The first two boons Yama immediately gave..but when Nachiketa asked for Atma vidya as 3rd boon...yama asked him to take whole earth's kingdom or wealth, or children..but not to ask for this as boon... and it was with great reluctance that he finally agreed...(Kathopanishada)
Can you tell me why Yama did not want to give him Atma Gyan as 3rd boon ?
2007-07-23 06:20:09 · 13 answers · asked by ۞Aum۞ 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The third boon asked by Nachiketa could be granted only to those who were freed from all mortal desires and limitations. So Yama wanted to test whether he was ready to receive such knowledge. Yama wanted to ensure that Nachiketa was sincere & competent before granting him the boon.
When Nachiketa refused Yama's offer of worldly wealth, long life & other enjoyments saying such pleasures are only temporary & the senses would decline with age; even the long life would be only short.
Nachiketa was very firm in saying that he sought only Eternal Truth instead of transient enjoyment. He was courageous enough to spurn the temptations where more youngsters would have succumbed to Yama's offers
When Yama was convinced of Nachiketa's steadfastness he was prepared to offer him the Eternal Truth, as he was sure the knowledge would reach the right recipient.
2007-07-23 09:24:45 · answer #1 · answered by kanya 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The Third Boon
Then comes the main subject matter of this Upanishad. As regards his third boon, Nachiketa wants to know:
"This doubt that arises, consequent on the death of a man - some saying 'It (The SELF) exists', and others saying 'It (The SELF) does not exist'. I would like to know this, under your instruction, O Death, what is the Truth."
Nachiketa had asked for the ultimate knowledge. What is death, what is after death! What is Reality and what is Truth. Yama tries to dissuade the young boy from going into these subtle questions of immense intricacies for Death was not sure whether Nachiketa was qualified to receive this knowledge for which only an occasional and rare aspires. Yama says to the boy, "O Nachiketa, ask for health, life, riches, jewels, and enjoyment. Ask for lasting kingdom and armies, ask for anything in this world or of heaven, I will grant you all this as your third boon, but do not force me to go into the secrets of life and death. Do not insist for ultimate knowledge."
But Nachiketa argues that all worldly treasures and heavenly pleasures come to an end sooner or later. If not day after, after hundred years. These are not permanent means of enjoyment. He insists to get the ultimate knowledge of Self, 'for, O Death, you have promised me the third boon'.
Seeing the determination, faith, sincerity, and perseverance of Nachiketa, seeing him to be the perfect disciple, Death agrees to tell him about the Ultimate Reality: Brahman or Atman.
And as Death goes on elaborating the subtlety and nuances of means and methods to achieve that transcendental state, consciousness of Nachiketa also is getting established in that altered state to experience those Truths.
It is wonderful fact that if the Teacher and the taught are of highest qualifications, it is a matter of minutes to enter the state of samadhi. As the Teacher explains so does the disciple experiences the Truths spoken.
Nachiketa gets established into highest state of bliss where 'knowledge of Brahman becomes a fact of direct experience'. The same thing can be seen when Arjuna experiences the cosmic form of Sri Krishna when the Lord is telling him the Gita!
Yama hesitates. “Don’t ask this. Even the gods can’t comprehend it. How can men! Ask for any other boon.” (Yama offers him a gem-studded necklace he was wearing.)
2007-07-23 07:38:43 · answer #2 · answered by scorpion 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The lord of Death {Yama} was only testing Nachiketa. Yama is happy to give this boon, but it can only be given to one worthy.
2007-07-23 18:27:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Brahmavidya--sreya&preya--was revealed to Nichiketha. Yama wanted to know his SRADDHA,steadfastness to HIGHER WISDOM --Death is not end -- ATMA lives, & so yama was hesitating.NOTE; Yama took Nichiketa as disciple. Yama was reluctant to give 3rd boon since Atma is to be known by faith in smirthis & perseverance
2007-07-23 07:08:02 · answer #4 · answered by Muthu S 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
For testing Nachiketa.
2007-07-23 06:32:27 · answer #5 · answered by Devarat 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yama dev bless Nichketa because she want to live with her husband and want to save the life of her husband by praying God Shri Hari
2016-03-15 21:38:31 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"sri.Yama replies to sri Nachiketha "Even for Thrimurthees giving an Upadesam on Aathma Vidya is "Durlabham"=not easy--on sri Nachiketa's insistence sri.Yama initiates him to "Pranava"---OOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.-In "Skaandham" even Brahma who is the creator of the mantram "Pranavam" (OM)could NOT explain it satisfactorily to si.Karthikeya and sri.Karthikeya puts sri.Brahma in prison and when lord Siva asked his son whether he knows the meaning --sri.karthikeya sits on higher pedestal (Swami Mala)and does upadesam to His father sri Siva sitting below in Madurai with due respect to a Guru...Though many Acharyas have given Gloss on AUM=OM-till date the exact meaning and significance of Pranavam-OM -remains incomplete only---sri AUM=OM ji!
(In Skaandam is missing in main post)
2007-07-23 06:50:52 · answer #7 · answered by ssrvj 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
because till one is attached with material things, moh , he can not get the knowledge about the soul practically so may be it was the test for him
Hare Krishna , Hare Krishna ,Krishna Krishna , Hare Hare,Hare Rama, Hare Rama ,Hare Hare
2007-07-23 07:27:59 · answer #8 · answered by KrishanRam(Jitendra k) 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Maybe because he asked for too much? I was hoping for a better answer from these other people....I wanted to know.
2007-07-23 06:33:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think, but I am not sure, I only belong to a small sect, that it was because she always called him Lord Yabadadaboon.
Rings a bell?
Ding dong!
2007-07-23 06:25:47 · answer #10 · answered by kwistenbiebel 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋