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Kathopanisad

Chapter 1 Valli 1 Mantra 29

Lecture

Mantra

Response 5: “I Stick to My Original Boon”!

Yasminn-idam vicikitsanti mrtyo
yat sāmparāye mahati brūhi nas-tat;
yo’yam varo gūdham-anupravisto
nānyam tasmn-naciketā vrnīte.

Yasmin idam vicikitsanti mrtyo
Of that (the existence of the Self) over which people entertain doubt, O Lord of Death;
yat sāmparāye mahati brūhi nah tat;
Of that Great Beyond into which we pass – please tell me all about That.
yah ayam varah gūdham anupravistah    
The boon I choose is about That Self, the knowledge of which has become mysterious.
na anyam tasmāt nachiketā vrnīte.         
No boon other than that, therefore, I, Naciketa, desire to choose.

Acharyaji gave us a fitting paraphrase of Naciketa’s final summation: It is as if he is saying to Yama: “Why do you want me to remain at the lower level? Would you not like me to rise up, even if at great odds, and try for that which is really worth it among all human endeavors? Of course, you do. So, I will not be tempted – no matter how much you try. Do you really think I should be wasting my time just watching Apsaras dance before me? Do you not believe that I have other nobler things to do?”

Conclusion on Naciketa’s Stance

Naciketa does not budge from his iron resolve to spurn every temptation placed on his path to enlightenment or release from bondage to this world. His is a rare stance indeed. It is as if he is saying to Yama, “Why do you want me to change my stand? Do you think that I have not thought over this seriously enough? You are quite mistaken. I know how rare it is to ask for such a boon – very few are interested in it. Therefore, this knowledge is not easily available to us on Earth. Knowing that, do you really believe I will waste my precious visit to you and ask you for something paltry that is available on earth? You are the right person for me to ask this boon. Hence, this is the only boon I would ask for.”

Rare indeed is a soul of the Naciketa temperament. He stood firm and beat Yama at his own game. Yama would indeed be proud of such a ripe disciple as Naciketa. Only a Guru knows the joy of meeting a perfect disciple. Naciketa is that perfect disciple to the perfect teacher.

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Kathopanisad

Chapter 1 Valli 1 Mantra 28

Lecture

Mantra

Response 4: Chooses Wisdom Over Folly

Ajīryatām amritānām upetya
jīryan-martyah kvadhah-sthah prajānan;
abhidhyāyan varnaratipramodā
natidīrghe jīvite ko rameta.

Ajīryatām amritānām upetya     
The proximity of the undecaying immortals, have I reached.
jīryan martyah kvadhah sthah prajānan; 
Being a perishable mortal myself, knowing well of existence on earth down below,
abhidhyāyan varnah ratih pramodān       
having seen the worthlessness of beauty and the enjoyment of love,
atidīrghe jīvite kah rameta.             
why will I rejoice in wanting an extended lifespan?

Having come all the way to the region of Yama, who in his right senses will ask for the things of the lower earth region, for which he has already developed intense dispassion? It will be foolish to accept that which one has positively.

The word Kvadhahsthah has two meanings:

1. Ku-adha-sthah: “a dweller of earth, which is below the heavenly regions”; or
2. Kva-tadastha: “where one gets absorbed in evanescent things”.

Varna-rati-pramodan: “taking delight in a variety of pleasures”. It is used here to cover the entire world of sensual pleasures with all its distractions, sense appeal and This is how Naciketa sums up the Apsaras and their troupe of entertainers. Why would one want a long life? Is it just to enjoy frivolous things? What a waste of a boon that would be! Such is the mood of Naciketa that everything Unreal is totally rejected. He has already unwittingly done the highest Vedantic negation. Such a ripe student can be rocketed into realization immediately after Sravana.

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