kathopanishad-1-1-18-triṇāciketas

Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society

The great Master Yama initiates Nachiketas into the mystery of the Vaishvanara-agni through the sacrifice which is mystical in its nature, and every kind of detail connected with the sacrifice is also explained. Nachiketas, like a very good student, repeats every word of the instruction given to him by the Master.

Triṇāciketas trayam etad viditvā ya evaṁ vidvāṁś cinute nāciketam, mṛtyu-pāśān purataḥ praṇodya śokātigo modate svarga-loke (1.1.18): Yama says, “Whoever knows the secret of this Nachiketas fire, performing it three times, in three ways, with three modes, etc., and knowing this, conducts this sacrifice in one’s own consciousness, such a person frees himself from the rules of death and, transcending all sorrow, enjoys immeasurable bliss in the kingdom of heaven.”