Katha Upanishad Verse 1.1.20

Nachiketas asks his third and most profound boon. He seeks to resolve the fundamental doubt concerning human existence: what happens after death? While some say the soul survives and others say it does not, Nachiketas wishes to be taught the truth of this matter by Yama himself.

Sanskrit Verse

येयं प्रेते विचिकित्सा मनुष्येऽस्तीत्येके नायमस्तीति चैके । एतद्विद्यामनुशिष्टस्त्वयाऽहं वराणामेष वरस्तृतीयः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

yeyaṃ prete vicikitsā manuṣye’stītyeke nāyamastīti caike | etadvidyāmanuśiṣṭastvayā’haṃ varāṇāmeṣa varastρtīyaḥ || 20 ||

Translation

This well-known doubt as to what becomes of a man after death,—some say he is and some, he is not,—I shall know being taught by thee. This boon is the third of the boons.