to grant him three boons at his choice.  Naciketas, knowing that his father Gautama was offended with him, said, “O death let Gautama be pleased in mind and forget his anger against me.”  This being granted Naciketas asked the second boon that the fire by which heaven is gained should be made known to him.  This also being granted Naciketas said, “There is this enquiry, some say the soul exists after the death of man; others say it does not exist.  This I should like to know instructed by thee.  This is my third boon.”  Yama said, “It was inquired of old, even by the gods; for it is not easy to understand it.  Subtle is its nature, choose another boon.  Do not compel me to this.”  Naciketas said, “Even by the gods was it inquired before, and even thou O Death sayest that it is not easy to understand it, but there is no other speaker to be found like thee.  There is no other boon like this.”  Yama said, “Choose sons and grandsons who may live a hundred years, choose herds of cattle; choose elephants and gold and horses; choose the wide expanded earth, and live thyself as many years as thou wishest.  Or if thou knowest a boon like this choose it together with wealth and far-extending life.  Be a king on the wide earth.  I will make thee the enjoyer of all desires.  All those desires that are difficult to gain in the world of mortals, all those ask thou at thy pleasure; those fair nymphs with their chariots, with their musical instruments; the like of them are not to be gained by men.  I will give them to thee, but do not ask the question regarding death.”  Naciketas replied, “All those enjoyments are of to-morrow and they only weaken the senses.  All life is short, with thee the dance and song.  Man cannot be satisfied with wealth, we could obtain wealth, as long as we did not reach you we live only as long as thou pleasest.  The boon which I choose I have said.”  Yama said, “One thing is good, another is pleasant.  Blessed is he who takes the good, but he who chooses the pleasant loses the object of man.  But thou considering the objects of desire, hast abandoned them.  These two, ignorance (whose object is

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what is pleasant) and knowledge (whose object is what is good), are known to be far asunder, and to lead to different goals.  Believing that this world exists and not the other, the careless youth is subject to my sway.  That knowledge which thou hast asked is not to be obtained by argument.  I know worldly happiness is transient for that firm one is not to be obtained by what is not firm.  The wise by concentrating on the soul, knowing him whom it is hard to behold, leaves both grief and joy.  Thee O Naciketas, I believe to be like a house whose door is open to Brahman.  Brahman is deathless, whoever knows him obtains whatever he wishes.  The wise man is not born; he does not die; he is not produced from anywhere.  Unborn, eternal, the soul is not slain, though the body is slain; subtler than what is subtle, greater than what is great, sitting it