Upaniṣads · Kaṭha 1.1

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Kaṭha 1.1.1

ॐ उशन् ह वै वाजश्रवसः सर्ववेदसं ददौ ।
तस्य ह नचिकेता नाम पुत्र आस ॥ १.१.१ ॥

Om. Uśan, son of Vājaśravas, indeed gave away all his possessions. He had a son named Naciketas.

Kaṭha 1.1.2

तँ ह कुमारँ सन्तं दक्षिणासु
नीयमानासु श्रद्धाविवेश सोऽमन्यत ॥ १.१.२ ॥

As the gifts were being led forward, faith entered that boy Naciketas, and he reflected.

Kaṭha 1.1.3

पीतोदका जग्धतृणा दुग्धदोहा निरिन्द्रियाः ।
अनन्दा नाम ते लोकास्तान् स गच्छति ता ददत् ॥ १.१.३ ॥

Those cows that have drunk water, eaten grass, given their milk, and become without senses — the giver of such cows goes to those worlds called joyless.

Kaṭha 1.1.4

स होवाच पितरं तत कस्मै मां दास्यसीति ।
द्वितीयं तृतीयं तँ होवाच मृत्यवे त्वा ददामीति ॥ १.१.४ ॥

He said to his father, "Father, to whom will you give me?" A second and a third time he asked. Then the father said, "I give you to Death."

Kaṭha 1.1.5

बहूनामेमि प्रथमो बहूनामेमि मध्यमः ।
किँ स्विद्यमस्य कर्तव्यं यन्मयाऽद्य करिष्यति ॥ १.१.५ ॥

I go first among many, I go in the middle among many. What is the task of Yama that he will do with me today?

Kaṭha 1.1.6

अनुपश्य यथा पूर्वे प्रतिपश्य तथाऽपरे ।
सस्यमिव मर्त्यः पच्यते सस्यमिवाजायते पुनः ॥ १.१.६ ॥

Look at those who came before, and look likewise at those who come after. A mortal ripens like grain, and like grain is born again.

Kaṭha 1.1.7

वैश्वानरः प्रविशत्यतिथिर्ब्राह्मणो गृहान् ।
तस्यैताँ शान्तिं कुर्वन्ति हर वैवस्वतोदकम् ॥ १.१.७ ॥

The Brahmin enters the houses as a guest, like the fire Vaiśvānara. For him they perform this appeasement. Bring water, O Vaivasvata.

Kaṭha 1.1.8

आशाप्रतीक्षे संगतँ सूनृतां
चेष्टापूर्ते पुत्रपशूँश्च सर्वान् ।
एतद्वृङ्क्ते पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसो
यस्यानश्नन्वसति ब्राह्मणो गृहे ॥ १.१.८ ॥

In the house of the man of little understanding where a Brahmin dwells without having eaten, his hopes and expectations, his companionship, his pleasant speech, his deeds and merits, his sons and cattle—all of these he destroys.

Kaṭha 1.1.9

तिस्रो रात्रीर्यदवात्सीर्गृहे मे-
ऽनश्नन् ब्रह्मन्नतिथिर्नमस्यः ।
नमस्तेऽस्तु ब्रह्मन् स्वस्ति मेऽस्तु
तस्मात्प्रति त्रीन्वरान्वृणीष्व ॥ १.१.९ ॥

O learned one, you stayed in my house three nights as a guest without eating, and so you are worthy of reverence. Homage to you, Brahmin; may there be well-being for me. Therefore, in return, choose three boons.

Kaṭha 1.1.10

शान्तसंकल्पः सुमना यथा स्याद्
वीतमन्युर्गौतमो माऽभि मृत्यो ।
त्वत्प्रसृष्टम् माऽभिवदेत्प्रतीत
एतत् त्रयाणां प्रथमं वरं वृणे ॥ १.१.१० ॥

O Death, may my intention be calm and my mind gentle, and may Gautama be free from anger toward me; when you send me back, may he recognize me and not speak against me. Of the three, this is the first boon I choose.

Kaṭha 1.1.11

यथा पुरस्ताद् भविता प्रतीत
औद्दालकिरारुणिर्मत्प्रसृष्टः ।
सुखँ रात्रीः शयिता वीतमन्युः
त्वां ददृशिवान्मृत्युमुखात् प्रमुक्तम् ॥ १.१.११ ॥

As before, when I send you back, Āruṇi, the son of Uddālaka, will recognize you and sleep comfortably at night, free from anger, having seen you released from the mouth of death.

Kaṭha 1.1.12

स्वर्गे लोके न भयं किंचनास्ति
न तत्र त्वं न जरया बिभेति ।
उभे तीर्त्वाऽशनायापिपासे
शोकातिगो मोदते स्वर्गलोके ॥ १.१.१२ ॥

In the heavenly world there is no fear at all; there you do not fear, nor are you afraid of old age. Having crossed over both hunger and thirst, beyond sorrow, one rejoices in the heavenly world.

Kaṭha 1.1.13

स त्वमग्निँ स्वर्ग्यमध्येषि मृत्यो
प्रब्रूहि त्वँ श्रद्दधानाय मह्यम् ।
स्वर्गलोका अमृतत्वं भजन्त
एतद् द्वितीयेन वृणे वरेण ॥ १.१.१३ ॥

O Death, you know that fire which leads to heaven. Tell it to me, who am faithful. The dwellers of the heavenly worlds attain immortality. As the second boon, I choose this.

Kaṭha 1.1.14

प्र ते ब्रवीमि तदु मे निबोध
स्वर्ग्यमग्निं नचिकेतः प्रजानन् ।
अनन्तलोकाप्तिमथो प्रतिष्ठां
विद्धि त्वमेतं निहितं गुहायाम् ॥ १.१.१४ ॥

Naciketas, I tell you that; learn it well from me. Knowing that fire which leads to heaven, know it as the attainment of endless worlds and their support. Know this, placed in the cave.

Kaṭha 1.1.15

लोकादिमग्निं तमुवाच तस्मै
या इष्टका यावतीर्वा यथा वा ।
स चापि तत्प्रत्यवदद्यथोक्तं
अथास्य मृत्युः पुनरेवाह तुष्टः ॥ १.१.१५ ॥

Death told him about that fire: how many bricks, and in what manner they are to be laid. Naciketas repeated it back exactly as it was told. Then Death, pleased, spoke to him again.

Kaṭha 1.1.16

तमब्रवीत् प्रीयमाणो महात्मा
वरं तवेहाद्य ददामि भूयः ।
तवैव नाम्ना भविताऽयमग्निः
सृङ्कां चेमामनेकरूपां गृहाण ॥ १.१.१६ ॥

Pleased, the great-souled one said to him: Today, here, I grant you yet another boon. This fire shall be known by your very name. And take this necklace of many forms.

Kaṭha 1.1.17

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रिभिरेत्य सन्धिं
त्रिकर्मकृत्तरति जन्ममृत्यू ।
ब्रह्मजज्ञं देवमीड्यं विदित्वा
निचाय्येमाँ शान्तिमत्यन्तमेति ॥ १.१.१७ ॥

Having performed the three Naciketa rites and joined the three, the one who does three deeds crosses over birth and death. Having known the god born of brahman, worthy of praise, and having fully realized him, one attains utmost peace.

Kaṭha 1.1.18

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रयमेतद्विदित्वा
य एवं विद्वाँश्चिनुते नाचिकेतम् ।
स मृत्युपाशान् पुरतः प्रणोद्य
शोकातिगो मोदते स्वर्गलोके ॥ १.१.१८ ॥

He who, having known these three, thus wise, builds the Naciketa fire, casts off the snares of death before him, goes beyond sorrow, and rejoices in the heavenly world.

Kaṭha 1.1.19

एष तेऽग्निर्नचिकेतः स्वर्ग्यो
यमवृणीथा द्वितीयेन वरेण ।
एतमग्निं तवैव प्रवक्ष्यन्ति जनासः
तृतीयं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व ॥ १.१.१९ ॥

Naciketas, this fire, which leads to heaven and which you chose as your second boon, is yours. People will proclaim this fire even by your own name. Naciketas, choose a third boon.

Kaṭha 1.1.20

येयं प्रेते विचिकित्सा मनुष्ये-
ऽस्तीत्येके नायमस्तीति चैके ।
एतद्विद्यामनुशिष्टस्त्वयाऽहं
वराणामेष वरस्तृतीयः ॥ १.१.२० ॥

There is this doubt about a human being after death: some say "he is," and others say "he is not." I wish to be instructed by you in this knowledge. This is the third of the boons.

Kaṭha 1.1.21

देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं पुरा
न हि सुविज्ञेयमणुरेष धर्मः ।
अन्यं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व
मा मोपरोत्सीरति मा सृजैनम् ॥ १.१.२१ ॥

Even the gods were once perplexed about this; for this dharma is subtle and not easily understood. Naciketas, choose another boon; do not press me, release him.

Kaṭha 1.1.22

देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं किल
त्वं च मृत्यो यन्न सुज्ञेयमात्थ ।
वक्ता चास्य त्वादृगन्यो न लभ्यो
नान्यो वरस्तुल्य एतस्य कश्चित् ॥ १.१.२२ ॥

Even the gods indeed were perplexed about this, and you, Death, have said it is not easily known. No other teacher of it like you can be found, and there is no other boon equal to this one.

Kaṭha 1.1.23

शतायुषः पुत्रपौत्रान्वृणीष्वा
बहून्पशून् हस्तिहिरण्यमश्वान् ।
भूमेर्महदायतनं वृणीष्व
स्वयं च जीव शरदो यावदिच्छसि ॥ १.१.२३ ॥

Choose a hundred years of life, sons and grandsons; choose many cattle, elephants, gold and horses. Choose a great dominion over the earth, and live yourself as many years as you wish.

Kaṭha 1.1.24

एतत्तुल्यं यदि मन्यसे वरं
वृणीष्व वित्तं चिरजीविकां च ।
महाभूमौ नचिकेतस्त्वमेधि
कामानां त्वा कामभाजं करोमि ॥ १.१.२४ ॥

If you think of any boon equal to this, choose wealth and long life. Naciketas, become established on this great earth; I will make you an enjoyer of all desires.

Kaṭha 1.1.25

ये ये कामा दुर्लभा मर्त्यलोके
सर्वान् कामाँश्छन्दतः प्रार्थयस्व ।
इमा रामाः सरथाः सतूर्या
न हीदृशा लम्भनीया मनुष्यैः ।
आभिर्मत्प्रत्ताभिः परिचारयस्व
नचिकेतो मरणं माऽनुप्राक्षीः ॥ १.१.२५ ॥

Ask for all the desires that are hard to obtain in the mortal world, as you wish. These women with chariots and musical instruments — such things are not easily gained by men. Let yourself be served by these, whom I have given. Naciketas, do not ask about death.