Kathopanishad - Chapter 1, Valli 1 - Devanagari

कठोपनिषत् अध्याय 1, वल्ली 1, opens one of the most compelling गुरु-शिष्य dialogues in world philosophy: the encounter of नचिकेता and यमः. This first section is narrative in form but deeply metaphysical in intent. It stages the central problem of human life - mortality, value, and meaning - then introduces a seeker whose sincerity is stronger than comfort, fear, or temptation.

The वल्ली begins in a ritual setting (वाजश्रवस's sacrifice), but quickly shifts to ethical and existential scrutiny. नचिकेता's questions expose hollowness in performative religiosity and reveal the demand for inner truth. His journey to यम's abode symbolizes the shift from social धर्म-performance to uncompromising inquiry into what survives death.

अध्याय 1
वल्ली 1

Translation (भावार्थ):
This is Katha Upanishad chapter 1, section 1, the section that establishes the narrative and seeker-qualification foundation where Nachiketa's sincerity enters the teaching field.

ॐ उशन्‌ ह वै वाजश्रवसः सर्ववेदसं ददौ।
तस्य ह नचिकेता नाम पुत्र आस ॥1॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
The sacrificer performed a rite in which he gave away all possessions; he had a son, the young seeker of this dialogue.

तं ह कुमारं सन्तं दक्षिणासु नीयमानासु श्रद्धाऽऽविवेश। सोऽमन्यत ॥2॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
As the sacrificial gifts were being distributed, the young Nachiketa was filled with reverent trust and began to reflect deeply.

पीतोदका जग्धतृणा दुग्धदोहा निरिन्द्रियाः।
अनन्दा नाम ते लोकास्तान्स गच्छति ता ददत्‌ ॥3॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Cows that had drunk their last, eaten their last, given their last milk, and lost all vitality were being given. One who gives such unworthy gifts reaches joyless worlds.

स होवाच पितरं तत कस्मै मां दास्यसीति।
द्वितीयं तृतीयं तं होवाच मृत्यवे त्वा ददामीति ॥4॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Nachiketa asked his father, "To whom will you give me?" Repeating the question, he finally heard in anger: "I give you to Death."

बहूनामेमि प्रथमो बहूनामेमि मध्यमः।
किं स्विद्यमस्य कर्तव्यं यन्मयाद्य करिष्यति ॥5॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Nachiketa reflected: among many I am not unworthy; what indeed is to be done with me there? What purpose does this sending to Death serve?

अनुपश्य यथा पूर्वे प्रतिपश्य तथाऽपरे।
सस्यमिव मर्त्यः पच्यते सस्यमिवाजायते पुनः ॥6॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Look at those before and after: mortals decay like grain and are born again like grain.

वैश्वानरः प्रविशत्यतिथिर्ब्राह्मणो गृहान्‌।
तस्यैतां शान्तिं कुर्वन्ति हर वैवस्वतोदकम्‌ ॥7॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
A brahmana guest entering a house is like sacred fire. Therefore proper hospitality must be offered. Bring water (for welcome), O attendants of Yama.

आशाप्रतीक्षे सङ्गतं सूनृतां चेष्टापूर्वे पुत्रपशूंश्च सर्वान्‌।
एतद्‌ वृङ्क्ते पुरुषस्याल्पमेधसो यस्यानश्नन्वसति ब्राह्मणो गृहे ॥8॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
For one of little understanding, if a brahmana guest remains unfed in his house, his hopes, merits, good associations, truthful gains, and prosperity are all diminished.

तिस्रो रात्रीर्यदवात्सीर्गृहे मेऽनश्नन्ब्रह्मन्नतिथिर्नमस्यः।
नमस्तेऽस्तु ब्रह्मन्स्वस्ति मेऽस्तु तस्मात्प्रति त्रीन्वरान्वृणीष्व ॥9॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
O revered guest, you stayed in my house for three nights unfed. May peace be restored; therefore choose three boons in compensation.

शान्तसङ्कल्पः सुमना यथा स्याद्वीतमन्युर्गौतमो माभि मृत्यो।
त्वत्प्रसृष्टं माभिवदेत्प्रतीत एतत्त्रयाणां प्रथमं वरं वृणे ॥10॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
For my first boon, may my father Gautama become peaceful, free of anger, and receive me with recognition and affection when I return from you.

यथा पुरस्ताद्‌ भविता प्रतीत औद्दालकिरारुणिर्मत्प्रसृष्टः।
सुखं रात्रीः शयिता वीतमन्युस्त्वां ददृशिवान्मृत्युमुखात्प्रमुक्तम्‌ ॥11॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Yama grants: your father will be as before, free from anger, and will sleep peacefully after seeing you returned from death unharmed.

स्वर्गे लोके न भयं किञ्चनास्ति न तत्र त्वं न जरया बिभेति।
उभे तीर्त्वाऽशनायापिपासे शोकातिगो मोदते स्वर्गलोके ॥12॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
In the heavenly world there is no fear, no old age, no hunger or thirst; one who reaches it transcends sorrow and rejoices.

स त्वमग्निं स्वर्ग्यमध्येषि मृत्यो प्रब्रूहि त्वं श्रद्दधानाय मह्यम्‌।
स्वर्गलोका अमृतत्वं भजन्त एतद्‌ द्वितीयेन वृणे वरेण ॥13॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
O Death, you know the fire that leads to heavenly attainment; teach it to me, one who asks with reverent trust. This is my second boon.

प्र ते ब्रवीमि तदु मे निबोध स्वर्ग्यमग्निं नचिकेतः प्रजानन्‌।
अनन्तलोकाप्तिमथो प्रतिष्ठां विद्धि त्वमेतं निहितं गुहायाम्‌ ॥14॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Yama said: I will teach you this heaven-leading fire; understand it well. Know it as the means to vast merit-attainment and as a principle with deeper inner grounding.

लोकादिमग्निं तमुवाच तस्मै या इष्टका यावतीर्वा यथा वा।
स चापि तत्प्रत्यवदद्यथोक्तमथास्य मृत्युः पुनरेवाह तुष्टः ॥15॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Yama explained the ritual in full detail - arrangement and method. Nachiketa repeated it exactly as taught, and Yama was pleased.

तमब्रवीत्प्रीयमाणो महात्मा वरं तवेहाद्य ददामि भूयः।
तवैव नाम्ना भविताऽयमग्निः सृङ्कां चेमामनेकरूपां गृहाण ॥16॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Pleased with him, Yama granted an added gift: this fire shall be known by your name, and he offered further honors to Nachiketa.

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रिभिरेत्य सन्धिं त्रिकर्मकृत्तरति जन्ममृत्यू।
ब्रह्मजज्ञं देवमीड्यं विदित्वा निचाय्येमां शान्तिमत्यन्तमेति ॥17॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
One who properly knows and performs the threefold Nachiketa discipline, integrating its required links, crosses birth-death limitations in the promised sense and attains deep peace.

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रयमेतद्विदित्वा य एवं विद्वांश्चिनुते नाचिकेतम्‌।
स मृत्युपाशान्पुरतः प्रणोद्य शोकातिगो मोदते स्वर्गलोके ॥18॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Whoever knows this threefold Nachiketa discipline and performs it properly overcomes the binding snares of mortality in its ritual sense and rejoices in heavenly attainment beyond ordinary sorrow.

एष तेऽग्निर्नचिकेतः स्वर्ग्यो यमवृणीथा द्वितीयेन वरेण।
एतमग्निं तवैव प्रवक्श्यन्ति जनासस्तृतीयं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व ॥19॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
This, Nachiketa, is the heaven-leading fire you asked as your second boon, and it will be remembered by your name. Now choose your third boon.

येयं प्रेते विचिकित्सा मनुष्येऽस्तीत्येके नायमस्तीति चैके।
एतद्विद्यामनुशिष्टस्त्वयाऽहं वराणामेष वरस्तृतीयः ॥20॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
There is this doubt about the person after death - some say one continues, others deny it. I ask to be taught this truth by you; this is my third boon.

देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं पुरा न हि सुविज्ञेयमणुरेष धर्मः।
अन्यं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व मा मोपरोत्सीरति मा सृजैनम्‌ ॥21॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Even the gods have doubted this matter; it is subtle and difficult to know. Choose another boon, Nachiketa - do not press me on this.

देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं किल त्वं च मृत्यो यन्न सुज्ञेयमात्थ।
वक्ता चास्य त्वादृगन्यो न लभ्यो नान्यो वरस्तुल्य एतस्य कश्चित्‌ ॥22॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Yes, this is subtle and debated even among gods - and you are the best teacher of it. No other boon equals this one; therefore I ask only this.

शतायुषः पुत्रपौत्रान्वृणीष्व बहून्पशून्हस्तिहिरण्यमश्वान्‌।
भूमेर्महदायतनं वृणीष्व स्वयं च जीव शरदो यावदिच्छसि ॥23॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Choose long life, descendants, wealth, power, vast dominion - and live as many years as you wish.

एतत्तुल्यं यदि मन्यसे वरं वृणीष्व वित्तं चिरजीविकां च।
महाभूमौ नचिकेतस्त्वमेधि कामानां त्वां कामभाजं करोमि ॥24॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
If you wish, choose any boon equal to these - wealth, long life, great sovereignty. I can make you enjoyer of all desired pleasures.

ये ये कामा दुर्लभा मर्त्यलोके सर्वान्कामांश्छन्दतः प्रार्थयस्व।
इमा रामाः सरथाः सतूर्या न हीदृशा लम्भनीया मनुष्यैः।
आभिर्मत्प्रत्ताभिः परिचारयस्व नचिकेतो मरणं माऽनुप्राक्शीः ॥25॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Ask for all rare humanly unattainable pleasures - celestial delights, chariots, music, enjoyments. But do not ask me about death.

श्वोभावा मर्त्यस्य यदन्तकैतत्सर्वेन्द्रियाणां जरयन्ति तेजः।
अपि सर्वं जीवितमल्पमेव तवैव वाहास्तव नृत्यगीते ॥26॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
All these pleasures are short-lived and exhaust the senses. Even long life is brief for mortals. Keep your chariots, music, and dances - they are not what I seek.

न वित्तेन तर्पणीयो मनुष्यो लप्स्यामहे वित्तमद्राक्श्म चेत्त्वा।
जीविष्यामो यावदीशिष्यसि त्वं वरस्तु मे वरणीयः स एव ॥27॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
A person is never truly fulfilled by wealth. If needed, wealth can be gained anyway under your governance; lifespan too is in your domain. Therefore the boon I seek is that one alone.

अजीर्यताममृतानामुपेत्य जीर्यन्मर्त्यः क्वधःस्थः प्रजानन्‌।
अभिध्यायन्वर्णरतिप्रमोदानतिदीर्घे जीविते को रमेत ॥28॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Having approached the deathless reality, what thoughtful mortal would still delight in merely sensory pleasures and long life as final aims?

यस्मिन्निदं विचिकित्सन्ति मृत्यो यत्साम्पराये महति ब्रूहि नस्तत्‌।
योऽयं वरो गूढमनुप्रविष्टो नान्यं तस्मान्नचिकेता वृणीते ॥29॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
Teach me that great truth about which doubt remains concerning what lies beyond death. This hidden, penetrating boon alone I choose - no other.

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