Katha:1.1.26
Mantra 1.1.26
Original Text:
श्वोभावा मर्त्यस्य यदन्तकैतत्सर्वेंद्रियाणां जरयंति तेजः । अपि सर्वं जीवितमल्पमेव तवैव वाहास्तव नृत्यगीते ॥ २६ ॥
śvobhāvā martyasya yadantakaitatsarveṃdriyāṇāṃ jarayaṃti tejaḥ | api sarvaṃ jīvitamalpameva tavaiva vāhāstava nṛtyagīte || 26 ||
| Sanskrit Term | Transliteration | Hindi Meaning | English Word or Meaning | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| श्वोभावा | śvobhāvāḥ | जो कल तक ही टिके – क्षणभंगुर | ephemeral (lasting only until tomorrow) | |
| मर्त्यस्य | martyasya | मृत्यु को प्राप्त होने वाले मनुष्य का – नश्वर प्राणी का | of the mortal (of one subject to death) | |
| यत् | yat | जो – वह जो | that which | |
| अन्तक | antaka | मृत्यु (यम) – प्राणों का अंत करने वाला | O Death (one who ends life) | |
| एतत् | etat | यह – यह सब | this | |
| सर्वेन्द्रियाणां | sarvendriyāṇām | सभी इन्द्रियों का – समस्त ज्ञानेन्द्रिय और कर्मेन्द्रिय | of all the senses (organs of perception and action) | |
| जरयन्ति | jarayanti | जर्जर कर देते हैं – क्षीण कर देते हैं | wear out (cause to decay) | |
| तेजः | tejaḥ | शक्ति – बल, ऊर्जा | vigour (vital energy) | |
| अपि | api | भी – यहाँ तक कि | even | |
| सर्वम् | sarvam | सम्पूर्ण – सब कुछ | all | |
| जीवितम् | jīvitam | जीवन – जीवनकाल | life (span of life) | |
| अल्पम् | alpam | अल्प – बहुत कम | very short (insignificant) | |
| एव | eva | ही – निश्चय ही | indeed (only) | |
| तव | tava | तुम्हारे – तेरे | thine (yours) | |
| एव | eva | ही – निश्चय ही | alone (only) | |
| वाहाः | vāhāḥ | रथ – सवारी | chariots | |
| तव | tava | तुम्हारे – तेरे | thine (yours) | |
| नृत्यगीते | nṛtya-gīte | नृत्य और गीत – नृत्य तथा संगीत | dance and music |
Translation/Explanation
Hindi: (नचिकेताः कहते हैं) हे मृत्यु! ये सब क्षणभंगुर हैं; ये सब भोग मनुष्य की समस्त इन्द्रियों की शक्ति को क्षीण कर देते हैं। सबसे दीर्घ जीवन भी वास्तव में बहुत अल्प है। रथ, नृत्य और गीत – ये सब केवल तुम्हारे ही लिए हों।
English: (Naciketā says) O Antaka! These (śvobhāvāḥ) are ephemeral; they diminish the tejaḥ (vital energy) of all the sarvendriyāṇām (senses) in the mortal (martya). Even the entirety of jīvitam (life) is truly insignificant. Let the vāhāḥ (chariots), nṛtya-gīte (dance and music) be for you alone.
Commentary
Though thus tempted, Naciketā, unagitated like a large lake, said: śvobhāvāḥ, enjoyments whose existence the next day is a matter of doubt; the enjoyments enumerated by you are ephemeral; again, O Antaka (Death), they tend to the decline of the vigour of all the organs of man. These nymphs and other enjoyments only tend to harm, because they destroy virtue, strength, intellect, vigour, fame and the rest. As for the longevity that you will give me, hear me on that point. All life, even that of Brahmā, is indeed short. What need be said of our longevity? Therefore, keep the chariots, etc., for thyself alone, as also the dance and music.
Concept List
śvobhāva
antaka
sarvendriya
tejaḥ
jīvitam
vāha
nṛtya-gīta
martya