KathaUpanishad

Naciketaḥ vṛṇīṣva = O Naciketa ask for;
tṛtīyaṁ varaṁ = the third boon.
This, O Nachiketa, is your Fire−sacrifice, which leads to Heaven and which you
have chosen as your second boon. People will call this Fire by your name. Now,
O Nachiketa, choose the third boon.
Nachiketas’s Third Wish:
Knowledge Concerning the Final Death
yeyam prete vicikitsā manuṣye’stītyeke nāyam astīti caike;
etat vidyām anuśiṣṭ
ṣṭas tvayāham, varāṇām eṣa varas tṛtīyaḥ. (20)
yā iyam vicikitsā = this doubt, that arises;
prete manuṣye = when a person dies;
eke = some (say);
asti iti = (It) the Self, exists;
ca eke = and others (say);
ayam = this [Self];
na asti = does not exist;
tvayā anuśiṣṭaḥ = being instructed by you;
aham = I;
etat vidyām = would know this;
varāṇām = of all the boons;
eṣaḥ = this one [is];
varaḥ tṛtīyaḥ = the third
Nachiketa said: There is this doubt about a man when he is dead: Some say that
he exists; others, that he does not. This I should like to know, taught by you. This
is the third of my boons.
(Nachiketas expresses his wish): This question that there is, in the case of the man who
has gone forth; some saying that he is, while some say that he is not; a knowledge of
this, imparted by Thee this, of my wishes, is the third wish!
37