Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1079

c8.1079

NACIKETA (NACIKETA). A sage of olden days. Son of Uddālaki, he lived for a long time in the āśrama serving his father, who devoted his time to performing yajñas. Naciketa, who was once sent into the forest for flowers etc. did not find them anywhere there, and he returned to the āśrama without them. Angry at this his father cursed him to be taken to Yamaloka. Accordingly he went to Yamaloka. He waited at the gates for a long time to see Yama, who appeared at last when he sang the praises of Yama. The advice then given by Yama to Naciketa forms the Kaṭhopaniṣad. After studying the advice he returned to his father, who was pleased to find him a great scholar. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 71).