KATHA UPANISHAD - 56. Swami Advayananda.
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Chapter 1.3: 17 Mantras: THE JOURNEY AHEAD
Mantram - 2: Summary Statement of Chapters 1 & 2
Post - 56.
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1.3.2: Summary Statement of Chapters 1 & 2:
1
Yah setuh eejaanaanaam = There is a “Bridge” i) for the performers of sacrifice; and
2
aksharam brahma yat param; = ii) for reaching the indestructible Highest Brahman.
3a
abhayam, = (The latter) takes one beyond all Fear (to Non-duality);
3b
titeershataam paaram. = wheras beyond sorrow to the ‘other’ shore (the heavens)
4
naachiketam shakemahi. = leads the ‘Nachiketas Fire’ which we have already learnt.
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Two distinct requirements for two distinct seekers have been addressed so far. The
following facts are stated in order to prepare us for the next phase in the text, which
explains the Sadhana or means by which each of these two types gets what he wants:
A. The Bridge & Need of the Karma Upasaka:
1 & 3b-4 Chapter 1 aquaints us with the Upasana for performing the Nachiketas Fire
Sacrifice for those wishing to obtain entry into the higher realms of heaven after death. In
their case, the Setu or “bridge” is between the Earth and the Heavenly planes.
Eejaanaanaam: is 6th Case in Samskrit, “of the sacrificers”; in English it sounds more
correct to say “for the sacrificers”.
This path is covered by Nachiketas’s 2nd boon, which meets the need of the Karma
Upasakas who wish only to go to heaven to enjoy the pleasures there, even if they are only
temporary. They desire to go beyond the sorrows they face in this world.
The Karma Upasakas see the Self as something to be worshipped so as to obtain
some favour – that of going to heavenly planes to enjoy the refined pleasures there.
B. The Bridge & Need of the Jnani:
2-3a Chapter 2 aquaints us with knowledge of the Self. We step into the higher realm
of Brahman, which is for those wishing to obtain exit from the world of Samsara. In their
case, the Setu or “bridge” is from the manifested plane of Unreality to the unmanifested
plane of the Absolute Reality.
Titeershataam: is 6th Case in Samskrit, “of those who wish to cross”; again, in English
it sounds better to say “for those who wish to cross”.
This path is covered by Nachiketas’s 3rd boon, which meets the need of the Jnanis
who wish to attain the Supreme Brahman, imperishable and eternal, and thereby come out
of the birth and death cycle permanently. They attain freedom from fear by reaching Non
duality, where there is no ‘other’ to cause any fear.
The Jnanis see the Self as something that is their own higher Self, to be meditated
upon and united with so as to be totally liberated from all desire for favours, and be freed
from all sorrows of the relative world.
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Next - THE CHARIOT METAPHOR
Mantras - 1.3: 3&4- The Chariot Metaphor Introduced
Continued
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