What did Odin say in the ears of his son Balder, before they hoisted him to the funeral pyre?
He told him that he (Balder) would survive Ragnarok. As the God of Youth and Rebirth, the death of Balder is symbolic of the deepest part of winter. But eventually spring comes again, and Balder is reborn from the roots of Yggdrasil (the world tree - spelling Norse is tough!). Odin knew this because of his little sojourn over the Well of Knowledge, for which privilege he paid his eye.
Most of the stories about Balder concern his death. He had been dreaming about his death, so Frigg extracted an oath from every creature, object and force in nature (snakes, metals, diseases, poisons, fire, etc.) that they would never harm Balder. All agreed that none of their kind would ever hurt or assist in hurting Balder. Thinking him invincible, the gods enjoyed themselves thereafter by using Balder as a target for knife-throwing and archery.
Then Odin mounted the pyre. On Balder's breast p. 154 he laid the gold ring Draupner, and bending low he whispered in Balder's ear. . . . From that hour have gods and men wondered what said Odin in his son's ear. When Odin whispered In Balder's ear, Nor god nor man Was nigh to hear. What Odin whispered, Bending low, No man knoweth Or e'er shall know. In silence Odin returned to the shore, and then Thor consecrated the pyre with his hammer. A dwarf named Littur, who ran past him, he kicked into the boat, where he was burned with Balder. So ended the ceremony of grief, and the torch was placed to the pyre. High as heaven leapt the flames, and the faces of the gods were made ruddy in the glow. . . . Nanna cried aloud in grief, and her heart burst within her, and she fell dead upon the cold sea strand. Seaward swept the burning ship. . . . The whole world sorrowed for Balder
