This Upanishad is a dialogue between a small boy (of 6-8 years) and the lord of death. The boy who is called Nachiket is an advanced student and is full of innocence.
Meaning of the word Nachiketa (नचिकेत): consider the root word कित्. This root word means "to desire" इच्छायां. The active past tense (परस्मैपद लिट् लकार) third person is चिकेत meaning desired. चिकित्वः is perfect active participle meaning having desired. नचिकेत is the one with no earthly desires for himself. Then he could ask the right questions when given opportunity by the lord of death, the teacher.
यमः is also known as शमनः one who gives शम (quietude). The teacher is son of Sun who represents knowledge. विवस्यतः सूर्यस्य अपत्यम्: वैवस्वतः The teacher is thus none other than lord of Dharma. When the student is ready, the teacher comes.
नचिकेत is tempted with lots of inducements such as long life, many wives, wealth, many children, opportunity to rule as a king. These are earthly desires. But he is not interested in these things for himself. He asks
Meaning of the word Nachiketa (नचिकेत): consider the root word कित्. This root word means "to desire" इच्छायां. The active past tense (परस्मैपद लिट् लकार) third person is चिकेत meaning desired. चिकित्वः is perfect active participle meaning having desired. नचिकेत is the one with no earthly desires for himself. Then he could ask the right questions when given opportunity by the lord of death, the teacher.
यमः is also known as शमनः one who gives शम (quietude). The teacher is son of Sun who represents knowledge. विवस्यतः सूर्यस्य अपत्यम्: वैवस्वतः The teacher is thus none other than lord of Dharma. When the student is ready, the teacher comes.
नचिकेत is tempted with lots of inducements such as long life, many wives, wealth, many children, opportunity to rule as a king. These are earthly desires. But he is not interested in these things for himself. He asks
येयं प्रेते विचिकित्सा मनुष्ये
अस्तीति एके नायमस्तीति चैके
एतद्विद्याम् अनुशिष्टः त्वयाहं
प्रेते मनुष्ये प्र + एते (goes or gone) मनुष्ये locative case : When a man dies , this doubt arises: some say it exists and others saying it does not. I would like to know this under your instruction.
The word मृत्यु is related to the word ऋत meaning order or divine law of evolution. The former negates order of evolution. It is said that devas and some asuras consumed अमृत to effect changes wrought by the lord of death. If evolution is allowed to take course then there is no interruption by death. Due to various desires and transaction induced by desires this evolution does not happen. Then death is an interruption in the path of perfection. Therefore it follows that the lord of death is an excellent choice to teach this knowledge.
Qualification of Student:
Lord of death deduces that this questioner is qualified by testing him with various inducements and finding that this student is fit for this instruction. The boy Nachiketa does not have any desires other than to know the path of the evolution.
The following is conveyed regarding qualifications. The Upanishad uses double negation. For example न अशान्तः one who is not not at peace (one who is at peace etc.)
न अविरतः दुश्चरितात् one who is continuously away from evil ways
न अशान्तः one who is at peace
न असमाहितः one who has faith
प्रज्ञानेन आप्नुयात् एनम् with knowledge this is obtained
Sri Adi Shankara elaborates on this in Viveka Choodamani. He says the following are qualifications for a student:
Qualification of Student:
Lord of death deduces that this questioner is qualified by testing him with various inducements and finding that this student is fit for this instruction. The boy Nachiketa does not have any desires other than to know the path of the evolution.
The following is conveyed regarding qualifications. The Upanishad uses double negation. For example न अशान्तः one who is not not at peace (one who is at peace etc.)
न अविरतः दुश्चरितात् one who is continuously away from evil ways
न अशान्तः one who is at peace
न असमाहितः one who has faith
प्रज्ञानेन आप्नुयात् एनम् with knowledge this is obtained
Sri Adi Shankara elaborates on this in Viveka Choodamani. He says the following are qualifications for a student:
- Viveka (discrimination; ability to apply this when needed)
- Vairagya (not attached to raaga and anuraaga ; detachment)
- Shama (is related to word शान्ति; tranquility, contentment)
- Dama (दम self-restraint)
- Uparati (उपरति death of various desires and strong identification with them)
- Thithiksha (तितिक्ष patience in the face of certain disappointments on the path the student is undertaking)
- Sraddha (श्रद्ध having faith)
- Samadhana (समाधान adjustment on profound contemplation)
- Mumukshatvam (मुमुक्षुत्व strong desire for the path of liberation and evolution)
Yoga Sutras of Sri Patanjali also say that Yama and Niyamas are introductory steps on the evolution. Yamas are:
अहिंस अस्तेय सत्य ब्रह्मचर्य अपरिग्रहा
Non killing, non-stealing, truthfulness, not coveting what is not yours, and not expecting gifts are the first step
शौच सन्तोष तपः स्वध्याय ईश्वर उपासन
Cleanliness, contentment, single pointed concentration to achieve goals, self-study and worship of God are Niyamas.
The student Nachiketa is advanced having mastered the above qualities. Then the right teacher appears. In this case the teacher is the one who hinders evolution of all. He also gives path for the right student. He is the creator of obstacles; he is also the teacher who shows the way when student is ready.
अहिंस अस्तेय सत्य ब्रह्मचर्य अपरिग्रहा
Non killing, non-stealing, truthfulness, not coveting what is not yours, and not expecting gifts are the first step
शौच सन्तोष तपः स्वध्याय ईश्वर उपासन
Cleanliness, contentment, single pointed concentration to achieve goals, self-study and worship of God are Niyamas.
The student Nachiketa is advanced having mastered the above qualities. Then the right teacher appears. In this case the teacher is the one who hinders evolution of all. He also gives path for the right student. He is the creator of obstacles; he is also the teacher who shows the way when student is ready.
