Kathopanishad - Story of Nachiketa Part 16

Continued from part 15

 लोकादिमग्निं तमुवाच तस्मै या इष्टका यावतीर्वा यथा वा 
स चापि  तप्रत्यवद्दथोक्तं अथः अस्य मृत्युः पुनरेवाह तुष्टः 
                                                                 [1 -15] 

Lokadimagnim tam uvaacha tasmai
Ya ishtaka yavateerva yathaa va 
Sa chapi tat pratyavadad yathoktam 
Athaa-sya mratyuh punarevaah tushtah [1-15]

Yama then explained to Nachiketa the Fire - the source of the worlds. 
And what type of bricks and how many - and how to be placed for the altar.
Then Nachiketa repeated everything back to him (the teacher).
Again, Yama - the lord of death, was extremely pleased.
                         --------------------------

As mentioned before, many scholars define the word Agni literally as a fire. According to them, Yama introduced Nachiketa to a unique type of secret fire. They translate this stanza as Yama giving Nachiketa a unique and mysterious kind of Yagna technique—along with the type and number of bricks to make the pot or vessel and how to arrange them.
That makes it like a ritual. 
However, we must remember that ancient sages and scholars of India often used metaphors to explain their views.
Numerous times, in the Bhagavad Geeta and other Upanishads, Fire is used for Gyana. 
Geeta says Gyan-Agni (the fire of knowledge) can burn one's bad actions and sins. 
Moreover, the Upanishads are the exponents and advocates of Gyana. They are knowledge-based - they are not part of the Karam-kand section of the Vedas. 
Therefore, it makes more sense to say that the teacher must have given Nachiketa some unique Gyana - along with some instructions on how to grasp it.

To contain a fire, we need a container or an oven - and bricks to make it. 
Similarly, to understand and embrace Gyana, we need a receptive mind and stones of discipline and applications to preserve it. 

This Shloka says that the teacher gave him the Gyana and explained how to expand and use it with constant practice and discipline.  
Then, just as a school teacher would ask the students to repeat what he had just said, Yama asked Nachiketa to repeat the Gyana he had just received. 

Nachiketa, the young seeker, repeated it precisely as it was, and Yama was extremely pleased with his new young student. 
It is natural for teachers to be happy to see their students performing well, to see their achievements. 

The problem nowadays is that our current educational or spiritual teaching system has changed from one-to-one or from small groups to delivering lectures to large crowds. 

There is hardly any personal interaction between students and teachers, between Gurus and disciples. It's entirely up to the students and disciples to comprehend and embrace the Gyana or not. Teachers and Gurus do not feel any responsibility towards the students and disciples - to make sure that everyone understands, and to help each student personally.

Nachiketa was fortunate to find such a Guru in Yamaraj: 
- Who was extremely humble and even apologized to the young boy for not being attended well for three days and nights. 
- He then tested the student for his sincerity - by offering him three boons and dodging his real query about death and after-life. 
- After giving Gyana, he asked him to repeat it - to make sure that the student has comprehended it. 
He did not just provide the Gyana remotely and left it entirely to the student to follow it or not. 
He felt responsible for his new disciple. 
                        ' Rajan Sachdeva '

[To be continued]