KATHA UPANISHAD: 4. Swami Gurubhaktananda.

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Thursday 01, November 2025, 19:40.
KATHA UPANISHAD: “A Leap into the Beyond”:Parts 1 & 2 

with Bhashya by Sri Adi Shankaracharyaji.

 Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda 

on the 90 Lectures delivered by Swami Advayanandaji 

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KATHA UPANISHAD:  Part 1 – Total 71 Mantras
Chapters 1.1, 1.2 & 1.3 

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Chapter 1.1: (29) Mantras
Post-3. 

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Mantram: 1.1.4: Father’s Curse on Nachiketas 

1 

Sa ha uvaacha pitaram taata = He said unto his father:  

2 

“Kasmai maam daasyasi?” iti; = “To whom wilt thou give me?” 

3 

dviteeyam triteeyam = (He repeated this) a second and a third time.  

 tam ha uvaacha. =(Then his father angrily) retorted to him: 

4 

“Mrityave tvaa dadaami!” iti. = “Unto Death do I give thee!” 

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1 
In saying this, his only motive was to protect his father’s reputation. 

2 It was to convey to his father that giving useless cows was worse than not giving anything at all. The receiver of these cows would have a big burden on his head. Was he also going to be a burden on someone’s head? These are the feelings that accompanied Nachiketas’s question to his father. The boy could sense that his father was “cutting corners” in his sacrificial gifts. It implied that in reality he was still attached to his wealth, and as such would not get the merit of the sacrifice. 

3-4

 His father, however, turned a deaf ear to this nagging questioning from his son. But the boy repeated it again and again. Soon the father became irritated, and blurted out in anger, “I will give you to Yama, the Lord of Death!” This was an ominous curse. It was uttered already and it was too late to withdraw it. The boy was seriously affected by it. This is how he thought . . . 

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Mantram -1.1.5: Nachiketas: “Do I Deserve This?”

Nachiketas to himself: 

1 

Bahoonaam emi prathamah = “Among many, let me be in the first category; (if not) 

2 

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

3 

kimsvid yamasya kartavyam =  What purpose of Yama is  

4 

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

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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 who does poorly what his father instructs; and never be in the fourth grade 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. 

*****

Next
Mantram -1.1.6: The Glory of Upholding Tradition 
Continues

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