Nachiketas

.Maithree, Rohan and Goldie had just come from their school. Thatha instead of talking with other people was very quite. Rohan approached him and asked, “Thatha, we have come from school. Can you tell us a story?”
Thatha with a smile replied, “Yes. Today I will tell you the story of Nachiketas.”
Goldie was not happy, “Thatha, you used to tell good and witty stories, earlier. Nowadays, you tell only very boring stories. I am going to play.”
Meantime Maithree also joined Rohan and asked Thatha, “Who is Nachiketas? What did he do?”
Thatha started his story, “In the olden times there was a very great saint called Uddalaka. He had a son called Nachiketas. Uddalaka decided to perform a worship called “winning the world.” To do this worship you have to give away all your wealth.”
Maithree asked, “If you give away everything you have, there would not be money to do any worship.”
Thatha laughed and told, “That is what Uddalaka also thought. He was giving all the useless cows he had first. Seeing this Nachiketas approached him and asked, “Father you used to tell others that I am your greatest wealth. To whom are you going to give me?
The already worried Uddalaka shouted at Nachiketas, “I am going to give you to the God of death.”
Rohan asked, “Does it mean that Nachiketas has to die?”
Thatha replied, “No, Rohan, people can die only when the God wants. Anyway, Nachiketas took it very seriously and started walking towards the palace of “God of Death.” Suddenly he heard a divine voice which told him, “When you to the house of “God of death would not be there. His wife will offer you food. Do not take it till you see the “God of death “himself. “
Nachiketas at last reached the house of God of death. As told by the divine voice, God of Death was not there. His wife offered food to Nachiketas. But he refused to eat it. After three long days, the God of death arrived. He was surprised to see Nachiketas. He asked him, did you take any food after coming here. Nachiketas said, he had not. The God of death felt sorry and asked him, for those three days, he would give him three boons. Nachiketas agreed and asked for
1.He should be allowed to go back and help his father complete the worship.
2.He should never die
And 3. He should become a very wise man.
The God of death, gave three boons as requested by Nachiketas. Nachiketas came back and helped his father to complete the worship. Later he became a very great saint.
Rohan told, “Thatha this story does not seem to have a moral.”
Maithree replied, “Yes, there it is. When you go to the God’s house, do not eat.”