Katha:2.3.3

Mantra 2.3.3

Original Text:

भयादस्याग्निस्तपति भयात्तपति सूर्यः ।
	भयादिन्द्रश्च वायुश्च मृत्युर्धावति पञ्चमः ॥ ३ ॥

bhayādasyāgnistapati bhayāttapati sūryaḥ |
	bhayādindraśca vāyuśca mṛtyurdhāvati pañcamaḥ || 3 ||

Word-by-Word Breakdown

Sanskrit Term	Transliteration	Hindi Meaning	English Word or Meaning	Comments
भयात्	bhayāt	भय के कारण	because of fear		अस्य	asya	उसके	of him (the Supreme)		अग्निः	agniḥ	अग्नि (ज्योति तत्व)	fire (principle of fire)		तपति	tapati	जलता है	burns		भयात्	bhayāt	भय के कारण	because of fear		तपति	tapati	चमकता है	shines		सूर्यः	sūryaḥ	सूर्य (प्रकाश तत्व)	sun (principle of light)		भयात्	bhayāt	भय के कारण	because of fear		इन्द्रः	indraḥ	इन्द्र (देवताओं के राजा)	Indra (king of gods)		च	ca	और	and		वायुः	vāyuḥ	वायु (वायु तत्व)	wind (principle of air)		च	ca	और	and		मृत्यु:	mṛtyuḥ	मृत्यु (मृत्यु का देवता)	Death (deity of death)		धावति	dhāvati	दौड़ता है	runs		पञ्चमः	pañcamaḥ	पाँचवाँ (पाँचवा तत्व)	the fifth (the fifth principle)

Translation/Explanation

Hindi: उस (परमात्मा) के भय से अग्नि जलती है; उसके भय से सूर्य चमकता है; उसके भय से इन्द्र और वायु (अपना कार्य करते हैं); और मृत्यु, पाँचवाँ (तत्व), दौड़ता है।

English: From fear of Him (paramātmā), agni burns; from fear, sūrya shines; from fear, indra and vāyu (perform their functions); and mṛtyu, the fifth (principle), runs.

Commentary

This mantra explains how the cosmic order is maintained out of fear or awe of the Supreme (paramātmā). The agni (fire) burns, the sūrya (sun) shines, indra (the king of deities) and vāyu (wind) act, and mṛtyu (Death), the fifth, runs—all due to the presence of the Supreme as the ultimate controller. If brahman were not present as the regulator of these powerful cosmic forces, their orderly functioning, like that of servants trembling before a master, would not be possible.

Concept List

bhaya
agni
sūrya
indra
vāyu
mṛtyu
brahman
cosmic order
controller