KATHA UPANISHAD - 24. Swami Advayananda.

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Tuesday, April 18,  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.

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Chapter-1, Section-1.

THE THIRD BOON :

1.1.25: Test 4: Heavenly & Sexual Pleasures

Post-24.

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Mantram - 1.1.25: Test 4: Heavenly & Sexual Pleasures

Yama presses Nachiketas to the limit:

1 

Ye ye kaamaah   =  Whatever heavenly desires are there which are 

durlabhaah martya loke  =  too difficult to obtain in this world of mortals,

2

sarvaan kaamaan chhandatah   =  all those desires, according to your fancy, 

praarthayasva;  =  you may ask for (any of these heavenly pleasures)!

3

imaah raamaah   =  Here are these fair damsels

sarathaah satooryaah  =   with chariots and musical instruments –

4

na hi eedrishaah lambha  =  of such (beauty) that are not indeed

neeyaah manushyaih.  =   obtainable or enjoyable by mortals,

5

aabhih matprattaabhih   =  I shall give them to you 

parichaarayasva  =  to be attended upon by them.

6

nachiketah maranam maa anu  =  Only, O Nachiketas, do not pursue this question

praaksheeh.  =  about the Soul after death.

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Now Lord Yama goes to the very ultimate test that he is authorised to apply.

What has he left out so far which may still be lurking in Nachiketas’s mind as being unoffered?

1-2 

Heavenly Pleasures: 

When his attempts so far leave Nachiketas unmoved, the 

offer is stepped up to cover sensual pleasures such as are not obtainable on earth. On earth 

one has to strive to get what he desires. In that struggle there are many obstacles to be 

overcome. But in heaven there is no effort needed. The joys are boundless, their pleasure is 

limitless. Perhaps that may be on the mind of youmg Nachiketas. No, he solidly refuses it!

3-5 

Sexual Pleasure: 

Finding that even these extreme pleasures are having no effect 

on the boy, Yama plays his trump-card – ‘fair damsels’ who would entertain him! Yama in 

sheer desperation becomes recklessly oblivious of his guest’s age! This is one offer that has 

unfailingly worked on everyone else. The most tantalizing, and therefore demoralizing, of all 

sensual objects is a beautiful woman. Yama’s ultimate weapon is Maya!

Parichaarayasva: 

“to attend upon you”. Acharyaji added some imagination into this

word: A thought may have flashed in Yama’s mind that perhaps Nachiketas is not acceptingthese because he may doubt whether these women will obey him or have their own sweet 

way due to their pride! So he at once promises that they will ‘attend upon’ him. Not only 

that, but he will send them fully equipped with all chariots, etc, so they will not ask

Nachiketas for them. They will give him no trouble at all, only pleasure – so thought Yama.

4. 

Yama’s intention is simply to check out the Vairagya Quotient of his prospective 

disciple. The ever vigilant boy withstands the test with 100 marks out of 100!

Yama could test the boy no further. He had run out of all his tricks. His trump-card 

was ‘woman’. When even that failed on Nachiketas, the boy was now all his!

Here is how Nachiketas responded to Lord Yama’s four tests.

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Next
Mantram - 1.1.26: Response 2: Hero Over the Senses
To be continued

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