Kaṭha Upaniṣad 19

19

sa evam uktaḥ pitātmanaḥ satyatāyai preṣayāmāsa / sa ca yamabhavanaṃ gatvā tistro rātrīr uvāsa yame proṣite / proṣyāgataṃ yamam amātyā bhāryā vā ūcur bodhayanto vaiśvānaro 'gnir eva sākṣāt praviśaty atithiḥ san brāhmaṇo gṛhān dahann iva / tasya dāhaṃ śamayanta ivāgner etāṃ pādyāsanādidānalakṣaṇāṃ śāntiṃ kurvanti santo 'tither yataḥ, ato harāhara he vaivasvatodakaṃ naciketase pādyārtham / yataś cākaraṇepratyavāyaḥ śrūyate ///1,1.7 //

Com.—Thus addressed, the father sent him to Death to keep his word and he having gone to the mansion of Death fasted for three nights, Death being away; when Death had gone and returned, his ministers or wife said to inform him, ‘a Brahman guest, verily like fire itself, enters houses burning them; and good men to allay his burning heat as that of fire, propitiate him by giving water to clean his feet, seat to sit upon, etc. Therefore, Oh Vaivasvata! fetch water to be given to Nachiketas; also because evil consequences are declared in default.