KATHA UPANISHAD : 5. Swami Advayananda.

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Tuesday, June 07, 2022, 20:30

 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 Shankaracharya ji.

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Chapter-1, Section-1.

Mantram-5 : Nachiketas : “Do I Deserve This?”

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Mantram-5.

Bahunam emi prathamah bahunam emi madhyamah;

kimsvid yamasya kartavyam yat maya adya karishyati.

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Translation :

Nachiketas to himself :

1 Bahunam emi prathamah        = “Among many, let me be in the first category; 

(if not)

2 bahunam emi madhyamah;     =  among many, at least let me be in the mediocre class;

3 kimsvid yamasya kartavyam     =  What purpose of Yama is

4 yat maya adya karishyati.            =   now going to be served through me?”

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Commentary :

It hurt him to see that his father did not grasp his advice for his own good, and

instead became angry.

1-2 The boy Nachiketas assesses himself mentally: I should be in the first grade of

sons who act the father’s wishes before he utters them; if not, at least I should be in the

second grade who does perfectly after his father instructs; let me not be in the third grade

who does poorly what his father instructs; and never be in the fourth grade who does not do

even when he is told many times.

3-4 After such introspection, he thinks what his father would gain by this curse; he

would only lose his son. And then, of himself, of what use is he going to be to Lord Yama?

When his anger subsided, the father realized his foolishness done in a moment of

weakness. But it was too late. The son was made of stern stuff. They were uttered while the

Yajna fires were still burning, so they were part of the Yajna – and they had to be fulfilled.

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Next - 1.1.6: The Glory of Upholding Tradition

To be continued ....

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