KATHA UPANISHAD - 25. Swami Advayananda.

Adi Sankara Nilayam, Veliyanad Eranakulam, Kerala, India 682313

Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF), the Academia of Sanskrit Research and Indology, is the research wing of the Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.

Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF)

Celebrating Adi Sankara Jayanti with pomp and splendour 🪔

The day’s proceedings began with a beautiful shadashopachara puja performed by Swami Sharadananda Saraswati, well-attended by devotees of all ages both online and on-site. 

This was followed by an informational session presented by students of Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, with insightful dialogue on various aspects of the great saint’s life.

The Sanakara Jayanti Sammelana brought together esteemed scholars and speakers Prof. Ramakrishna Bhat (Sri Sankara University Kalady), Swami Viviktanananda (Regional Head CM), Swami Advayananda (President CIF) and Prof. Ajay Kapoor (VC Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth).

The programme ended with the prize distribution ceremony for Sankara Jayanti Elocution Competition and Quiz Competition, but the grand finale was the bike rally from Veliyanad to Kalady organised by Chinmaya Yuvakendra and Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth. 🚴

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Saturday, April 29,  2023, 08:15.

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 :

Mantram - 1.1.26: Response 2: Hero Over the Senses

Post-25.

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Mantram - 1.1.26 : Response 2 : Hero Over the Senses :

Nachiketas replies to Lord Yama :

1 

Shvobhaavaah martasya   =  Ephemeral (evanescent) and of mortal stuff is

yat antaka etat  =  whatever there is here, O Lord of Death!

2 

sarva indrayaanaam   =  From all the sense organs of a man 

jarayanti tejah;  =   they wear out the vigour and vitality.

3 

api sarvam jeevitam   =  Besides, all creatures that have life in them,

alpam eva  =  have a short life span indeed.

4 

tava eva vaahaah   =  Let the horses and chariots remain yours alone; 

tava nritya-geete.  =  let the dancing and singing (girls) remain with you.

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In Nachiketas, Yama was face to face with Dispassion itself in human form. Here was 

fertile soil that was well prepared for the seeds of Atma Jnana to be sown. Inwardly, Yama 

must have been thrilled to the core to note the intensity of the boy’s Mumukshutwa. 

Nothing pleases a Guru more than to see a disciple of such a calibre. An ironsmith can work 

best with pliable red-hot iron, not cold, stiff, unresponsive steel!

1. 

Shvobhaavaa : This key word means “ephemeral”. One to whom the world appears 

ephemeral, mortal and fluctuating, is ripe for the path of Para Vidya in Vedanta.

2. 

Sensual pleasures merely drain away one’s vitality. They steal our wealth of vigour, 

memory, aspiration for God. They cause us to age rapidly; years are converted to weeks!

3. 

Yama has offered long life as a bait, but such is Nachiketas’s discrimination that he 

considers even the longest life-span to be a waste of time if not utilized in the correct 

pursuit of the higher knowledge of the Self.

4. 

“No,” is Nachiketas’s final response to Yama’s offers. “You can keep your damsels 

and all the other pleasures you are offering with you. I have no need for them; they will only 

wear out my vigour. I beg you to stick to my original request.”

In the final three mantras, we see in Nachiketas wisdom far beyond his years.

*****

Next
Mantram- 1.1.27 : Response 3 : Wealth & Long Life Need No Boon
To be continued

Swami Advayananda

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