Changes

On hearing the question Yama answers thus:

On hearing the question Yama answers thus:

देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं पुरा न हि सुविज्ञेयमणुरेष धर्मः । अन्यं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व मा मोपरोत्सीरति मा सृजैनम् ॥ २१॥

देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं पुरा न हि सुविज्ञेयमणुरेष धर्मः । अन्यं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व मा मोपरोत्सीरति मा सृजैनम् ॥ २१॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.21)

Meaning : In earlier days, even devatas had doubts regarding the subtle substance (the Self) which is not easily comprehended. So Nachiketa ! ask for some other boon and do not press me; give up this question that you asked of me.

Meaning : In earlier days, even devatas had doubts regarding the subtle substance (the Self) which is not easily comprehended. So Nachiketa ! ask for some other boon and do not press me; give up this question that you asked of me.

Hearing this Nachiketa insists to know about Death from Yama as follows:

Hearing this Nachiketa insists to know about Death from Yama as follows:

देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं किल त्वं च मृत्यो यन्न सुज्ञेयमात्थ । वक्ता चास्य त्वादृगन्यो न लभ्यो नान्यो वरस्तुल्य एतस्य कश्चित् ॥ २२॥

देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं किल त्वं च मृत्यो यन्न सुज्ञेयमात्थ । वक्ता चास्य त्वादृगन्यो न लभ्यो नान्यो वरस्तुल्य एतस्य कश्चित् ॥ २२॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.22)

Meaning : When even devatas had doubt about this subject, and O Yama! since you say that It (Knowledge of Self) is not well comprehended, and any other such learned instructor as yourself is not to be found even on searching, therefore there is no other boon comparable to this one.

Meaning : When even devatas had doubt about this subject, and O Yama! since you say that It (Knowledge of Self) is not well comprehended, and any other such learned instructor as yourself is not to be found even on searching, therefore there is no other boon comparable to this one.

Nachiketa, as serene as an unperturbed lake, replies that all such things are ephemeral and waste away the vigour of the senses that man has. Nachiketa is an exemplary example of an enlightened soul at a young age who realised that all life, without exception, is short indeed and easily turns away from temptations offering all the vehicles, songs and dances that you offer may remain with you (Yama) only. And he persists that men may rule as long as the worlds exist but that boon of knowledge of Self is worth praying for as every person wants to go higher and higher up. Therefore, Nachiketa says "O Yama! I am not to be seduced by the lure of sons, wealth, cattle and kingdoms. What are these to a sensible man who realises that worldly pleasures are transient in nature?"

Nachiketa, as serene as an unperturbed lake, replies that all such things are ephemeral and waste away the vigour of the senses that man has. Nachiketa is an exemplary example of an enlightened soul at a young age who realised that all life, without exception, is short indeed and easily turns away from temptations offering all the vehicles, songs and dances that you offer may remain with you (Yama) only. And he persists that men may rule as long as the worlds exist but that boon of knowledge of Self is worth praying for as every person wants to go higher and higher up. Therefore, Nachiketa says "O Yama! I am not to be seduced by the lure of sons, wealth, cattle and kingdoms. What are these to a sensible man who realises that worldly pleasures are transient in nature?"

यस्मिन्निदं विचिकित्सन्ति मृत्यो यत्साम्पराये महति ब्रूहि नस्तत् । योऽयं वरो गूढमनुप्रविष्टो नान्यं तस्मान्नचिकेता वृणीते ॥ २९॥

यस्मिन्निदं विचिकित्सन्ति मृत्यो यत्साम्पराये महति ब्रूहि नस्तत् । योऽयं वरो गूढमनुप्रविष्टो नान्यं तस्मान्नचिकेता वृणीते ॥ २९॥ (Kath. Upan. 1.1.29)

Meaning : Oh Mrityu ! tell me what I pray you for. About which (Self) people entertain many doubts as to whether It exists or not, in the context of the next world and whose knowledge leads to a great result. This boon that relates to the Self, which is inscrutable and secretive - is what Nachiketa prayed for.  

Meaning : Oh Mrityu ! tell me what I pray you for. About which (Self) people entertain many doubts as to whether It exists or not, in the context of the next world and whose knowledge leads to a great result. This boon that relates to the Self, which is inscrutable and secretive - is what Nachiketa prayed for.  

While Shreyas - good is difficult to endure and it leads one to the Brahman (Absolute) and he attains Moksha or liberation from samsara. Preyas on the other hand is pleasure and is intimately connected with the body, which prevents a sadhaka from choosing the good. It becomes very clear that one cannot pursue good and the pleasant at the same time, just as light and dark cannot be perceived in the same place.

While Shreyas - good is difficult to endure and it leads one to the Brahman (Absolute) and he attains Moksha or liberation from samsara. Preyas on the other hand is pleasure and is intimately connected with the body, which prevents a sadhaka from choosing the good. It becomes very clear that one cannot pursue good and the pleasant at the same time, just as light and dark cannot be perceived in the same place.

Yama being a Brahmanistha himself explains about Atma - which is difficult to understand as it is subtler than the subtlest and cannot be comprehended by any logical explanation. Addressed as "It" Self or Atma  is said to be seated in the innermost cavity of the heart and attained only by abstracting the senses and mind from outer objective world and resolving this energy into Self Consciousness. This Supreme state is denoted by the word "OM".

Yama being a Brahmanistha himself explains about Atma - which is difficult to understand as it is subtler than the subtlest and cannot be comprehended by any logical explanation. This omnicient "it" is not born, nor does it die. It does not come from anywhere and it does not become into anything, hence call "Asti" or "Exists".  

This omnicient Atman is not born, nor does it die. It does not come from anywhere and it does not become into anything, hence call "Asti" or "Exists". Unborn, eternal, perpetual and ancient, beyond decay, this Atma is not killed when the body is killed.  

नैव वाचा न मनसा प्राप्तुं शक्यो न चक्षुषा । अस्तीति ब्रुवतोऽन्यत्र कथं तदुपलभ्यते ॥ १२॥ (Kath. Upan. 2.3.12)

अस्तीत्येवोपलब्धव्यस्तत्त्वभावेन चोभयोः ।

 

अस्तीत्येवोपलब्धस्य तत्त्वभावः प्रसीदति ॥ १३॥

 

अस्तीत्येवोपलब्धव्यस्तत्त्वभावेन चोभयोः । अस्तीत्येवोपलब्धस्य तत्त्वभावः प्रसीदति ॥ १३॥ (Kath. Upan. 2.3.13)

 

==  Discussion ==

==  Discussion ==