Essence of Katha Upanishad Part 3 – The Path Beyond Death

 

Katha Upanishad : —  It gives a direct teaching to the spiritual aspirant.

ॐ ॥ अथ कठोपनिषद् ॥

Peace Invocation:

ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सहवीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु । मा विद्विषावहै ॥
  ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
May HE protect us both. May HE take pleasure in us both. May we show courage together. May spiritual knowledge shine before us. May we never hate one another. May peace and peace and peace be everywhere.

॥ प्रथमाध्याये तृतीया वल्ली ॥ Introduction:

This third section is very important for the seekers. Deals with the process of Sadhana. How can an aspirant transcend himself? Section 1: [Essence of Katha Upanishad, Part 1 of 4] was an introduction on Nachiketas’ position. Section 2 [Essence of Katha Upanishad, part 2 of 4] introduced the existence of the Supreme Being. Now an extended Metaphor is introduced in this section to make the Text easy. Section has 17 verses. All verses are discussed.  Let us look into:

Two Selves: The Universal Self and The Individual Self:

Two Selves:  One is in the process of attaining: The attainer. Other is what is to be attained. One is Traveller, the other is Destination. Obviously between the two, the common means of communication is “CHARIOT.”

ऋतं पिबन्तौ सुकृतस्य लोके
    गुहां प्रविष्टौ परमे परार्धे ।
छायातपौ ब्रह्मविदो वदन्ति
    पञ्चाग्नयो ये च त्रिणाचिकेताः ॥ १॥

यः सेतुरीजानानामक्षरं ब्रह्म यत् परम् ।
अभयं तितीर्षतां पारं नाचिकेतँ शकेमहि ॥ २॥

Both the Individual Self and the Universal Self, are living in the heart, like shade and Light. Though beyond enjoyment, yet enjoy the fruit of action. Wise says this for the knowers of Brahman and the performers of the Nachiketas fire (त्रिणाचिकेताः ~ trinachiketaah). [1.3.1]. The Heart here refers to the Intellect, where the Supreme Self gets reflected, and that reflection is Jiva or Ego (Ahamkara). “पञ्चाग्नयो—pancha-agnayah” refers here to the performers of the five fires, the householders, and the followers of Karma Kanda of Vedas. And  those who perform त्रिणाचिकेताः ~ trinachiketaah are worshippers of the Upasana Kanda of the Vedas. Man can kindle that Fire, that Spirit, a bridge for all who sacrifice, and a guide for all who pass beyond fear. [1.3.2]

आत्मानँ रथितं विद्धि शरीरँ रथमेव तु ।
बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रग्रहमेव च ॥ ३॥

इन्द्रियाणि हयानाहुर्विषयाँ स्तेषु गोचरान् ।
आत्मेन्द्रियमनोयुक्तं भोक्तेत्याहुर्मनीषिणः ॥ ४॥

Know the Atman to be the master of the Chariot; the body, the chariot; the Intellect (buddhi), the charioteer; and the mind, the reins. The senses, they say, are the horses; the objects, the roads. When Self is joined to body, mind, and sense, none but He enjoys. [1.3.3-4]

The Intellect: Avijnanvan and Vijnanavan:

यस्त्वविज्ञानवान्भवत्ययुक्तेन मनसा सदा ।
तस्येन्द्रियाण्यवश्यानि दुष्टाश्वा इव सारथेः ॥ ५॥

यस्तु विज्ञानवान्भवति युक्तेन मनसा सदा ।
तस्येन्द्रियाणि वश्यानि सदश्वा इव सारथेः ॥ ६॥

When a man lacks steadiness, unable to control his mind, his senses are like unmanageable horses.  यस्त्वविज्ञानवान्भवत्ययुक्तेन~  “avijnaanavaan bhavati” means non-discriminating intellect, and विज्ञानवान्भवति =  discriminating intellect. The nondiscriminating charioteer is most dangerous. The discriminating one takes care to rein in the mind so that the horses are well-controlled. [1.3.5-6 ]

The Destination: Reaching the Goal:

यस्त्वविज्ञानवान्भवत्यमनस्कः सदाऽशुचिः ।
न स तत्पदमाप्नोति संसारं चाधिगच्छति ॥ ७॥

यस्तु विज्ञानवान्भवति समनस्कः सदा शुचिः ।
स तु तत्पदमाप्नोति यस्माद्भूयो न जायते ॥ ८॥

विज्ञानसारथिर्यस्तु मनः प्रग्रहवान्नरः । 
सोऽध्वनः पारमाप्नोति तद्विष्णोः परमं पदम् ॥ ९॥

Three verses, 1.3.7 to 1.3.9 focus on the Destination, where the intellect is the key factor. The impure, self-willed, unsteady  man misses the goal and is born again and again. The self-controlled, steady, pure man goes to that Goal from which he never returns. He who calls intellect to manage the reins of his mind reaches the end of his journey and finds that Supreme abode of Vishnu. [1.3.7-9] 

The Route of the Journey:

इन्द्रियेभ्यः परा ह्यर्था अर्थेभ्यश्च परं मनः ।
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्बुद्धेरात्मा महान्परः ॥ १०

महतः परमव्यक्तमव्यक्तात्पुरुषः परः । 
पुरुषान्न परं किंचित्सा काष्ठा सा परा गतिः ॥ ११॥ 

Above the senses are the objects of desire; above the objects of desire is the mind; above the mind is the intellect; above the intellect manifests the great Atman; beyond the great Atman is the unmanifest, the Purusha. Beyond the Purusha, there is nothing. That is the END, the Supreme Goal. [1.3.10-11]

Here the journey is through understanding and reaching deeper levels within our Being. No physical distance needs to be covered. Only to meditate on ॐ (AUM) going deeper and subtler till it reaches the core.

Self is seen only by Subtle intellect:

एष सर्वेषु भूतेषु गूढोऽऽत्मा न प्रकाशते ।
दृश्यते त्वग्र्यया बुद्ध्या सूक्ष्मया सूक्ष्मदर्शिभिः ॥ १२॥

This Atman is in all living beings. It is hidden there and not visible to the eye (गूढोऽऽत्मा न प्रकाशते ). It can indeed be  seen by the sharp intellect with the subtle vision (बुद्ध्या सूक्ष्मया सूक्ष्मदर्शिभिः) [1.3.12]. Intellect of the sage finds Him.

Successive Merging from Speech to Self:

यच्छेद्वाङ्मनसी प्राज्ञस्तद्यच्छेज्ज्ञान आत्मनि ।
ज्ञानमात्मनि महति नियच्छेत्तद्यच्छेच्छान्त आत्मनि ॥ १३॥

उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत
    प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत ।
क्षुरस्य धारा निशिता दुरत्यया
    दुर्गं पथस्तत्कवयो वदन्ति ॥ १४॥

The wise nature in  man would lose his speech in mind, mind in the intellect, intellect in the “Mahat,” and the Mahat into The Peaceful Self. Arise, awake! Learn Wisdom at Master’s feet. The path is indeed difficult to cross and hard to tread, like the sharp edge of a razor. Mahat here refers to the total MIND [1.3.13-14]. {Please see the notes at the end}.

Subtlety of the Supreme Self:

अशब्दमस्पर्शमरूपमव्ययं
    तथाऽरसं नित्यमगन्धवच्च यत् ।
अनाद्यनन्तं महतः परं ध्रुवं
    निचाय्य तन्मृत्युमुखात् प्रमुच्यते ॥ १५॥

He who knows the soundless, odorless, tasteless,  intangible, formless, deathless, supernatural, unchangeable Reality springs out of the mouth of Death. (1.3.15).

Glory of the “Nachiketas” Knowledge:

नाचिकेतमुपाख्यानं मृत्युप्रोक्तँ सनातनम् । 
उक्त्वा श्रुत्वा च मेधावी ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ॥ १६॥

य इमं परमं गुह्यं श्रावयेद् ब्रह्मसंसदि । 
प्रयतः श्राद्धकाले वा तदानन्त्याय कल्पते । 
तदानन्त्याय कल्पत इति ॥ १७॥

This Vedic knowledge as received by Nachiketas and as told by the Lord of Death is Eternal. Those who hear and repeat correctly this ancient dialogue become worthy of glorification in the world of Brahman (Brahma Loka). He who sings this great mystery at the anniversary of his father to a rightly chosen company finds good luck, good luck beyond measure. [1.3.16-17]

Conclusion – Essence of Katha Upanishad Part 3

In the Essence of Katha Upanishad Part 3, the Upanishad reveals the hierarchy of existence. The highest principle in creation is Mahat (the great cosmic intelligence). From Mahat arises Ahankara (the sense of individuality), then come the Tanmatras (subtle elements), and finally, the five gross elements that form the physical world.

However, for most people, perception begins in reverse. We encounter the physical world first—the five elements—and allow them to shape our thinking, desires, and actions. This attachment to the external world makes us its slaves, binding us in the cycle of birth and death.

The jīva (individual soul) remains bound because of Avidyā (ignorance). This ignorance veils the truth of the Self and gives rise to the fear of death. The Upanishad emphasizes that only through Vidya (true knowledge of the Self) can this fear be destroyed. Knowledge liberates; it transforms the way we see life and death.

When a seeker realizes this truth, Yama, the Lord of Death, is no longer a figure to fear but a divine guide to liberation. The enlightened one welcomes him, for they know death is merely a doorway to the eternal Self.

॥ इति काठकोपनिषदि प्रथमाध्याये तृतीया वल्ली ॥

Thus ends the Third Vallī (Chapter) of the First Adhyāya (Part) of the Katha Upanishad.

Notes:-

• a) Tanmatras are the 5 objects of perception, made up of the five subtle elements.
• b) Mahat: Beyond the senses there are objects. Beyond the objects is mind; beyond the mind is intellect. Beyond the intellect is the Great Self, Mahat (cosmic intelligence).

Recommended readings:

1. Back to the Truth: 5000 years of ADVAITA by Dennis Waite.
2. THE TEN PRINCIPAL UPANISHADS: Translated by Shree Purohit Swami and Yeats
3. Brahma Sutra Bhasya of Sankaracharya: Translated by Swami Gambhirananda.
4. Commentary of Katha Upanishad By Swami Krishnananda.
5. Katha Upanishad By Swami GuruBhaktananda.
6. EIGHT UPANISADS -VOL-1 with commentary by Sankaracharya, Translated by SWAMI GAMBHIRANANDA.
7. THE TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD: SHIKSHAVALLI-ANANDAVALLI-BHRIGUVALLI with Sri Shankara’s Commentary By Sri Swami Satchidanandera Saraswati.
8. Information is available on the internet.

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