Vajasravas performed a yaga, and vowed to give away all that he possessed too as part of the yaga. But as time went on, all the good cows in his possession had been given away, and all that were left were weak and sickly. Since he had vowed to give away everything, he gave away the old cows too.
His seven-year-old son, Nachiketas, felt that this was wrong. He asked his father why he was gifting cows that would yield no milk to those who came to receive the gifts. Vajasravas did not reply. Nachiketas then asked his father to whom he would give away his son. He repeated the question, until an annoyed Vajasravas said that he would gift Nachiketas to Yama, the God of Death.
To lie at any time is a sin, and it is worse to utter a lie while performing a yaga. So Nachiketas decided to make his father’s words true, and so, taking leave of his father, he went to the abode of Yama, said Goda Venkateswara Sastrigal, in a discourse.
Yama was away when Nachiketas arrived. And so Nachiketas waited for him for three days. He was offered food, but refused the same, saying he had not come as a guest.
He did not belong to his father, having been promised to Yama. But he did not yet belong to Yama either for, Yama had not taken charge of his gift!
When Yama arrived, he granted Nachiketas three boons.
One of the boons Nachiketas asked for was his return to his father, and Yama granted him the wish. Thus Nachiketas visited Yama’s abode, but came back to the earth.
It was his righteousness and his determination which had earned him the respect of Yama and enabled his return to earth.
