Katha:1.3.16

Mantra 1.3.16

Original Text:

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

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

Word-by-Word Breakdown

Sanskrit Term	Transliteration	Hindi Meaning	English Word or Meaning	Comments
नाचिकेतम्	nāciketam	नचिकेत – एक जिज्ञासु ब्रह्मविद्या के लिए प्रसिद्ध पात्र	Naciketa – a seeker renowned for pursuit of brahmavidyā		उपाख्यानम्	upākhyānam	कथा – किसी विषय की विस्तारपूर्वक वर्णन की गई कथा	story – a detailed narrative about a subject		मृत्युप्रोक्तम्	mṛtyu-proktam	मृत्यु द्वारा कहा गया – यमराज द्वारा बताया गया	spoken by mṛtyu – taught by Yama, the Lord of Death		सनातनम्	sanātanam	शाश्वत – जो सदा से है, अनादि	eternal – that which is timeless and without beginning		उक्त्वा	uktvā	कहकर – उच्चारण करके, बोलकर	having spoken – after reciting or uttering		श्रुत्वा	śrutvā	सुनकर – श्रवण करके	having heard – after listening		च	ca	और – संयोजन सूचक	and – conjunction		मेधावी	medhāvī	बुद्धिमान – जिसमें गहरी समझ और विवेक हो	intelligent – one who possesses discernment and understanding		ब्रह्मलोके	brahmaloke	ब्रह्मलोक में – ब्रह्म के स्वरूप वाले लोक में	in brahmaloka – in the realm identified with brahman		महीयते	mahīyate	महिमा प्राप्त करता है – सम्मानित होता है, पूज्य बनता है	attains glory – becomes honored, worthy of worship

Translation/Explanation

Hindi: जो मेधावी पुरुष मृत्यु (यमराज) द्वारा कही गई, प्राचीन नचिकेत कथा को सुनता और कहता है, वह ब्रह्मलोक में महिमा को प्राप्त करता है।

English: The medhāvī who listens to and recites the ancient upākhyāna of Naciketa, as spoken by mṛtyu, attains glory in brahmaloka.

Commentary

The śruti, in order to extol the knowledge discussed, declares: The “Naciketa upākhyāna” refers to the narrative obtained by Naciketa. “Mṛtyu-proktam” means that it was spoken by mṛtyu, i.e., Yama. The “story” is contained within the three vallīs. “Sanātanam” signifies its ancient nature, as it is narrated in the Vedas. “Uktvā” means reciting it to brāhmaṇas, and “śrutvā” means hearing it from preceptors. “Brahmaloka” is the world which is brahman itself. “Mahīyate” means attaining glory, i.e., having become the ātman, one becomes worthy of worship.

Concept List

Naciketa
Upakhyana
Mrityu
Brahmaloka
Medhavi
Brahman
Atman
Sruti