KATHA UPANISHAD - 21. Swami Advayananda.

Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF) :

Panchadashi, the comprehensive philosophical masterpiece by Sri Bharati Tirtha and Swami Vidyaranya, is a compendium of 15 foundational treatises or prakarana-granthas. Thus each Chapter becomes a complete text on the entire philosophy of Advaita Vedanta for one’s study. 

Specially for Vedanta enthusiasts seeking clarity and depth Swami Advayananda will elaborate on Chapter 8 – Kutastha Deepa Prakarana (The Lamp of immutable Self) in the weekly Panchadasi webinar sessions.

Webinar starts on: 7 April 2023, 7:00 PM IST

Classes will be held every week on Tue, Wed, Fri and Sat from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM IST

Know more & Register: https://chinfo.org/panchadashi

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Monday, March 03,  2023, 07:30.

Chapter 1.Section-1: (29 Mantras) : The story of Nachiketas in the House of Death

(“A Leap Into the Beyond”) :  Bhashyam by Sri Swami Adi Sankaracharya ji.

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Chapter-1, Section-1.

THE THIRD BOON :

Mantram -1.1.22: Response 1: All the More Determined :

Post-21.

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Mantram -1.1.22: Response 1: All the More Determined :
with translation :

Nachiketas says to Lord Yama : 

1 

Devaih atra api  =  Indeed, on this matter, even by the gods  

vichikitsitam kila  =  doubts have been entertained!

2 

tvam cha mrityo yat  =  You also say, O Death, that this principle 

na suvijneyam aattha;  =   is not truly comprehended with ease!

3 

vaktaa cha asya tvaadrik  =  But, a teacher like you who can explain this –

anyah na labhyah  =   another such teacher I shall never find.

4 

na anyah varah  =  (So, I have no option before me but this:) No other boon 

tulyah etasya kashchit.  =   equal to this can there be (for me to choose)!

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The Brilliance of Nachiketas :

Nachiketas emerges with sheer brilliance. He is so sincere as to not be put off by any 

fear. Yama’s deterrents are all the more reason for him to stick stubbornly to this boon!

Nachiketas’s words were paraphrased for us by Acharyaji himself, who rose in 

brilliant eloquence equal to the occasion : 

1 “If the gods could not understand it, it is all the more reason why I would want to 

have this knowledge. Perhaps they did not have a teacher like you. I have you, so I have an 

advantage over them.

2 “And if it is so difficult to comprehend, it must be something very special indeed. I 

have come all the way to you from Earth; after such an effort it would be foolish of me if I 

asked for anything lesser. The lesser things can be got on earth itself, I need not have come 

here for them!

3 “If you are hinting that this is the knowledge that bestows liberation, it implies that 

the other knowledge asked for earlier (in boon two) will only get me some temporary 

pleasure but not liberation. So would you not like me to choose this knowledge instead of 

the other? Isn’t this the knowledge that you should want me to learn?

4 “Putting all these reasons together, how can I waste such a golden opportunity to 

obtain this precious knowledge which cannot come to one in a hurry? Surely, judging from 

your own standard, this is the only boon worth having!”

The class was simply stunned into silence after this outpouring from Acharyaji. Our 

entire minds were raised, as it were, to Nachiketas’s level.

*****

Next

Mantram - 1.1.23: Test 2 : Limitless Wealth & Lordlines

To be continued

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