleasure of this life and pay less attention towards the end result, this is a wonderful example of concentration and focus we often talk about. Nice point to ponder on.