KATHA UPANISHAD - 23. Swami Advayananda.

Chinmaya Mission :

On the 30th of March 2023 several centres of Chinmaya Mission celebrated Shri Ram Navami with devotional fervour worldwide. 

Some centres celebrated with day with special pujas Shri Rama Janma and others with Sita Rama Kalyanam.

Devotees gathered at their respective centers to offer their prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Rama.

=========================================================================

Saturday, April 01,  2023, 06:45.

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.

=========================================================================

Chapter-1, Section-1.

THE THIRD BOON :

1.1.24: Test 3: Power & Enjoyership Added

Post-23.

=========================================================================

1.1.24: Test 3: Power & Enjoyership Added
With Translation :

Yama tempts Nachiketas a bit more:

1 

Etat tulyam yadi  =  If equal to this (that I have already offered)

manyase varam   =   you consider some other boon,

2 

vrineeshva vittam   =   you only have to ask for it – wealth & property,

chira-jeevikaam cha;  =  and a long, healthy life (I have already offered).

3 

mahaa-bhoomau  =  (Now consider) Kingship over a vast territory on Earth,

nachiketah tvam edhih  =  O Nachiketas – it can be yours for the asking;

4 

kaamaanaam tvaa  =  I shall add to this unrestrained enjoyership

kaamabhaajam karomi.  =  of all that you may desire.

=========================================================================

Bhashyam (Vyakyanam) :

1-2 

It is possible, so thinks Yama, that Nachiketas has other desirable things in mind

over and above what has already been offered to him. Yama wants to be sure that he has

not left anything out. He himself comes forward with two more things which he has not yet

offered, perhaps thinking that Nachiketas is not old enough yet to desire them:

3 

Political Power: The first additional offer is that of rulership or kingship over

people. Nachiketas is promised to be made the king of a vast region. This will not only give

him access to enormous wealth and comforts, but also give him power over others. Political

power is something which certain people crave for. It is difficult to resist this kind of power

when it comes; and just as difficult to maintain it over a long period of time.

4 

Pleasure: The second offer is that of unrestrained enjoyership. The long life

offered so far does not guarantee that; it has to be a long, healthy life. He will need to have

very good health to enjoy the vast wealth he possesses. This is included in the revised offer.

There is still no interest shown by Nachiketas. With calm eyes revealing an awesome

inner strength, Nachiketas simply fixes them firmly on Lord Yama, as though saying,

“Nothing doing, Sir! I shall stick to my original boon.”

Why is Lord Yama doing this to Nachiketas? Surely the little boy cannot be a threat

to his own powerful position? Even if Nachiketas is too young for the Knowledge in Yama’s

estimation, does he really have to go to this extent to dislodge the desire from the stubborn

boy’s mind? How much more precaution has he to take to ensure that his student is worthy

of the teaching he has asked for?

In the following mantram, we see Lord Yama going even further in his effort to deflect

the determined boy who stands before him, stubbornly demanding the ultimate knowledge.

*****

Next
1.1.25: Test 4: Heavenly & Sexual Pleasures
To be continued

=========================================================================