Katha Upanishad 1.23Famous
beginner
शतायुषः पुत्रपौत्रान्वृणीष्व बहून्पशून्हस्तिहिरण्यमश्वान्। भूमेर्महदायतनं वृणीष्व स्वयं च जीव शरदो यावदिच्छसि॥
śatāyuṣaḥ putrapautrānvṛṇīṣva bahūnpaśūnhastihiraṇyamaśvān | bhūmermhadāyatanaṃ vṛṇīṣva svayaṃ ca jīva śarado yāvadicchasi ||
"Yama said: "Choose sons and grandsons who will live a hundred years, many cattle, elephants, gold, and horses. Choose a vast estate on earth and live as many years as you wish.""
What This Means:
Yama tempts Nachiketa with worldly blessings: long-lived descendants, wealth, animals, gold, land, and an unnaturally long life.
Going Deeper:
This is the classic test - will the seeker abandon ultimate knowledge for worldly gains? Yama offers everything material.
How To Apply This:
What would tempt you away from your deepest seeking? Know your vulnerabilities.
#temptation#wealth#longevity