This is one of the Upanishads, or the philosophical parts of the Vedas, the central sacred texts of Hinduism. It addresses a problem of interest to all: what happens after the death of the body. The story tells how Nachiketa meets Yama, the lord of Death. During their discussion, Yama explains that there are two paths in life. By rejecting the path of the outside world, and choosing the path that leads inward, it is possible to achieve immortality through a merging with the Universal Self. This translation brings out the spiritual message of the Katha Upanishad. Swami Ambikananda Saraswati seeks to weave the poetry of the Sanskrit with her interpretation to convey this thousand-year-old wisdom. The text is illustrated with Indian miniatures from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.