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...

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

nāciketamupākhyānaṃ mṛtyuproktam̐ sanātanam |
uktvā śrutvā ca medhāvī brahmaloke mahīyate || 16 ||

16. Hearing and repeating the old Nachiketa’s story told by Death, the intelligent man attains glory in the world of Brahman.

 

Shankara’s Commentary:

Com.—The sruti, for extolling the knowledge treated of, says: Nachiketam ] obtained by Nachiketas. Mrityuproktam ] told by Death. The story] contained in the three vallis. Old] of ancient date, being narrated in the Vedas. Repeating] to Brahmins. Hearing] from preceptors; world of Brahman ] world which is Brahman; attains glory] having become the atman, is fit to be worshipped.

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