Katha:Main

Katha Upanishad

Mantra Index

Adhyaya	Valli	Mantras
1	1	1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.4, 1.1.5, 1.1.6, 1.1.7, 1.1.8, 1.1.9, 1.1.10, 1.1.11, 1.1.12, 1.1.13, 1.1.14, 1.1.15, 1.1.16, 1.1.17, 1.1.18, 1.1.19, 1.1.20, 1.1.21, 1.1.22, 1.1.23, 1.1.24, 1.1.25, 1.1.26, 1.1.27, 1.1.28, 1.1.29
1	2	1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.4, 1.2.5, 1.2.6, 1.2.7, 1.2.8, 1.2.9, 1.2.10, 1.2.11, 1.2.12, 1.2.13, 1.2.14, 1.2.15, 1.2.16, 1.2.17, 1.2.18, 1.2.19, 1.2.20, 1.2.21, 1.2.22, 1.2.23, 1.2.24, 1.2.25
1	3	1.3.1, 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 1.3.4, 1.3.5, 1.3.6, 1.3.7, 1.3.8, 1.3.9, 1.3.10, 1.3.11, 1.3.12, 1.3.13, 1.3.14, 1.3.15, 1.3.16, 1.3.17
2	1	2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4, 2.1.5, 2.1.6, 2.1.7, 2.1.8, 2.1.9, 2.1.10, 2.1.11, 2.1.12, 2.1.13, 2.1.14, 2.1.15
2	2	2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.4, 2.2.5, 2.2.6, 2.2.7, 2.2.8, 2.2.9, 2.2.10, 2.2.11, 2.2.12, 2.2.13, 2.2.14, 2.2.15
2	3	2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.3.3, 2.3.4, 2.3.5, 2.3.6, 2.3.7, 2.3.8, 2.3.9, 2.3.10, 2.3.11, 2.3.12, 2.3.13, 2.3.14, 2.3.15, 2.3.16, 2.3.17, 2.3.18, 2.3.19

Sections

Adhyāya.Vallī	विषय	Topic	Mantras
	शान्तिपाठ	Peace Invocation
	सम्बन्ध-भाष्य	Contextual Commentary
1.1	वाजश्रवसका दान	Vājashravasa’s Sacrifice
	नचिकेता की शंका	Nachiketā’s Doubt
	पिता–पुत्र–संवाद	Father–Son Dialogue
	यमलोक में नचिकेता	Nachiketā in Yama’s Realm
	यमराज का वरप्रदान	Yama’s Response
	प्रथम वर – पितृपरितोष	First Boon – Reunion with Father
	स्वर्गस्वरूपप्रदर्शन	Praise of the Nature of Heaven
	द्वितीय वर – स्वर्गसाधनभूत अग्निविद्या	Second Boon – The Fire Sacrifice to Attain Heaven
	नचिकेत अग्निचयन का फल	Result of Nachiketā’s Request
	तृतीय वर – आत्मरहस्य	Third Boon – Secret of the Self
	नचिकेता की स्थिरता	Nachiketā’s Steadfastness
	यमराज का प्रलोभन	Yama’s Temptation
	नचिकेता की निरीहता	Nachiketā’s Humility
	श्रेय–प्रेय विवेक	Discrimination Between the Good and the Pleasant
	अविद्याग्रस्तों की दुर्दशा	The Rarity of Worldly Delusions
	आत्मज्ञान की दुर्लभता	The Rarity of Self-Knowledge
	कर्मफल की अनित्यता	Impermanence of the Fruits of Action
	नचिकेता के त्याग की प्रशंसा	Praise of Nachiketā’s Renunciation
	आत्मज्ञान का फल	Result of Self-Knowledge
	सर्वातीत वस्तु विषयक प्रश्न	Question on the Supreme Reality
	ओंकारोपदेश	Traditional Instruction (or Scriptural Teaching)
	आत्मस्वरूपनिरूपण	Determination of the Nature of the Self
	आत्मा आत्मकृपासाध्य है	The Self is the Master of the Body
	आत्मज्ञान का अनधिकारी	The Unqualified for Self-Knowledge
1.3	प्राप्ता और प्राप्तव्य—भेदसे दो आत्मा	The Two Selves: The Reached and the Reachable
	शरीरादिसे सम्बन्धित रथदि रूप	The Stable Form Related to the Body, etc.
	अविवेकीकी विवशता	The Powerlessness of the Undiscerning
	विवेकीकी स्वतंत्रता	The Freedom of the Discerning
	अविवेकीकी संसाऱप्राप्ति	The Samsaric Fate of the Undiscerning
	विवेकीकी परमपदप्राप्ति	The Supreme Attainment of the Discerning
	इन्द्रियादिका तात्त्त्वय	The Essential Nature of the Senses, etc.
	आत्मा सूक्ष्मबुद्धिग्राह्य है	The Self is Grasped by the Subtle Intellect
	लयचिन्तन	Meditation on Dissolution
	उद्दीपन	Kindling (of Inner Light or Insight)
	निर्दिष्ट आत्मज्ञानसे अमृतत्वप्राप्ति	Immortality through the Declared Knowledge of the Self
	प्रस्तुत विज्ञानकी महिमा	The Glory of the Present Knowledge
2.1	आनन्ददर्शनका विषय—इन्द्रियोंकी बहिर्मुखता	Subject of Bliss-Realization: Outward Nature of the Senses
	अविवेकी और विवेकीका अन्तर	Difference Between the Discerning and the Undiscerning
	आत्मसकी सर्वज्ञता	The Omniscience of the Self
	आत्मसकी निःशोकता	The Freedom from Sorrow of the Self
	आत्मसकी निःभयता	The Fearlessness of the Self
	ब्रह्मका सार्वत्र्यदर्शन	The All-Pervasive Vision of Brahman
	अरणिष्ठ अग्निमें ब्रह्मदृष्टि	Brahman Vision in the Fire of the Forest Dweller
	प्राणमें ब्रह्मदृष्टि	Brahman Vision in the Vital Force
	भेददृष्टिकी निन्दा	Condemnation of the Vision of Difference
	हृदयपुण्डरीकस्थ ब्रह्म	Brahman Residing in the Lotus of the Heart
	भेदवाद	The Doctrine of Difference
	अभेददर्शनकी कर्त्तव्यता	The Duty of Non-Dual Vision
2.2	प्रकारान्तरसे ब्रह्मानुसन्धान	Inquiry into Brahman in Another Way
	देहरूप आत्मा ही जीवन है	The Embodied Self is Life
	मरणोत्तरकालमें जीवनकी गति	The Path of Life After Death
	गृह्य ब्रह्मोपदेश	Brahman-Teaching in the Household Context
	आत्माका उपाधिरूपफल	The Superimposed Fruits of the Self
	आत्मसकी अज्ञता	The Ignorance of the Self
	आत्मदर्शी ही नित्य सुखी है	The Knower of the Self is Always Happy
	सर्वप्रकाशकका अपकाशत्व	The Hiddenness of the All-Illuminator
2.3	संसाररूप अश्वत्थ वृक्ष	The World-Tree in the Form of the Ashvattha
	ईश्वरके ज्ञानसे अमरत्वप्राप्ति	Attaining Immortality Through Knowledge of the Lord
	सर्वशास्त्र प्रभव	The Source of All Scriptures
	ईश्वरज्ञानके बिना पुनर्जन्मप्राप्ति	Rebirth Without Knowledge of the Lord
	स्थानभेदसे भगवद्दर्शनमें तात्त्त्वय	Essential Meaning in the Varied Visions of the Divine
	आत्मज्ञानका प्रकार और प्रयोग	Types and Application of Self-Knowledge
	परमपदप्राप्ति	Attainment of the Supreme State
	आत्मोपलब्धिका साधन सद्बुद्धि ही है	Sound Intellect as the Means to Self-Realization
	अमर कब होता है ?	When Does One Become Immortal?
	उपसंहार	Conclusion
	शान्तिपाठ	Peace Invocation

Important Concepts

Sanskrit (IAST)	English Translation	Notes / Context
Ātman	Self, Soul	The indwelling Self, the real essence beyond body and mind.
Brahman	Absolute Reality	The Supreme, unchanging Reality beyond time and space.
Jīvātman	Individual Self	The individualized expression of Ātman in embodied beings.
Paramātman	Supreme Self	The universal Self, same as Brahman.
Saṃsāra	Cycle of Rebirth	The ongoing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Mokṣa	Liberation	Freedom from saṃsāra; the goal of Vedantic inquiry.
Karma	Action and Its Results	All volitional action that produces consequences.
Jñāna	Knowledge	Spiritual wisdom or intuitive knowledge of the Self.
Vijñāna	Higher Knowledge	Discriminative understanding; deeper realization than jñāna.
Śraddhā	Faith	Essential for learning; Nachiketā is described as having this.
Viveka	Discrimination	Ability to distinguish between real/unreal, Self/not-Self.
Vairāgya	Dispassion	Detachment from sensory pleasures and worldly attractions.
Preyas	The Pleasant	Temporary pleasure, not leading to true good.
Śreyas	The Good	The path of spiritual good, leading to liberation.
Nāma-rūpa	Name and Form	The manifest world, considered illusory in Vedanta.
Indriya	Sense Organ	Organs of perception and action.
Manas	Mind	Coordinates sensory input; compared to the reins in chariot analogy.
Buddhi	Intellect	The decision-making faculty; charioteer in the chariot analogy.
Ātman (as rider)	Self as Rider	In the chariot analogy, the true Self rides the body.
Śarīra	Body	The chariot itself, the outer vehicle for the Self.
Chariot Analogy	-	Analogy in 1.3.3–1.3.9: body (chariot), senses (horses), mind (reins), intellect (charioteer), Self (rider).
Yama	Lord of Death	Teacher of Nachiketā; symbolizes dharma and inner mastery.
Nachiketā	Seeker	The spiritual aspirant, embodying faith, courage, and clarity.
Upāsanā	Meditation, Worship	Steady contemplation; path to inner realization.
Ānanda	Bliss	The bliss of realizing the Self.
Adhyātma	Pertaining to the Self	Spiritual dimension, inner world.
Dharma	Righteousness	Cosmic order; personal duty.
Antaḥkaraṇa	Inner Instrument	Composite of mind, intellect, ego, and memory.
Vijñātā	Knower	The one who knows the Self; often referred to in 2nd Adhyāya.
Nāyaka	Guide	Symbolic role of the charioteer (buddhi) leading the Self.
Avyaya	Imperishable	Nature of the Self – beyond decay and change.
Akṣara	The Imperishable	Term often used to describe Brahman/Ātman.
Prāṇa	Vital Force	The life-breath; part of subtle body functions.
Pratyagātmā	Innermost Self	The Self experienced in deep meditation.