I am yours. Before I chose you as the first benefit. Therefore the fire is never satisfied.

Naciketas deepens his first petition with a declaration of total surrender: tava eva aham (yours alone I am). This is the posture of the perfect disciple (śiṣya) who completely surrenders to the master. In the guru-śiṣya tradition, this surrender is a prerequisite for receiving transcendental knowledge.

The phrase pūrvam āham (before I [chose]) refers to the moment of Vājaśravasa’s sacrifice, when Naciketas was “delivered” to death. At that moment, without knowing it, he chose Yama as master. Now, recognizing this karmic connection, he formalizes his position as disciple.

The consequence tvaddhi (therefore, for this reason) connects his surrender with the nature of fire. The fire of knowledge, once ignited by the grace of the master, never extinguishes. This is a promise of śāśvata (permanence) — knowledge received from a genuine master endures through rebirths.

Traditional commentary interprets this verse as establishing that Naciketas, being “possessed” by Yama from the moment of sacrifice, has a right to instruction. It is a point of Vedic law: the guest has rights over the host, especially when they have fasted for three nights.