Nachiketas’ Second Boon

Nachiketas asks to know the sacred fire that leads to heaven as his second boon. This fire is described as the support of the universe and the path to immortality.

Verse 1.1.12

(Nachiketas says) In heaven there is no fear. You are not there; nor there do they in old age fear. Having crossed both hunger and thirst, one in heaven rejoices being above grief.

Sanskrit Verse

स्वर्गे लोके न भयं किंचनास्ति न तत्र त्वं न जरया बिभेति ।
उभे तीर्त्वाशनायापिपासे शोकातिगो मोदते स्वर्गलोके ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

svarge loke na bhayaṃ kiṃcanāsti na tatra tvaṃ na jarayā bibheti |
ubhe tīrtvāśanāyāpipāse śokātigo modate svargaloke || 12 ||

Translation

12. (Nachiketas says) In heaven there is no fear. You are not there; nor there do they in old age fear. Having crossed both hunger and thirst, one in heaven rejoices being above grief.

Verse 1.1.13

Oh Death! thou knowest the fire which leads to heaven; explain to me who am zealous that (the fire) by which those, whose world is heaven, attain immortality. I pray for this by my second boon.

Sanskrit Verse

स त्वमग्निँ स्वर्ग्यमध्येषि मृत्यो प्रब्रूहि त्वँ श्रद्दधानाय मह्यम् ।
स्वर्गलोका अमृतत्वं भजन्त एतद्द्वितीयेन वृणे वरेण ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

sa tvamagnim̐ svargyamadhyeṣi mṛtyo prabrūhi tvam̐ śraddadhānāya mahyam |
svargalokā amṛtatvaṃ bhajanta etaddvitīyena vṛṇe vareṇa || 13 ||

Translation

13. Oh Death! thou knowest the fire which leads to heaven; explain to me who am zealous that (the fire) by which those, whose world is heaven, attain immortality. I pray for this by my second boon.

Verse 1.1.14

Yama, the Lord of Death, instructs Nachiketas on the nature of the sacred fire. He explains that this fire is the path to heaven, the support of the universe, and is subtly seated within the heart (“the cavity”).

Sanskrit Verse

प्र ते ब्रवीमि तदु मे निबोध स्वर्ग्यमग्निं नचिकेतः प्रजानन् ।
अनन्तलोकाप्तिमथो प्रतिष्ठां विद्धि त्वमेतं निहितं गुहायाम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

pra te bravīmi tadu me nibodha svargyamagniṃ naciketaḥ prajānan |
anantalokāptimatho pratiṣṭhāṃ viddhi tvametaṃ nihitaṃ guhāyām || 14 ||

Translation

I will tell thee well; attend to me, Oh Nachiketas, I know the fire leading to heaven; know the fire which leads to heaven and also the support of the universe and which is seated in the cavity.

Verse 1.1.17

This verse describes the spiritual benefits attained by one who performs the triple Nachiketa fire sacrifice. By aligning oneself with the three-fold duties and understanding the divine fire born of Brahman, the seeker transcends the cycle of birth and death and attains everlasting peace.

Sanskrit Verse

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रिभिरेत्य सन्धिं त्रिकर्मकृत्तरति जन्ममृत्यू ।
ब्रह्मजज्ञं देवमीड्यं विदित्वा निचाय्येमाँ शान्तिमत्यन्तमेति ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

triṇāciketastribhiretya sandhiṃ trikarmakṛttarati janmamṛtyū ।
brahmajajñaṃ devamīḍyaṃ viditvā nicāyyemām̐ śāntimatyantameti ॥ 17 ॥

Translation

The three-fold Nachiketas, being united with the three doing, the three-fold Karma, crosses birth and death, knowing the adorable, the bright, the omniscient fire born of Brahman and realising him, attains thorough peace.