Long ago, there lived a young boy named Nachiketa.
His father, Vajashrava, was performing a great religious ritual.
According to tradition, he had to donate all his possessions to the poor — this was supposed to bring heaven.
But Nachiketa noticed something strange…
The cows his father was giving away were old.
They could not give milk.
They could not walk properly.
They were almost dying.
The boy's innocent mind became disturbed.
He thought:
If charity is done without sincerity…
is it really virtue?
Again and again he went to his father and asked:
“Father, to whom will you give me?”
The father ignored him.
But the boy kept asking.
Finally, irritated and angry, the father shouted:
“I give you… to Yama, the God of Death!”
Silence fell.
The father spoke in anger…
But the boy heard the truth.
Nachiketa bowed and left for the abode of Death.
After a long journey he reached the door of Yama.
But Yama was not home.
The boy waited.
One day…
Two days…
Three days…
No food. No water. No fear.
When Yama returned, he was astonished.
A small child… waiting peacefully at the house of Death.
He said:
A guest is like fire.
One who neglects a guest burns his own good karma.
To compensate, Yama offered three boons.
first boon
Nachiketa said:
“Let my father's anger disappear.
Let him welcome me with love when I return.”
Yama granted it instantly.
Second boon
Nachiketa asked:
“Teach me the sacred fire that leads to heaven.”
Yama taught him the ritual of inner transformation—
not just outer fire, but the fire of awareness.
Third boon
Now the real question came.
The boy looked directly at Death and asked:
“After a person dies…does he exist or not?”
Yama became silent.
He said:
“Even the gods have doubted this.
Ask for wealth, long life, power, kingdoms — but do not ask this.”
Nachiketa replied calmly:
All pleasures last only till tomorrow.
Keep your chariots, music and wealth.
Only truth can satisfy me.
Death smiled.
For the first time… a human refused temptation.
Yama said:
The ignorant chase pleasure.
The wise seek the eternal.
He continued:
The Self is not born.
It never dies.
Weapons cannot cut it, fire cannot burn it.
Body falls like old clothes —
but the consciousness remains.
The one who knows this…
goes beyond death.
Nachiketa became silent.
Not because he received information—
but because he understood.
A child realized
what many seek for lifetimes.
He did not conquer death…
He discovered
there was never death.
Message:
Religion begins when the question becomes more important than comfort.
Truth reveals itself to the one who refuses distraction.
