Nachiketa 13. Conclusion

Nachiketa

13.

There was a prolonged meditative gap in their dialogue. Nachiketa gathered his powers of determination to fight off a command coming from the person whom he had chosen to occupy the position of the highest guru of his life.

He said with a drastic defiance,’ I shall not go back to a world that has no place for me. That world had rejected me long back when they did not even know what rejection meant to the child that I was. I have neither the energy nor the will to go to that world and beg them to take me into their folds.”

The old man responded with the knowledge that this moment was the moment of the greatest truth for the boy. He said, “The world cannot reject you my son. Now is the beginning of your journey. The days you spent here was the time of recuperation. You have not realized your strength yet, and you will not realize it until you test it against the hostile world. You touched the realm of Death once, not to fall into a dull, protective shell of inertia, a sense of false stability. Face the new path with the vibrancy that I am giving you now. It is my gift, Yama’s gift which no other blessing can surpass. You have the unique destiny of returning to the world of the living, with a life reinforced at the hands of Death. You will walk the earth with a life superimposed. Children blessed by me have no fear. They have lived under my shadow and released into the world to play their part. I do not let them come back to me before they play it. It is like walking on the razor’s edge. But if you exercise your choice wisely, it will neither harm nor hurt.  Be alert at the crossroads, and do not choose the path of least resistance. Knife out your existence, if necessary. Impart the lesson of fortitude to those around you. I shall be there to meet you at the journey’s end.”

The old man paused. They did not have the need to look at each other. In that silence Nachiketa saw the terrain of the life left behind and the one that was to come in a clear new light. A great serenity reigned at that moment between them which was a source of stability and strength for Nachiketa. His Master had spoken the final word. Hereafter the Master had no need to speak. His Silence would surpass Speech.

……………..

The next morning Nachiketa got up and came out to look around. The eastern sky was all aglow. He went in. He must kindle the fire and heat water for the old man’s bath. He will have to be helped to some food also.

Nachiketa stepped inside. The old man lay peaceful in his bed. The morning sun was shining warm upon his face. Every wrinkle upon it seemed to define and decode the mystery of his life to Nachiketa. For a moment Nachiketa gazed at him in awe and reverence and then bent down and touched his forehead. The old man seemed to acknowledge the touch and smile in benediction. Nachiketa’s hand rested on the forehead for awhile and then Nachiketa understood. He gazed at the old man as though at infinity and then silently pulled the sheet over his face…                                                          

THE END.