He waited at the gate of the Lord of Death
For three full days and three full nights
Like young Nachiketas who had waited so
Equal in intellect and in merit
Though for different reasons with it.
Vyagramihira, son of Indrasanga,
Slain in righteous battle on the banks of Ganga
He waited at the gate of the Lord of Death
For three full days and three full nights
Aware of questions asked and Nachiketas' response
He would emulate him or so he thought
But the Lord arrived and tempted him to nought,
"I offer thee four apsaras, horses and chariots
Thousands of years of rulership and comforts -
Urvashi of the side-long glances
The doe-eyed Menaka, how she dances!
Rambha of slender waist and heavenly gait
Tilottama, she pierces men's hearts with her darts!"
Tempted so, Vyaghramihira thought
This is the boon I should have sought
What use dry immortality
Against a long life of gaiety?
The Lord granted - "So be it."
When the period ended, he lost merit
Once a king, now looking for crumbs
His paradise was lost with it.

Note: According to the Upanishads, young Nachiketas was given as an offering to the God of Death by his angry father for having criticized his action of presenting a famished cow to a brahmin at a ritual. The dutiful boy waited at Yama's gate (He was not at home) for three days and three nights. Yama felt sorry when he arrived and offered him a boon. The wise Nachiketas asked for immortality. Yama tempted him with a long life, rulership, beautiful women, horses and chariots; all these were rejected. Ultimately, Yama granted immortality to the persistent Nachiketas.