"THREE-FOLD NACIKETAS FIRE"

Chapter-1.

Section-1.

Mantram-17.

1. When Lord of Death, Yama, explaining the fire sacrifice, seeing his disciple's extraordinary retentive capacity, says: that this fire will be later known as Naciketas fire,

2. In this manmtram, we see three-fold Naciketas fire: means a). one who has performed thrice the Naciketas fire, or  b). it may mean he who learns, knows and performs the Naciketas fire sacrifice, or c). Since Naciketas-Fire seems to be form of Agnihotra, the three may mean the usual 1. Garhapatya-fire, 2. Ahavaniya-fire, 3. Daksina-fire.

3. United with three:- this term used in this mantram- mean a). one who has three great influences namely the father, the mother, the teacher, 

4. that is : he who has three great forces of blessing and who, through obedience and reverence to them all, has come to claim their blessings, or

5.  b). the three may refer the three sources-of-knowledge namely, 1. Direct experience ( pratyaksa pramana),  2. Inference ( anumana pramana), 3. 3. words of wise ( agamas)

6. c) It may also mean the Vedas, the Smritis, the Declarations of wise men ( Sastras).

7. The three duties: 1. Sacrifices, 2. Chanting of Vedas,  3. giving away gifts in charity.

8.  Whoever performs three times this sacrifice of Naciketas fire and has been united with the three and has performed three kinds of duties, overcomes birth and death.

9. When he has understood this adorable bright , omniscient fire, born of Brahmam and realised  Him, then he attains everlasting peace. 

10. Lord of Death Yama thus narrated salient points on Fire-Sacrifice to Naciketas, in this mantram.