KATHA UPANISHD is one of the most widely studied among all
the Upanishads! It was translated into Persian in the 17th century
copies of which were translated into Latin and distributed in Europe! Edwin
Arnold rendered it in verse as “ The Secret of Death”. The ideas expressed in
the Upanishad contrast Hinduism with
Buddhism that asserts the nonexistence of the Soul or Atma! Buddhism expects
one to seek ‘emptiness’ or ‘ sunyata’ which is the highest Bliss! The Katha
Upanishad is the saga of the son of Vajasravasa who performed a sacrifice as a
‘kamya Karma’ and distributed all his wealth for the sake of heavenly abode. The
cows he gave away in charity were all terminally unhealthy! He did not approve
of his father’s action and in disgust and anger asked to whom he would give
away his son Nachiketas. Irritated at
this question Vajasravas retorted that he was giving him away to Death!
Nachiketas ,
obeying his father goes to the abode of YAMA, the god of Death and not finding
him there, fasts for three nights when Yama
welcomes him with honor and respect as a deserving guest! Pleased with
the nature and behavior of Nachiketas, Yama offers three boons to him!
Nachiketas , for the first boon, wants his father to receive him without anger
and recognize him after he is released by Yama.
Yama grants he boon immediately. Next, Nachiketas wants Yama to explain’
Fire sacrifice’ which leads one to heaven. He wants to know how the dwellers in
heaven gain their immortality, as his second boon. Soon Yama explains to
Nachiketas the nature of fire, the first
of the worlds and the kind and number of bricks to be used and in what
manner. Yama is pleased to give him another boon by which the fire will be
known by his name!
Nachiketas now
asks Yama the most important and teasing question affecting the entire
humanity! When people die ,some point out
that he exists and a few say that he does not exist. He wants Yama to clarify
this doubt which troubles him! Yama tries to evade the answer by saying that it is too subtle to
understand But Nachiketas says that if
Yama cannot answer the question none else can! Yama tempts Nachiketas by
offering wealth, longevity, maidens, cattle, horses, elephants,gold and any
other thing instead of the answer to the question. But Nachiketas is firm and
steadfast in getting the answer. He dismisses all the offers saying they are all transient and wear out
the vigour of all the senses! Moe
over all life is short. Nachiketas prevails upon Yama
to tell him ‘what there is in that great hereafter.’
Between the
good and the pleasant, ignorance and knowledge Nachiketas has rejected the
latter and thus gained the grace of the God of death. He tells Nachiketas that
the self is beyond meditation, ‘inconceivable and subtler than the subtle’.
Argument cannot reveal it and it can be understood taught by another! Yama
compliments Nachketas for holding fast to truth The conversation between Yama
and Nachiketas continues when the latter asks ‘what is beyond right and wrong,
beyond effect and cause and beyond past and future?’. Yama replies that it is
the word AUM which “all austerities proclaim and the Vedas declare. This
syllable is the highest and the Brahman. This is also the best and the highest
support. The Self is never born nor does it die. It sprang from nothing and
nothing sprang from it. It is unborn, eternal, everlasting, and primeval. It is
not slain when the body is slain.” Yama continues and explains,” Smaller than
the small and greater than the great, the Self is hidden in the heart of every
creature Though sitting still He travels far, though lying down He goes
everywhere. The wise man who knows the Self as bodiless within the bodies, as
the unchanging among the changing things, as great and all pervading, will
never grieve This Self cannot be gained by the Veda, nor by intellectual power,
nor by much learning. He is to be gained only by the one whom He chooses. To
such a one the Self reveals His own nature.” (
Continued)
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