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

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Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda on the 90 Lectures delivered by Swami Advayananda ji Acharyaji, 15th Batch Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai July 17th – September 29th, 2012.

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Adi Shankaracharya, Swami Sivananda, Swami Tapovanji, Swami Chinmayananda.

SERVE  LOVE  GIVE  PURIFY  MEDITATE  REALISE

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Monday, February 28, 2022. 19:00

(Parts 1 & 2) : 

Part 1 – Total 71 Verses

Chapters 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3.

ABOUT THE BHASHYAM:

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ABOUT THE BHASHYAM:

The following Mantram contains all that constitutes a perfect Bhashyam:

"Sutrartho varnyate yata, padaih sutraru saribhih;

swapadani cha varnyante, bhashyam bhashyavido vidhuh."

Meaning:

i) “The original text is in very concise Sutras.

ii) “The meaning of the Sutras are explained in an elaborate way.

iii) Every word is explained, following the Sutra word by word.

[All optional meanings are given, and then those that do not apply are eliminated

with reasons, until only the meaning applicable is left.]

iv) “Then one’s own explanation is explained.

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If these four steps are followed, then we have a Bhashyam.

We will go through the Shankaracharya Bhashya word for word for this entire text.  We will discover the ‘teacher’ in Shankaracharya. He is very enthusiastic, and full of gusto. He talks to us through this Bhashya. The Kathopanishad Bhashya is a good one to start with as it is simple and flowing, and the words of the original are easy to pick out.

At the end of this text, we aim to get a good understanding of how to read through a Bhashya. There is an art in studying a Bhashya. Our Samskrit will also greatly improve.

Shankaracharyaji has written Bhashyas on all the 10 major Upanishads. They are Isa, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka. His Bhashyas have set the benchmark in this field.

How much we drink from the Bhashya depends on how thirsty we are! To start with, we may just read the general meaning; then we can select some of the important words; if we are serious, we can go through every word in detail.

We are fortunate to have Swami Gambhirananda ji’s word-for-word translation of the Bhashyam. We are encouraged to use it well, to the best of our capacity.

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Next : Chapter 1.1: (29 verses) : THE STORY OF NACHIKETAS.

To be continued ......

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