The first valli opens with the story of Vajashravasa, who performs a grand sacrifice and gives away his possessions, including his son Nachiketa to Yama, the god of death. Nachiketa waits three nights at Yama's dwelling without food, and Yama grants him three boons as compensation. Nachiketa asks first for his father's peace, second for the knowledge of the Nachiketa fire sacrifice, and third — despite Yama's resistance and many tempting counter-offers — for the secret of what lies beyond death.
पीतोदका जग्धतृणा दुग्धदोहा निरिन्द्रियाः । अनन्दा नाम ते लोकास्तान् स गच्छति ता ददत् ॥ ३ ॥
pītodakā jagdhatṛṇā dugdhadohā nirindriyāḥ | ānandā nāma te lokās tān sa gacchati tā dadat || 3 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
These cows have drunk their last water, eaten their last grass, given their last milk, and are worn out. Whoever gives such cows goes to joyless worlds.
All hopes, all expectations, all friendships, all good deeds, sons and cattle — all this is taken from the person of small understanding in whose house a Brahmin guest goes unfed.
तिस्रो रात्रीर्यदवात्सीर्गृहे मेऽनश्नन् ब्रह्मन्नतिथिर्नमस्यः । नमस्तेऽस्तु ब्रह्मन् स्वस्ति मेऽस्तु तस्माद् प्रति त्रीन् वरान् वृणीष्व ॥ ९ ॥
tisro rātrīr yad avātsīr gṛhe me 'naśnan brahmann atithir namasyaḥ | namas te 'stu brahman svasti me 'stu tasmāt prati trīn varān vṛṇīṣva || 9 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
O Brahmin, you are a worthy guest, and you have stayed three nights in my house without eating. I bow before you. May all be well with me. Therefore choose three boons.
As my first boon, O Death, I ask that my father Gautama be at peace with a calm mind and no anger, and that he welcome me gladly when you send me back.
Yama said: Through my grace, your father Auddalaki will be as before. He will sleep peacefully and be free from anger when he sees you returned from my realm.
स्वर्गे लोके न भयं किञ्चनास्ति न तत्र त्वं न जरया बिभेति । उभे तीर्त्वाऽशनायापिपासे शोकातिगो मोदते स्वर्गलोके ॥ १२ ॥
svarge loke na bhayaṃ kiñcanāsti na tatra tvaṃ na jarayā bibheti | ubhe tīrtvā 'śanāyāpipāse śokātigo modate svargaloke || 12 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
In the heavenly world there is no fear. You, O Death, are not found there. No one fears old age. Having gone beyond hunger and thirst and all sorrow, one rejoices in heaven.
O Death, you know the fire sacrifice that leads to heaven. Teach it to me, for I have faith. Those who dwell in heaven attain immortality. This is my second boon.
प्र ते ब्रवीमि तदु मे निबोध स्वर्ग्यमग्निं नचिकेतः प्रजानन् । अनन्तलोकाप्तिमथो प्रतिष्ठां विद्धि त्वमेतं निहितं गुहायाम् ॥ १४ ॥
pra te bravīmi tad u me nibodha svargayam agniṃ naciketaḥ prajānan | ananthalokāptim atho pratiṣṭhāṃ viddhi tvam etaṃ nihitaṃ guhāyām || 14 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I will tell you, Nachiketa. Learn from me the fire that leads to heaven, by knowing which one attains unlimited worlds. Know that it is hidden in the cave of the heart.
लोकादिमग्निं तमुवाच तस्मै या इष्टका यावतीर्वा यथा वा । स चापि तत् प्रत्यवदद् यथोक्तम् अथास्य मृत्युः पुनरेवाह तुष्टः ॥ १५ ॥
lokādim agniṃ tam uvāca tasmai yā iṣṭakā yāvatīr vā yathā vā | sa cāpi tat pratyavadad yathoktam athāsya mṛtyuḥ punar evāha tuṣṭaḥ || 15 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Yama told him about the primordial fire: how many bricks, what kind, and how they are arranged. Nachiketa repeated it all exactly as taught. Death was pleased and spoke again.
Greatly pleased, Yama said: I grant you another boon today. This fire shall henceforth bear your name, Nachiketa. And take also this chain of many forms as my gift.
triṇāciketас tribhir etya sandhiṃ trikarmakṛt tarati janmamṛtyū | brahmajajñaṃ devam īḍyam viditvā nicāyyemāṃ śāntim atyantam eti || 17 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Whoever performs the Nachiketa fire rite three times, having joined with the three sources of wisdom and fulfilled the three duties, crosses over birth and death. Knowing the god born of Brahman and worshipping him, such a person attains lasting peace.
त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रयमेतद्विदित्वा य एवं विद्वांश्चिनुते नाचिकेतम् । स मृत्युपाशान् पुरतः प्रणोद्य शोकातिगो मोदते स्वर्गलोके ॥ १८ ॥
triṇāciketаs trayam etad viditvā ya evaṃ vidvāṃś cinute nāciketam | sa mṛtyupāśān purataḥ praṇodya śokātigo modate svargaloke || 18 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Whoever knows the three Nachiketa fires and, knowing them, performs the Nachiketa rite, shakes off the bonds of death and, freed from sorrow, rejoices in the heavenly world.
This, Nachiketa, is the fire that leads to heaven, which you asked for as your second boon. This fire will bear your name. Now, Nachiketa, choose your third boon.
When a person dies, there is this doubt: some say he exists still, others say he does not. Taught by you, I want to know this truth. This is my third boon.
देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं पुरा न हि सुविज्ञेयमणुरेष धर्मः । अन्यं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व मा मोपरोत्सीरति मा सृजैनम् ॥ २१ ॥
devair atrāpi vicikitsitaṃ purā na hi suvijñeyam aṇur eṣa dharmaḥ | anyaṃ varaṃ naciketo vṛṇīṣva mā moparodhīr ati mā sṛjainam || 21 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Even the gods of old doubted this question. This nature of the Self is subtle and not easy to understand. Choose another boon, Nachiketa. Do not press me on this. Release me from this.
देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं किल त्वं च मृत्यो यन्न सुज्ञेयमात्थ । वक्ता चास्य त्वादृगन्यो न लभ्यो नान्यो वरस्तुल्य एतस्य कश्चित् ॥ २२ ॥
devair atrāpi vicikitsitaṃ kila tvaṃ ca mṛtyo yan na sujñeyam āttha | vaktā cāsya tvādṛg anyo na labhyo nānyo varas tulya etasya kaścit || 22 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
O Death, you say even the gods have doubted this matter, and that it is not easily known. No teacher like you can be found elsewhere. No other boon equals this one.
Choose sons and grandsons who will live a hundred years, herds of cattle, elephants, gold, and horses. Choose great lands. Live yourself as many years as you wish.
If you think it equal to your boon, choose riches and long life. Be king, Nachiketa, of this wide earth. I will make you the one who enjoys all desires.
ये ये कामा दुर्लभा मर्त्यलोके सर्वान् कामांश्छन्दतः प्रार्थयस्व । इमा रामाः सरथाः सतूर्या न हीदृशा लम्भनीया मनुष्यैः । आभिर्मत्प्रत्ताभिः परिचारयस्व नचिकेतो मरणं माऽनुप्राक्षीः ॥ २५ ॥
ye ye kāmā durlabhā martyaloke sarvān kāmāṃś chandataḥ prārthayasva | imā rāmāḥ sarathāḥ satūryā na hīdṛśā lambhanīyā manuṣyaiḥ | ābhir matprattābhiḥ paricārayasva naciketo maraṇaṃ mā 'nuprakṣīḥ || 25 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Whatever pleasures are rare in the world of mortals, ask for them all. These lovely maidens with chariots and music, not obtainable by men — let them wait on you as my gifts. But do not ask me about death.
śvobhāvā martyasya yad antakaitat sarvendriyāṇāṃ jarayanti tejaḥ | api sarvaṃ jīvitam alpam eva tavaiva vāhāḥ tava nṛtyagīte || 26 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
All these pleasures last only till tomorrow, O Death. They exhaust the strength of all the senses. The whole of life is brief. Keep your horses, your dancing and singing.
न वित्तेन तर्पणीयो मनुष्यो लप्स्यामहे वित्तमद्राक्ष्म चेत्त्वा । जीविष्यामो यावदीशिष्यसि त्वं वरस्तु मे वरणीयः स एव ॥ २७ ॥
na vittena tarpaṇīyo manuṣyo lapsyāmahe vittam adrakṣma cet tvā | jīviṣyāmo yāvad īśiṣyasi tvaṃ varas tu me varaṇīyaḥ sa eva || 27 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Man cannot be satisfied by wealth. When we have seen you, O Death, can we desire wealth? We will live only as long as you permit. That boon I choose — only that one.
When a mortal comes before the immortals who never decay, who would delight in a merely long life? Knowing this, who would rejoice in the pleasures of color and beauty and love?
यस्मिन्निदं विचिकित्सन्ति मृत्यो यत्साम्पराये महद्भयमाहुः । वरं वृणीष्व न सु बोधयैनं नाचिकेतं शाश्वतमेनमाहुः ॥ २९ ॥
yasmin nidaṃ vicikitsanti mṛtyo yat sāmparāye mahadbhayam āhuḥ | varaṃ vṛṇīṣva na su bodhayainaṃ nāciketaṃ śāśvatam enam āhuḥ || 29 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Tell me, O Death, that great mystery which people doubt — the great beyond which is called a great fear. This is the boon I choose. Do not explain it away. They call this the eternal Nachiketa question.