The sage Naciketas said to his own father: “Father, to whom will you give me since you have become complete in possessions?” The father did not answer. Then he said: “To others you wish to give, but to me you give to death. To what other benefactor shall I go?”

This verse begins the third section recalling the foundational episode: Vājaśravasa, father of Naciketas, was performing a sacrifice where he had to give all his possessions. Naciketas observes that the only “gift” he receives is being “delivered to death” — an uncomfortable question about the destiny of the human being. This is the beginning of the search that will lead Naciketas to confront Yama (Death personified) and obtain knowledge of the immortal Ātman.