Katha Upanishad: A Novel (Upanishads)

In this historical novel, we are introduced to Nachiketas, a young boy who is the son of Vajashrava. When Vajashrava decides to give away his old and disabled cows during a sacrificial ritual, Nachiketas is disturbed by his father's actions and asks him to whom he will give everything. His father, annoyed by the boy's questioning, tells him that he will give him to Death.

Despite being said out of annoyance, Nachiketas takes his father's words seriously and decides to visit the god of death, Yama. After waiting for three days in the abode of death, Yama finally arrives and is uneasy about the fact that a guest has been without food or drink for so long. As a result, he offers Nachiketas three boons.

For his first boon, Nachiketas asks Yama to remove all worry from his father and make him recognize Nachiketas once he returns home. For his second boon, Nachiketas wants to know how to get to the realm of heaven where there is no death or suffering. Yama grants this wish and explains the ritual needed to reach this dimension. For his third boon, Nachiketas desires to understand what happens to the soul after death.

Yama initially tries to avoid fulfilling this wish but eventually gives in. He explains that one should choose only "good" over "pleasant" as they have different effects. The wise one chooses the "good," while the foolish one chooses the "pleasant" because of their love for bodily pleasure. Nachiketas learns that those who seek external pleasures become slaves to the laws of death, while those who understand the Self seated within them find eternal peace.

Yama continues his teachings and explains that some souls enter wombs to be embodied while others enter immovable forms depending on their past actions and knowledge. Although spirit is one, it assumes different shapes in different living beings, and no misery of the world can defile it. Only to those who understand that the Self is seated within them belongs eternal peace.

In the end, Vajashrava recognizes his son Nachiketas upon his return from the kingdom of death, and Nachiketas gains a deeper understanding of life and death. This novel explores the themes of faith, wisdom, and self-discovery through the eyes of a young boy on a quest for knowledge.