Katha:1.1.1

Mantra 1.1.1

Original Text:

ओं सहनावितिशान्तिः । ओं उशन्ह वै वाजश्रवसः सर्ववेदसंददौ ।
	तस्य ह नचिकेता नाम पुत्र आस ॥ १ ॥

oṃ sahanāvitiśāntiḥ | oṃ uśanha vai vājaśravasaḥ sarvavedasaṃdadau |
	tasya ha naciketā nāma putra āsa || 1 ||

Word-by-Word Breakdown

Sanskrit Term	Transliteration	Hindi Meaning	English Word or Meaning	Comments
ओम्	om	प्रणव – परमात्मा का प्रतीक ध्वनि	praṇava – the primordial sound symbolizing the Supreme Self
सह	saha	साथ में – मिलकर	together – in unison
नाव्	nāv	हमें – हम दोनों को	us – both of us
इति	iti	इस प्रकार – ऐसा कहकर	thus – in this manner
शान्तिः	śāntiḥ	शांति – मानसिक और आध्यात्मिक शांति	peace – mental and spiritual tranquility
ओम्	om	प्रणव – परमात्मा का प्रतीक ध्वनि	praṇava – the primordial sound symbolizing the Supreme Self
उशन्	uśan	इच्छा करने वाला – कामना करने वाला	desiring – one who has desire
वै	vai	निश्चयपूर्वक – वास्तव में	indeed – verily, certainly
वाजश्रवसः	vājashravasah	वाजश्रव का पुत्र – भोजन और यश के दाता का नाम	son of Vājashrava – one renowned for giving food and fame
सर्व	sarva	सब – सम्पूर्ण	all – entire, complete
वेद	veda	धन – संपत्ति	wealth – possessions
संददौ	sandadau	दान किया – अर्पित किया	gave – offered, donated
तस्य	tasya	उसके – उस व्यक्ति के	his – of him
ह	ha	प्राचीन कथा का संकेत – ऐसा कहा जाता है	as the story goes – traditional narrative marker
नचिकेता	naciketā	नचिकेता नामक – पुत्र का नाम	named Naciketā – the son’s name
नाम	nāma	नाम – उपाधि	name – designation
पुत्र	putra	पुत्र – बेटा	son – male offspring
आस	āsa	था – अस्तित्व में था	was – existed

Translation/Explanation

Hindi

यह कथा है कि वाजश्रव नामक व्यक्ति, जो यश और अन्न के दान से प्रसिद्ध था, उसने कामना करते हुए (यज्ञ के फल की इच्छा से) अपने सम्पूर्ण धन का दान किया। उसके एक पुत्र था, जिसका नाम नचिकेता था।

English

As the story is traditionally told, Vājashravasah, renowned for giving food and fame, desiring the fruits of the sacrifice, offered all his wealth. He had a son named Naciketā.

Commentary

Uśan, desiring for the fruits of the yajña. Ha and vai are two particles which serve to recall what has been narrated in tradition. Vājashravasah: vāja means food, śrava means fame; thus, the compound refers to one who has attained fame through the giving of food, or it may be taken as a proper name. The son of Vājashrava is Vājashravasah. Vājashravasah, it is said, performed the visvajit yajña (in which all is given away) out of desire for its results. During the yajña, he gave away all his wealth. The performer of the yajña had a son named Naciketā.