Kathopanishad - Chapter 2, Valli 3 - Odia

କଠୋପନିଷତ୍ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ 2, ଵଲ୍ଲୀ 3, is the culmination of ନଚିକେତା's instruction sequence. It gathers prior teachings - ଶ୍ରେୟସ୍/ପ୍ରେୟସ୍, inward turn, sense-governance, witness-recognition, and non-duality - into a final contemplative ascent that is both philosophical and ସାଧନା-oriented.

This ଵଲ୍ଲୀ is especially revered because it contains many of Vedanta's most cited ମହାଵାକ୍ୟ-like formulations in thematic form: the upside-down cosmic tree, the fear-order sustaining cosmic law, the imperishable ପୁରୁଷ beyond ଅଵ୍ୟକ୍ତ, the stillness-state called ୟୋଗ, the release of heart-knots, and the upward ନାଡୀ teaching.

ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ 2
ଵଲ୍ଲୀ 3

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
This is Katha Upanishad chapter 2, section 3, the section that establishes the culminating consolidation of imperishable supreme-consciousness teaching and liberation-ready contemplative discipline.

ଊର୍ଧ୍ଵମୂଲୋଽଵାକ୍‍ଶାଖ ଏଷୋଽଶ୍ଵତ୍ଥଃ ସନାତନଃ।
ତଦେଵ ଶୁକ୍ରଂ ତଦ୍ ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ତଦେଵାମୃତମୁଚ୍ୟତେ।
ତସ୍ମିଂଲ୍ଲୋକାଃ ଶ୍ରିତାଃ ସର୍ଵେ ତଦୁ ନାତ୍ୟେତି କଶ୍ଚନ। ଏତଦ୍ଵୈ ତତ୍‌ ॥1॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
This eternal sacred fig tree has its root above and branches below. That root alone is the pure luminous reality, Brahman, the immortal. All worlds rest in That, and none can go beyond it. This indeed is That.

ୟଦିଦଂ କିଂ ଚ ଜଗତ୍ସର୍ଵଂ ପ୍ରାଣ ଏଜତି ନିଃସୃତମ୍‌।
ମହଦ୍ ଭୟଂ ଵଜ୍ରମୁଦ୍ୟତଂ ୟ ଏତଦ୍ଵିଦୁରମୃତାସ୍ତେ ଭଵଂତି ॥2॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
All this universe that moves does so having emerged in the life-order of the One. It is governed by a great awe-inspiring law, like a raised thunderbolt. Those who know this become immortal.

ଭୟାଦସ୍ୟାଗ୍ନିସ୍ତପତି ଭୟାତ୍ତପତି ସୂର୍ୟଃ।
ଭୟାଦିଂଦ୍ରଶ୍ଚ ଵାୟୁଶ୍ଚ ମୃତ୍ୟୁର୍ଧାଵତି ପଂଚମଃ ॥3॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
Out of reverential obedience to That order, fire burns, sun shines, Indra and Vayu function, and Death itself performs its role.

ଇହ ଚେଦଶକଦ୍‌ବୋଦ୍ଧୁଂ ପ୍ରାକ୍ ଶରୀରସ୍ୟ ଵିସ୍ରସଃ।
ତତଃ ସର୍ଗେଷୁ ଲୋକେଷୁ ଶରୀରତ୍ଵାୟ କଲ୍ପତେ ॥4॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
If one does not realize this here before the body falls, one remains within the cycle of created worlds and further embodiment.

ୟଥାଽଽଦର୍ଶେ ତଥାଽଽତ୍ମନି ୟଥା ସ୍ଵପ୍ନେ ତଥା ପିତୃଲୋକେ।
ୟଥାଽପ୍ସୁ ପରୀଵ ଦଦୃଶେ ତଥା ଗଂଧର୍ଵଲୋକେ ଛାୟାତପୟୋରିଵ ବ୍ରହ୍ମଲୋକେ ॥5॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
Realization appears with varying clarity across standpoints: clear like a mirror in inward Self-recognition, dream-like in other subtle states, wavering like reflection in water elsewhere, and as shadow-light distinction in brahma-loka.

ଇଂଦ୍ରିୟାଣାଂ ପୃଥଗ୍ଭାଵମୁଦୟାସ୍ତମୟୌ ଚ ୟତ୍‌।
ପୃଥଗୁତ୍ପଦ୍ୟମାନାନାଂ ମତ୍ଵା ଧୀରୋ ନ ଶୋଚତି ॥6॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
Knowing that senses are separate instruments with their own arising and fading, the wise does not grieve.

ଇଂଦ୍ରିୟେଭ୍ୟଃ ପରଂ ମନୋ ମନସଃ ସତ୍ତ୍ଵମୁତ୍ତମମ୍‌।
ସତ୍ତ୍ଵାଦଧି ମହାନାତ୍ମା ମହତୋଽଵ୍ୟକ୍ତମୁତ୍ତମମ୍‌ ॥7॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
Beyond senses is mind; beyond mind is refined intellect; beyond intellect is the great principle; beyond that is the unmanifest.

ଅଵ୍ୟକ୍ତାତ୍ତୁ ପରଃ ପୁରୁଷୋ ଵ୍ୟାପକୋଽଲିଂଗ ଏଵ ଚ।
ୟଂ ଜ୍ଞାତ୍ଵା ମୁଚ୍ୟତେ ଜଂତୁରମୃତତ୍ଵଂ ଚ ଗଚ୍ଛତି ॥8॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
Beyond the unmanifest is the supreme conscious reality - all-pervading and without defining marks. Knowing That, the embodied being is liberated and attains immortality.

ନ ସଂଦୃଶେ ତିଷ୍ଠତି ରୂପମସ୍ୟ ନ ଚକ୍ଷୁଷା ପଶ୍ୟତି କଶ୍ଚନୈନମ୍‌।
ହୃଦା ମନୀଷା ମନସାଽଭିକ୍ଲୃପ୍ତୋ ୟ ଏତଦ୍ଵିଦୁରମୃତାସ୍ତେ ଭଵଂତି ॥9॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
Its nature is not grasped by ordinary seeing; no one sees It with the physical eye. It is recognized through refined heart-intelligence and contemplative mind. Those who know this become immortal.

ୟଦା ପଂଚାଵତିଷ୍ଠଂତେ ଜ୍ଞାନାନି ମନସା ସହ।
ବୁଦ୍ଧିଶ୍ଚ ନ ଵିଚେଷ୍ଟତେ ତାମାହୁଃ ପରମାଂ ଗତିମ୍‌ ॥10॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
When the five senses, along with mind, come to rest, and intellect no longer agitates, that is called the supreme state.

ତାଂ ୟୋଗମିତି ମନ୍ୟଂତେ ସ୍ଥିରାମିଂଦ୍ରିୟଧାରଣାମ୍‌।
ଅପ୍ରମତ୍ତସ୍ତଦା ଭଵତି ୟୋଗୋ ହି ପ୍ରଭଵାପ୍ୟୟୌ ॥11॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
That steady holding of the senses is called contemplative steadiness. One must be vigilant then, for that steadiness can both arise and decline.

ନୈଵ ଵାଚା ନ ମନସା ପ୍ରାପ୍ତୁଂ ଶକ୍ୟୋ ନ ଚକ୍ଷୁଷା।
ଅସ୍ତୀତି ବ୍ରୁଵତୋଽନ୍ୟତ୍ର କଥଂ ତଦୁପଲଭ୍ୟତେ ॥12॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
It cannot be attained as an object by speech, mind, or eye. Apart from recognizing "It is," how can That be approached?

ଅସ୍ତୀତ୍ୟେଵୋପଲବ୍ଧଵ୍ୟସ୍ତତ୍ତ୍ଵଭାଵେନ ଚୋଭୟୋଃ।
ଅସ୍ତୀତ୍ୟେଵୋପଲବ୍ଧସ୍ୟ ତତ୍ତ୍ଵଭାଵଃ ପ୍ରସୀଦତି ॥13॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
It is first to be recognized as "It is," and then known in its true nature; for one who has this existential recognition, the reality of That becomes clear and settled.

ୟଦା ସର୍ଵେ ପ୍ରମୁଚ୍ୟଂତେ କାମା ୟେଽସ୍ୟ ହୃଦି ଶ୍ରିତାଃ।
ଅଥ ମର୍ତ୍ୟୋଽମୃତୋ ଭଵତ୍ୟତ୍ର ବ୍ରହ୍ମ ସମଶ୍ନୁତେ ॥14॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
When all desires lodged in the heart are released, the mortal becomes immortal; here itself one attains Brahman.

ୟଥା ସର୍ଵେ ପ୍ରଭିଦ୍ୟଂତେ ହୃଦୟସ୍ୟେହ ଗ୍ରଂଥୟଃ।
ଅଥ ମର୍ତ୍ୟୋଽମୃତୋ ଭଵତ୍ୟେତାଵଦ୍ଧ୍ୟନୁଶାସନମ୍‌ ॥15॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
When all the heart-knots are cut here, the mortal becomes immortal. This is the essential teaching in full.

ଶତଂ ଚୈକା ଚ ହୃଦୟସ୍ୟ ନାଡ୍ୟସ୍ତାସାଂ ମୂର୍ଧାନମଭିନିଃସୃତୈକା।
ତୟୋର୍ଧ୍ଵମାୟନ୍ନମୃତତ୍ଵମେତି ଵିଶ୍ଵଙ୍ଙନ୍ୟା ଉତ୍କ୍ରମଣେ ଭଵଂତି ॥16॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
There are a hundred and one channels of the heart; one of them ascends to the crown. Moving upward through that leads toward immortality; through the others, beings depart in diverse trajectories.

ଅଂଗୁଷ୍ଠମାତ୍ରଃ ପୁରୁଷୋଽଂତରାତ୍ମା ସଦା ଜନାନାଂ ହୃଦୟେ ସଂନିଵିଷ୍ଟଃ।
ତଂ ସ୍ଵାଚ୍ଛରୀରାତ୍ପ୍ରଵୃହେନ୍ମୁଂଜାଦିଵେଷୀକାଂ ଧୈର୍ୟେଣ।
ତଂ ଵିଦ୍ୟାଚ୍ଛୁକ୍ରମମୃତଂ ତଂ ଵିଦ୍ୟାଚ୍ଛୁକ୍ରମମୃତମିତି ॥17॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
That inner Self, indicated as thumb-sized and seated in the heart, is to be discerned from body-identification with steadfast courage - like drawing a reed-fiber from munja grass. Know That as pure, immortal; know That as pure, immortal.

ମୃତ୍ୟୁପ୍ରୋକ୍ତାଂ ନଚିକେତୋଽଥ ଲବ୍ଧ୍ଵା ଵିଦ୍ୟାମେତାଂ ୟୋଗଵିଧିଂ ଚ କୃତ୍ସ୍ନମ୍‌।
ବ୍ରହ୍ମପ୍ରାପ୍ତୋ ଵିରଜୋଽଭୂଦ୍ଵିମୃତ୍ୟୁ ରନ୍ୟୋଽପ୍ୟେଵଂ ୟୋ ଵିଦଧ୍ୟାତ୍ମମେଵ ॥18॥

Translation (ଭାଵାର୍ଥ):
Receiving this knowledge taught by Death, along with the full contemplative discipline, Nachiketa attained Brahman, became stainless, and went beyond death. So too does anyone else who realizes thus in relation to the Self.

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