KATHA UPANISHAD - 6. Swami Advayananda.

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Sunday, June 26, 2022, 05:30.AM.

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-6 : The Glory of Upholding Tradition

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Mantram-6.

Nachiketas to his Father :

"Anupashya yatha purve prati-pashya tatha apare;

sasyam iva martyah paschyate  sasyam iva ajayate punah."

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Translation :

Nachiketas to his Father :

1 Anupashya yatha purve           = “Consider how your forefathers behaved.

2 prati-pashya tatha apare;          = And consider how others behave (now).”

3 sasyam iva martyah paschyate   = To himself: “Like corn does Man decay and die;

4 sasyam iva ajayate punah.        = like corn he emerges (or is born) again.”

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Commantay :

At this point come out words from the little boy Nachiketas which belie his age. He

tells his father a deep philosophical truth about his action and its consequences.

The mantram may be split into two parts:

1-2 i) This part is addressed to the father as food for thought.

3-4 ii) This part is a soliloquy when, just before making his way to the abode of

Death, he ponders inwardly how fickle one’s life-span is.

1 Their forefathers lived an exemplary life. His grandfather was well-known for his

charity (verse 1). Could his father not see that and behave accordingly? By not giving the

right charity to the priests, he was breaking a respectable family tradition. He had brought

degradation of the family name.

2 Besides the family forefathers, there are the examples of great and wise ones even

today who practice the traditions of the past in such matters as charity.

3-4 The trip to Yama’s abode is on the boy’s mind. We may infer that his father

probably begged him not to go. But Nachiketas stood for the truth and would not retract on

the curse. He was ready to go, and unafraid of Lord Yama. He philosophies how

insignificant life is on earth – “Man decays and dies like corn.” This world is impermanent

and human life is even more fragile. Of what use is it to break one’s words?

Thus the boy did what was necessary for him to go to Yama-Loka and offer himself as

a ‘Gift’ to Lord Yama from his father. Upon reaching Lord Yama’s abode, he found that Yama

was out on his usual duty on Earth. Nachiketas waited for three days and nights, refusing to

eat anything that was offered to him by Yama’s wife or housekeepers. On Yama’s return his

family informed him of what happened. 

Lord Yama’s response is as follows :

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Next -

1.1.7: Lord Yama Instructs on Hospitality

To be continued....

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