kathopanishad original sanskrit with English translation

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प्रार्थना

यस्मिन सर्वं यत: सर्व य: सर्व सर्वदृक्तथा| सर्वभावपदतितं स्वात्मानं तं स्मराम्यहम||

शान्तिपाठ

ॐ सह नाववतु | सह नौ भुनक्तु | सह वीर्य करवावहै |
तेजस्वी नावधीतमस्तु |
मा विद्विषावहै |
ॐ शांति:! शांति:!! शांति:!!!

SHANTIPATH

May that Supreme Self protect both of us (student and teacher) together. May take care of both of us together. May we together have powerful faculty of learning. May the learning of both of us be bright. May we not hate. May the three obstacles be at peace.

प्रथमोSध्याय:

ONCE UPON A TIME . . .

प्रथमा वल्ली

KATHOPANISHAD 1st Chapter – 1st Valli

During

Visvajit sacrifice by Väjasravasa

       ॐ उशन्ह वै वाजश्रवस: सर्ववेदसं ददौ| तस्य ह नचिकेता नाम पुत्र आस ||१||

Tr.- Once upon a time, Väjasravasa (also known as Uddälaka,
of Gautama lineage) performed the Visvajit sacrifice desiring its result.
He had a son named Naciketä. (I.1.1)

One is supposed to give away all possessions in the Visvajit ritual.
Naciketä was watching everything being gifted away.
Although young, thinking that a son is also his father’s property
and hence must be given away, he approached his father and asked –

       तॐह कुमारॐसन्तं दक्षिणासु नीयमानासु श्रद्धाविवेश सोSमन्यत ||२||

पीतोदका जग्धतृणा दुग्धदोहा निरिन्द्रिया:|
       अनन्दा नाम ते लोकस्तान्स गच्छति ता ददत ||३ ||

स होवाच पितरं तत कस्मै मां दास्यसीति
       द्वितियं त्रुतियं तॐहोवाच मृत्यवे त्वा ददामीति || ४ ||

Naciketä’s thoughts, and dialogue between father and son
Tr. - ‘To whom are you giving me away?’ The father ignored the child’s
question and did not respond. Naciketä kept on harping the question,
a second and a third time. Irritated, the father blurted –
‘I give you away to Death.’ (I.1.2, 3, & 4)

बहुनामेमि प्रथमो बहुनामेमि मध्यम:||
       किॐस्विद्यमस्य कर्तव्यं यन्मयाद्य करिष्यति || ५ |||

Naciketä started wondering –

Tr. - I am considered to be best amongst many in many aspects,
above average in some aspects. Of what use I can be to Lord Yama,
which father desires to be done by me? (I.1.5)

अनुपश्य यथा पूर्वे प्रतिपश्य तथापरे |
       सस्यमिव मर्त्य: पच्यते सस्यमिवाजायते पुन: ||६||

What was uttered has to be executed. Naciketä consoled his father advising him to note –
Tr. - what has been done by his forefathers, and what is being done by people currently and requested him to send him to Lord Yama as per his words. (I.1.6).

वैशानर: प्रविशत्यतिथिर्ब्राह्मणो गृहान |
       तस्यैता ॐ शान्तिं कुर्वन्ति हर वैवस्वतोदकम ||७||

आशाप्रतीक्षे संगतॐसूनृतां च
       इष्टापूर्ते पुत्रपशूॐष्च सर्वान |
एतद्वृङ्क्ते पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसो
       यस्यानशंन्वसति ब्राह्मणों गृहे ||८||

When Naciketä reached the abode of Lord Yama, he had gone out on errand.
Naciketä waited for Yama’s return three nights without partaking food.
Tr. - When Lord Yama returned from his errand, his wives/ministers
advised him to pacify the young Brahmin boy immediately, failing which
all his good deeds will be washed away. (I.1.7 & 8)

तिस्त्रो रात्रिर्यदवात्सिर्ग्रुहे में
       अनश्नन्ब्रह्मन्नतिथिर्नमस्य: |
नमस्तेSस्तु ब्रह्मन्स्वस्ति मेंSस्तु
       तस्मात्प्रति त्रिन्वरान्व्रुणीष्व ||९||

Lord Yama approached Naciketä and apologised to him and said,
Tr. - Oh Brahmin! You have been waiting in my place since three
nights without food. Please ask me for three boons for
each of those nights waited. (I.1.9)

शान्तसंकल्प: सुमना यथा स्या -
       द्वीतमन्युर्गौतमो माभि मृत्यो|
त्वत्प्रसृष्टम् माभिवदेत्प्रतीत
       एतत्त्रयाणां प्रथमं वरं वृणे ||१० ||

1. to be allowed to return to his father alive, and that
his father not be angry with him (1.1.10);
Lord Yama immediately granted the first boon
for pacifying Nachiketa's father

मृत्युरुवाच -

यथा पुरस्ताभ्दविता प्रतीत
       औद्दलकिरारुणिर्मत्प्रष्ट: |
सुखॐरात्री: शयिता वीतमन्यु -
       स्त्वां ददृशिवान्म्रुत्युमुखात्प्रमुक्तं ||११ ||

The first boon – pacifying his father

As the first boon, Naciketä asked that his father should become
calm and recognise him on his return and talk to him affectionately. (I.1.10)
This was immediately granted by Lord Yama. (I.1.11)

स्वर्गे लोके न भयं किंचनास्ति
       न तत्र त्वं न जरया विभेति
उभे तीर्त्वाशनायापिपासे
       शोकातीगो मोदते स्वर्गलोके ||१२||

स त्वमग्निॐस्वर्ग्यमध्येषि मृत्यो
       प्रब्रूहि त्वॐश्रद्दधानाय मह्यम् |
स्वर्गलोका अमृतत्वं भजन्त
       एतद्द्वितीयेन वृणे वरेण ||१३||

The second boon - Agnividyä

For the second boon, Naciketä asked for that Agnividyä,
knowing and performing which, a person could go to heaven,
where there is no fear, no old age and death, since Lord Yama is not there. (I.1.12 & 13)

प्र ते ब्रवीमि तदु मे निबोध
       स्वर्ग्यमग्निं नचिकेतः प्रजानन् |
अनन्तलोकाप्तिमथो प्रतिष्ठां
       विद्धि त्वमेनं निहितं गुहायाम || १४ ||

लोकादिमग्निं तमुवाच तस्मै
       या इष्टका यावतीर्वा यथा वा |
स चापि तत्प्रत्यवदद्दयोक्त -
       मथास्य मृत्युः पुनरेवाह तुष्टः || १५ ||

तमब्रवीत्प्रीयमाणो महात्मा
       वरं तवेहाद्य ददामि भूयः |
तवैव नाम्ना भवितायमग्निः
       सृङ्कां चेमामनेकरुपां गृहाण || १६ ||

Lord Yama taught him the Agnividyä with details of selection of
bricks and fire. In fact, seeing the young boy’s memory and grasping ability,
Lord Yama was so pleased that he gifted a jewelled-necklace to
Naciketä and proclaimed that, the said Agnividyä, henceforth will be
known as ‘Naciketägni’. (I.1.14, 15, & 16)

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रिभिरेत्य सन्धिं
       त्रिकर्मकृत्तरति जन्ममृत्यू |
ब्रह्मजज्ञं देवमीड्यं विदित्वा
       निचाय्येमाॐशान्तिमत्यन्तमेति || १७ ||

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रयमेतद्विदित्वा
       य एवं विद्वाॐश्चिनुते नाचिकेतम् |
स मृत्यु पाशान्पुरतः प्रणोद्य
       शोकातिगो मोदते स्वर्ग लोके || १८ ||

एष तेSग्निर्नचिकेतः स्वर्ग्यो
       यमवृणीथा द्वितीयेन वरेण |
एतमग्निं तवैव प्रवक्ष्यन्ति जनास-
         स्तृतीयं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व || १९ ||

Lord Yama continued the praise of the Naciketägni (I.1.17-18),
and finally asked Naciketä to seek the third boon. (I.1.19))

येयं प्रेते विचिकित्सा मनुष्ये -
        स्तीत्वेके नायमस्तीति चैके |
एतद्विद्यामनुशिष्टस्त्वयाहं
        वराणामेष  वरस्तृतीयः  || 20 ||

Now, Naciketä asked for the third boon,

Tr. - There is indeed doubt about what happens after death.
Some say it exists, some say it does not exist.
I desire to know the truth from you clearly.
This is my request for the third boon. (I.1.20)

देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्स्तितं पुरा
        न हि   सुज्ञेयमणुरेष धर्मः |
अन्यं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व
        मा मोपरोत्सीरति मा सृजैनम् || 21 ||

Lord Yama was stunned to hear the request. He said,
Tr. - Child, this subtle mystery was not clear to the
Devatäs earlier, since it is not easily comprehensible.
Hence, you abandon the idea. Ask for some other boon. (I.1.21)

देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं किल
        त्वं च मृत्यो यन्न सुज्येयंमात्य |

वक्ता चास्य त्वादूगन्यो न लभ्यो
        नान्यो वरस्तुल्य एतस्य  कष्चित् || 22 ||

Naciketä used Lord Yama’s this reason to support his request
and insisted on knowing the truth, since it was earlier not known
to the Devatäs, and there is no better instructor of this
knowledge other than Lord Yama himself. (I.1.22)

शतायुषः पुत्रपौत्रान्वृणीष्व
        बहुन्पशून्हस्तिहिरण्यमश्वान्  |
भूमेर्महदायतनं वृणीष्व
        स्वयं च जीव शरदो यावदिच्छसि || 23 ||

Lord Yama’s offer to Naciketä

Lord Yama tried to dissuade Naciketä by offering pleasures of the world,
Tr. - You may ask for progeny with long life, abundant cattle,
horses, elephants, gold and huge empire on the earth and
longevity as per his desire. (I.1.23)

एतत्त्तुल्यं  यदि मन्यसे वरं
        वृणीष्व वित्त्तं चिरजीविकां च |
महाभूमौ नचिकेतस्त्वमेधि
        कामानां त्वा कामभाजं करोमि || 24 ||

इमा रामाः  सरथाः सतूर्या
        न हीदृशा  लभ्यनीया मनुष्यैः |
आभिर्मत्प्रत्त्ताभिः  परिचारयस्व
        नचिकेतो मरणं मानुप्राक्षीः   || 25 ||

He offered to give anything that is desired by Naciketä,
and objects that are not available on the earth, and advised Naciketä
not to pester the question – what happens after death. (I.1.24 & 25)

श्वोभावा मर्त्यस्य यदन्तकैत -
        त्सर्वेन्द्रियाणां जरयन्ति तेजः |
अपि  सर्वं जीवितमल्पमेव
        तवैव वाहास्तव नृत्यगीते || २६ ||

Hearing Lord Yama, Naciketä said that all the gifts offered
by Lord Yama are transient, and in fact, they age a person.
‘May all your gifts remain with you.’ (I.1.26)

न वित्त्तेन तर्पणीयो मनुषो
        लष्स्यामहे वित्त्तमद्राक्ष्म चेत्त्वा |
जीविष्यामो यावदीशिष्यसि त्वं
        वरस्तु मे वरणीयः स एव || २७ ||

‘A person cannot be satisfied with wealth. In fact, having
seen you will ensure wealth and long life, but the only boon
worth asking is the knowledge of that tattva.’ (I.1.27)

अजिर्यताममृतानामुपेत्य
        जीर्यन्मर्त्यः क्वधः स्थः प्रजानन् |
अभिध्यायन्वर्णरतिप्रमोदा -
        नतिदिर्घे जीविते को रमेत || २८ ||

‘Having come to heaven, in contact with immortals,
who would care for long life in the earth!’ (I.1.28)

यस्मिन्निदं विचिकित्सन्ति मृत्यो
        यत्साम्परायै महति ब्रूहि नस्तत् |
यो यं वरौ गूढमनुप्रविष्टो
        नान्यं तस्मान्नचिकेता वृणीते || २९ ||

Therefore, please teach me that tattva about which people have doubts.
Naciketä does not want any other boon.’ (I.1.28 & 29).

        इति कठोपनिषद प्रथमाध्याये प्रथमवल्ली समाप्तम् || 1 ||

continued . . .
From now onwards, (Ch.-I.2), until the end of the text (Ch.-II.3)
Lord Yama teaches the nitya-tattva – the secret of what happens after death.