KathaUpanishad

(Nachiketas speaks): Of many, I go the first; of many, I go the midmost. What is this to
be done of Yama, which through me he will today accomplish?
anupaśya yathā pῡrve pratipaśya tathāpare,
sasyam iva martyaḥ pacyate sasyam ivajāyate punaḥ. (6)
anu = next,
paśya = consider;
yathā = how;
pūrve = forebears, etc.
Tathā = in the same way;
apare = others
prati-paśya = again consider;
martyah = humans;
sasyam iva = like the vegetation,
pacyate = decays and dies;
punaḥ = again;
sasyam iva jāyate = vegetation reappears (is born) again.
Consider those who have gone before; and consider those who came later. As it
was with those, so it is with these. Like the vegetation man decays and dies; and
like the vegetation he is born again.
Śankara says "Thus addressed, the father sent his son to Yama in order to keep his
word.."
The Upanishad does not mention what happened to Nachiketas or his father after this
conversation. The Taittiriya Brahmana says that the boy went to the hall of Yama.
There is only one way to get the hall of Yama. That is by the gates of death. How did
Nachiketa die? Was he sacrificed by his father? Did he commit suicide? These are
open questions that are not answered. Probably it is only a Katha - a story to hang the
teachings.
However in many sacrifices narabali (Human Sacrifice) or Purushamedha was part of
the sacrifice. "The owner of the flock was, of course, the nearest and the most
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