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Katha Upanishad

Chapter 4

द्वितीयाध्याये प्रथमा वल्ली

Adhyaya 2 · Valli 1

Verses

  1. Verse 1

    parāñci khāni vyatṛṇat svayambhūstasmātparāṅpaśyati nāntarātman | kaściddhīraḥ pratyagātmānamaikṣadāvṛttacakṣuramṛtatvamicchan || 1||

    Meaning

    'The Self-existent (Lord) pierced the openings (of the senses) outward; therefore one looks outward, not at the inner Self. A certain wise man, desiring immortality, turned his gaze inward and beheld the indwelling Self.'

  2. Verse 2

    parācaḥ kāmānanuyanti bālāste mṛtyoryanti vitatasya pāśam | atha dhīrā amṛtatvaṃ viditvā dhruvamadhruveṣviha na prārthayante || 2||

    Meaning

    'The childish go after outward desires; they walk into the snare of widespread death. But the wise, knowing immortality, do not seek the stable (eternal) among the unstable things here.'

  3. Verse 3

    yena rūpaṃ rasaṃ gandhaṃ śabdān sparśāṃśca maithunān | etenaiva vijānāti kimatra pariśiṣyate | etadvai tat || 3||

    Meaning

    'That by which one perceives form, taste, smell, sounds, and touches in union — by that very (Self) one knows everything. What here remains (unknown to It)? This, verily, is That.'

  4. Verse 4

    svapnāntaṃ jāgaritāntaṃ cobhau yenānupaśyati | mahāntaṃ vibhumātmānaṃ matvā dhīro na śocati || 4||

    Meaning

    'Realizing that great, all-pervading Self by which one perceives both the dream state and the waking state, the wise man does not grieve.'

  5. Verse 5

    ya imaṃ madhvadaṃ veda ātmānaṃ jīvamantikāt | īśānaṃ bhūtabhavyasya na tato vijugupsate | etadvai tat || 5||

    Meaning

    'He who knows this Self, the experiencer (of the honey of works), the living Self close at hand, the lord of the past and the future — thereafter he does not shrink (from anything). This, verily, is That.'

  6. Verse 6

    yaḥ pūrvaṃ tapaso jātamadbhyaḥ pūrvamajāyata | guhāṃ praviśya tiṣṭhantaṃ yo bhūtebhirvyapaśyata | etadvai tat || 6||

    Meaning

    '(That Self) who was born before austerity (the creative resolve), who was born before the waters, who, having entered the cave (of the heart), abides — whom one beheld through the elements: this, verily, is That.'

  7. Verse 7

    yā prāṇena saṃbhavatyaditirdevatāmayī | guhāṃ praviśya tiṣṭhantīṃ yā bhūtebhirvyajāyata | etadvai tat || 7||

    Meaning

    '(That Self) who comes into being through the vital breath, Aditi (the deity-natured, the eater of all), who, having entered the cave, abides, who was born through the elements: this, verily, is That.'

  8. Verse 8

    araṇyornihito jātavedā garbha iva subhṛto garbhiṇībhiḥ | dive dive īḍyo jāgṛvadbhirhaviṣmadbhirmanuṣyebhiragniḥ | etadvai tat || 8||

    Meaning

    'Agni (Jatavedas), hidden in the two fire-sticks like the embryo well borne by pregnant women, is to be worshipped day by day by watchful men bearing oblations. This, verily, is That.'

  9. Verse 9

    yataścodeti sūryo'staṃ yatra ca gacchati | taṃ devāḥ sarve'rpitāstadu nātyeti kaścana | etadvai tat || 9||

    Meaning

    'Whence the sun rises and where it sets — in that (Self) all the gods are fixed, and no one ever transcends it. This, verily, is That.'

  10. Verse 10

    yadeveha tadamutra yadamutra tadanviha | mṛtyoḥ sa mṛtyumāpnoti ya iha nāneva paśyati || 10||

    Meaning

    'What is here, that is there; what is there, that too is here. He goes from death to death who sees here as if there were difference.'

  11. Verse 11

    manasaivedamāptavyaṃ neha nānā'sti kiṃcana | mṛtyoḥ sa mṛtyuṃ gacchati ya iha nāneva paśyati || 11||

    Meaning

    'This is to be attained through the mind alone: there is no diversity here whatsoever. He goes from death to death who sees here as if there were difference.'

  12. Verse 12

    aṅguṣṭhamātraḥ puruṣo madhya ātmani tiṣṭhati | īśānaṃ bhūtabhavyasya na tato vijugupsate | etadvai tat || 12||

    Meaning

    'The Purusha, of the size of a thumb, dwells in the middle of the body (in the heart) — the lord of the past and the future. Knowing Him, one shrinks (from nothing) thereafter. This, verily, is That.'

  13. Verse 13

    aṅguṣṭhamātraḥ puruṣo jyotirivādhūmakaḥ | īśāno bhūtabhavyasya sa evādya sa u śvaḥ | etadvai tat || 13||

    Meaning

    'The Purusha, of the size of a thumb, is like a smokeless flame — the lord of the past and the future. He is the same today and the same tomorrow. This, verily, is That.'

  14. Verse 14

    yathodakaṃ durge vṛṣṭaṃ parvateṣu vidhāvati | evaṃ dharmān pṛthak paśyaṃstānevānuvidhāvati || 14||

    Meaning

    'As water rained on a height runs down the slopes among the mountains, so one who sees the qualities (dharmas) as separate runs after them (and is scattered).'

  15. Verse 15

    yathodakaṃ śuddhe śuddhamāsiktaṃ tādṛgeva bhavati | evaṃ munervijānata ātmā bhavati gautama || 15||

    Meaning

    'As pure water poured into pure water becomes verily the same, so becomes the Self of the discerning sage (one with Brahman), O Gautama.'

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