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Kathopanisad

Chapter 1 Valli 1 Mantra 23

Lecture

Mantra

Test 2: Limitless Wealth & Lordliness

Yama says to Nachiketas, by way of temptation:

Šatāyusah putra-pautrān vrnīsva
bahūn pasūn hasti hiranyam ašvān;
bhūmer mahadāyatanam vrnīsva
svayam ca jīva šarado yāvadicchasi.

šatāyusah putra-pautrān vrnīsva
Guaranteed to be centenarians such sons and grandsons you may choose;
bahūn pasūn hasti hiranyam ašvān;           
Choose herds and herds of cattle and elephants, any amount of gold, any number of horses;
bhūmer mahadāyatanam vrnīsva
From this vast Earth (over which I rule), choose an estate of any size;
svayam cha jīva šarado yāvadicchasi.        
and for yourself a long life consisting of as many autumns (years) as you like.

Yama now tries tempting the boy through material comforts and lordliness – things which are usually looked upon as very covetable; as the best security in this world.

Domestic Security: Yama offers a nice big family, with many children who would live for a long, and thereby maintain his fame for decades to come. Unimaginable domestic security is offered to Nacikata.

Material Security: Yama offers any amount of wealth in terms of possessions. Such are the things that most people seek and ask for in their prayers to the Lord daily. In those days wealth was measured in terms of cattle, elephants, and horses, in addition to gold.

Property Security: Yama, the Ruler over the whole of Earth, offers lordliness in Naciketa and could own a huge estate if he chooses to. He would have all the property security needed.

Life Security: Yama now throws into the bargain something which only a life insurance company will find displeasing! He assures Nachiketas a long life; he promises not to snatch him prematurely away from this earth plane. He will come only when Nachiketas reaches a ripe old age. A full life span is guaranteed to him – who will not be pleased with such an offer?

Yama waits eagerly to see how Nachiketas would respond to all these tempting offers. Nachiketas does not bat even an eyelid – he seems to have no interest in them. Is it possible for so young a boy, at the threshold of life and faced with a dream future, to be so indifferent to it? Yama can hardly believe that such heroic boys can exist on earth.

He now pulls out his trump card to shake off the idea from Nachiketas’s mind . . .

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