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Kathopanisad
Chapter 1 Valli 1 Mantra 24
Lecture
Mantra
Test 3: Power & Enjoyership Added
Yama tempts Naciketa a bit more:
Etattulyam yadi manyase varam
vrnīsva vittam cira-jīvikām ca;
mahā-bhūmau naciketastvamedhi
kāmānām tvā kāmabhājam karomi.
Etat tulyam yadi manyase varam If equal to this (that I have already offered) you consider some other boon, vrnīsva vittam cira-jīvikām cha; you only have to ask for it – wealth & property, and a long, healthy life (I have already offered). mahā-bhūmau Naciketah tvam edhih (Now consider) Kingship over a vast territory on Earth, O Naciketa – it can be yours for the asking; kāmānām tvā kāmabhājam karomi I shall add to this unrestrained enjoyership of all that you may desire.
1-2 It is possible, so thinks Yama, that Naciketa has other desirable things in mind over and above what has already been offered to him. Yama wants to be sure that he has not left anything out. He himself comes forward with two more things that he has not yet offered, perhaps thinking that Naciketa is not old enough yet to desire them:
Political Power: The first additional offer is that of rulership or kingship over Naciketa is promised to be made the king of a vast region. This will not only give him access to enormous wealth and comforts but also give him power over others. Political power is something that certain people crave. It is difficult to resist this kind of power when it comes; and just as difficult to maintain it over a long period of time.
Pleasure: The second offer is that of unrestrained enjoyership. The long life offered so far does not guarantee that; it has to be a long, healthy He will need to have very good health to enjoy the vast wealth he possesses. This is included in the revised offer.
There is still no interest shown by Naciketa. With calm eyes revealing an awesome inner strength, Naciketa simply fixes them firmly on Lord Yama, as though saying, “Nothing doing, Sir! I shall stick to my original boon.”
Why is Lord Yama doing this to Naciketa? Surely the little boy cannot be a threat to his own powerful position? Even if Naciketa is too young for Knowledge in Yama’s estimation, does he really have to go to this extent to dislodge the desire from the stubborn boy’s mind? How much more precaution has he to take to ensure that his student is worthy of the teaching he has asked for?
In the following verse, we see Lord Yama going even further in his effort to deflect the determined boy who stands before him, stubbornly demanding ultimate knowledge.
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