Kaṭha Upaniṣad 23

23

evam ukto mṛtyur uvāca naciketasam upagamya pūjāpuraḥsaram / tistro rātrīr yad yasmād avātsīr uṣitavānasi gṛhe me mamānaśnan he brahmann atithiḥ san namasyo namaskārārhaś ca, tasmān namaste tubhyam astu bhavatu / he brahman svasti bhadraṃ me 'stu / tasmād bhavato 'naśanena madgṛhavāsanimittād doṣāt / tatprāptyupaśamena yady api bhavad anugraheṇa sarvaṃ mama svasti syāt tathāpi tvadadhikasamprasādanārtham anaśanenoṣitām ekaikāṃ rātriṃ prati trīn varān vṛṇīṣv ābhipretārthaviśeṣān prārthayasva mattaḥ ///1,1.9 //

Com.—Thus addressed, Death having approached Nachiketas worshipfully, said ‘as you have been living in my house fasting for three nights, a Brahman guest worthy of reverence, therefore be my prostration to you. Oh Brahman, therefore be good unto me and let me be freed from the sin of your having lived here fasting; although all good may befall me by your mere grace, still in order that I may propitiate you better, ask of me any three objects you wish for, one for every night you fasted.