Death Makes Amends
शतायुषः पुत्रपौत्रान्वृणीष्वा
बहून्पशून् हस्तिहिरण्यमश्वान् ।
भूमेर्महदायतनं वृणीष्व
स्वयं च जीव शरदो यावदिच्छसि ॥ २३॥
śatāyuṣaḥ putrapautrānvṛṇīṣvā
bahūnpaśūn hastihiraṇyamaśvān .
bhūmermahadāyatanaṃ vṛṇīṣva
svayaṃ ca jīva śarado yāvadicchasi .. 23..
Yama said: Choose sons and grandsons who shall live a hundred years; choose elephants, horses, herds of cattle and gold. Choose a vast domain on earth; live here as many years as you desires.
Commentary:
Yama says, “Don’t go on persisting like this. Please listen to me.”
Verse 23 & 24: “Sons and grandchildren, and living for hundreds of years—ask for these things, and I will give them to you. Cattle, any number of cattle, thousands of cattle, ask for this. Elephants, as many as you want. Gold, horses, ask for this. Why do you put this question? Ask for the emperorship of the whole world, and I shall grant that. I shall make you the emperor of the whole world. Do you think it is not good enough? And I shall make you live for the longest period of time. As many years as you want to live in this world, so many years I will permit you to live. What else do you want, sir? All the glory, all the gold, all the elephants, all the horses, all the cattle, children and grandchildren, kingship of the whole earth and the longest life, endless—I don’t think that there is anything more glorious than this kind of present that I am offering. Ask for that, but don’t put this question.”
You can imagine there is something terribly difficult in this answer that is to be given; otherwise, why should Yama be so very particular to withdraw himself from the responsibility of answering this question, and wanting to make Nachiketas emperor of the whole world instead? Can you imagine? There is something very mysterious about it; otherwise, he would not have been so reluctant to speak on this matter.
“Take everything else, but do not ask this question. All gold, all wealth, all long life—if you think it is okay, take it. In this glorious world, be a glorious ruler. Whatever you wish will be given to you. Your wish will be materialised immediately; there will be nothing that you lack in this world. But don’t put this question,” says Yama.
Swami Vivekananda Says —
(Verses 23,24 and 25)
Death said, “Ask for sons and grandsons who will live one hundred years, many cattle, elephants, gold, and horses. Ask for empire on this earth and live as many years as you like. Or choose any other boon which you think equal to these — wealth and long life. Or be thou a king, O Nachiketas, on the wide earth. I will make thee the enjoyer of all desires. Ask for all those desires which are difficult to obtain in the world. These heavenly maidens with chariots and music, which are not to be obtained by man, are yours. Let them serve you. O Nachiketas, but do not question me as to what comes after death.”[Source]
“The enjoyments of the gods, even these I offer you. Do not insist upon your query.”[Source] Do not press me to answer this. Whatever man desires for his enjoyment, ask all that and I will fulfil it, but do not want to know this secret.”[Source]
But Nachiketa was firm as a rock.[Source] “Youth and beauty vanish, life and wealth vanish, name and fame vanish, even the mountains crumble into dust. Friendship and love vanish. Truth alone abides.”[Source] Neither money pays, nor name, nor fame, nor learning; it is character that can cleave through adamantine walls of difficulties. [Source]