Katha Upanishad with Shankara’s Commentary
by S. Sitarama Sastri | 1928 | 23,822 words
The Katha Upanishad is a collection of philosophical poems representing a conversation between the sage Naciketas and Yama (god of death). They discuss the nature of Atman, Brahman and Moksha (liberation). The book is made up of six sections (Valli). This commentary by Shankara focuses on ‘Advaita Vedanta’, or non-dualism: one of the classical ort...
Verse 1.2.17
एतदालम्बनँ श्रेष्ठमेतदालम्बनं परं ।
एतदालम्बनं ज्ञात्वा ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ॥ १७ ॥etadālambanam̐ śreṣṭhametadālambanaṃ paraṃ ।
etadālambanaṃ jñātvā brahmaloke mahīyate ॥ 17 ॥17. This prop is the best. This prop is the highest Knowing this prop, one is worshipped in the world of Brahman.
Shankara’s Commentary:
Com.—This being so, this prop is the best, i.e., the most praiseworthy of all props, to attain the Brahman. This prop is both the higher and lower; for, it leads to both the highest and the manifested Brahman i.e., of the highest Brahman and the manifested Brahman. The meaning is: he becomes one with the Brahman and he becomes fit to be worshipped like Brahman.