In ancient times, there lived a wise and devout sage named Vajashrava, who desired to attain the blessings of the gods through a grand ritual. As part of the ritual, he began to give away his worldly possessions in charity. His young son, Nachiketa, observed the offerings closely, feeling the stirrings of both respect and concern for his father’s actions. He noticed that the cattle his father was giving were weak and old, hardly fitting offerings for the gods. Nachiketa’s heart swelled with worry for his father’s soul, wondering if his father’s actions, though well-intentioned, might not bring him the blessings he sought.

Filled with a deep sense of love and responsibility, Nachiketa approached his father and, in a gentle yet earnest voice, said, “Father, to whom will you give me?” Vajashrava was caught off guard by his son’s question, dismissing it at first. But Nachiketa, undeterred, repeated his question, his eyes searching his father’s for a response that held meaning.

In a moment of frustration, Vajashrava said, “I give you to Yama, the god of death.” The words slipped out, and he instantly regretted them. But Nachiketa, obedient and true to his word, felt compelled to honor his father’s wish. He consoled his father, saying, “Do not worry, Father; I will fulfill this duty.”

With a heart heavy with both love and resolve, Nachiketa set forth on a journey to the realm of Yama, the god of death. He waited patiently at Yama’s abode for three days and three nights, as Yama was away. Moved by the boy’s determination, Yama, upon his return, greeted Nachiketa with respect and offered him three boons as a mark of apology for making him wait.

For his first boon, Nachiketa asked that his father’s heart be freed from sorrow. Yama granted this wish, moved by the love Nachiketa held for his father. For his second boon, Nachiketa requested knowledge of the sacred fire that leads to heaven, symbolizing his desire to understand the eternal.

For the third and final boon, Nachiketa looked into Yama’s eyes and asked, “Tell me the mystery of what happens after death. What is the truth of the eternal soul?” Yama paused, feeling the gravity of the young boy’s question, one that had confounded even the wise.