Chapter-III
“In order to reap the results of one’s own actions done in this world, two (people or Jivas) are said to be entering the cave of heart and residing there (until such results are reaped fully). The wise men, the worshippers of the five-fold aspect of agni (fire-god) and those who have completed the Naciketa-agni worship atleast thrice – compare these two to light and shadow (the actual comparable simile is that of Jivatma and the Paramatma).”
“I think this practice of Naciketa-Agni shall serve like a bridge (unto the Supreme) for those who perform Yagnas or sacrifices, and like the immortal Brahman and shall be the place of no fear for those who want to cross the ocean of births and deaths.”
“If the body be the chariot, the mind (or the manas) is the steering cord (of the horse), the intellect is the driver and the traveler is the Jiva or the Purusa. Understand it to be so.”
“The horses (driving the above chariot) are the sense organs and the materialistic desires or things of interest are the paths it travels by. The wise ones call the Jiva, which comprises of the body, the mind and the sense organs as ‘Bhoktha’.”
“In as much the same way that the wild horses cannot be tamed by a rider, the sense organs will be uncontrollable by that one who has no control over his mind and has no sense of intellect.”
“(On the other hand), the sense organs will be fully under the control of that one who has complete control over his mind and has the distinguishing power of intellect. This is comparable to the control a rider exercises over trained, tamed, good horses.”
“That one who has no intellect, who has no control over his mind and who is dirty (in his mind and thoughts), he will not reach the destination (of the Supreme). He will continue to wander in this world through further births.”
“(On the other hand), that one who is full of intelligence and who has complete control over his mind and is very clean (in his mind and thoughts), he reaches that place from where nothing is ever born again. (the destination of the Supreme).”
“That one who has the intelligence as the rider and a controlled mind as the steering cord, he travels the long way and ultimately reaches the end of the tedious path of samsaara (or the materialistic world). That is the state (called as the Parama-pada) where there is a unison between the Jiva and the all-pervading Divinity.”
“Beyond the sense organs are the objects of sense. Beyond them is the mind. Beyond it is the brain or intuition. Beyond that is the great soul (one of the aspects of the Atma).”
“Beyond that great soul is the unmanifest divine. Beyond that is the Purusha (the all knowing and all pervading Atma). There is nothing beyond the Purusha. That is the end. That is the supreme.”
“This purusha remains hidden in all beings and creatures; he is not visible (to the naked eye). He is seen only by those wise seers who are able to do so by concentrated efforts and focused meditation.”
“The wise man with subtle intelligence shall restrain the speech in his mind, the mind in the intellect, the intellect in the great soul, and the great soul in the Supreme Divine (from where there is no return to this materialistic world).”
“Arise! Awake! Attain the pure knowledge by following the intelligent teachers who practice what they preach. The experienced sages say that the path (leading to self-knowledge) is a risky one since it is sharp as the edge of a knife and also difficult to tread upon or cross over.”
“Having known that which is beyond the aspects of sound, feel, vision, taste and smell, which is unchanged and eternal, which has neither a beginning nor an end, which is beyond even the greatest, which is stable and consistent, one frees himself from the mouth (hungry claws) of death.”
“The intelligent one will become the praised in Brahma loka (the world of Brahma) for the reason of having recited and heard the Naciketa – Upaagyaana (the Naciketas Story) which is ancient and taught directly by Yama, the Lord of Death.”
“That one who propounds this great secret amidst the wise ones who are interested in self-realization or who teaches it with great interest and dedication during the performance of rituals for the dead (by another), will be greatly benefited and blessed. He will be greatly benefited and blessed.”