Katha Upanishad 1.9Famous
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तिस्रो रात्रीर्यदवात्सीर्गृहे मेऽनश्नन्ब्रह्मन्नतिथिर्नमस्यः। नमस्तेऽस्तु ब्रह्मन् स्वस्ति मेऽस्तु तस्मात्प्रति त्रीन्वरान्वृणीष्व॥
tisro rātrīryadavātsīrgṛhe me'naśnanbrahmannatithirnamasyaḥ | namaste'stu brahman svasti me'stu tasmātprati trīnvarānvṛṇīṣva ||
"Yama said: "O Brahmin, since you, a venerable guest, have stayed three nights in my house without food, I bow to you. May good come to me! Therefore, choose three boons.""
What This Means:
Yama returns and is distressed to find Nachiketa has fasted for three nights. To make amends, he offers the boy three boons - one for each night.
Going Deeper:
Even Yama, the Lord of Death, must honor dharma. His humility before a young guest shows the supremacy of righteousness over power.
How To Apply This:
Even those in power must honor ethical principles. True greatness includes humility.
#humility#boons#dharma