Nakiketas said: "I know that what is called a treasure is transient, for that eternal is not obtained by things which are not eternal. Hence the Nâkiketa fire(sacrifice) has been laid by me (first); then by means of transient things, I have obtained what is not transient (the teaching of Yama)."

In plain words: Nachiketas says he knows riches do not last, and things that pass away cannot buy what lasts forever. He performed the fire ritual named after him, and by using passing things that way he gained the lasting teaching of Yama.