Katho:panishad - V

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Jai Srimanna:ra:yana,

Jeeyar Thiruvadigale: Sharanam.

 

Dear Bhgavatha:s,

 

Humble Prana:mam of adiye:n. Jai Srimannarayana.

Kindly forgive adiye:n for late posting of this mail.

 

Until we put into practice what we learnt, we have

not learnt anything. To perfect one’s life, one should

be willing to pay any price and walk this "path" of

elders and great devotees. In today's part,

Nachike:thas' wise words prove his deep understanding

of Shastra and his bahaviour proves his tenacity to

implement what he knows. By the divine blessings of

our Acha:rya, may be we all desire to absorb this

wisdom Katho:panishad is imparting us.

 

Nachike:thas speaking to his father Va:jasravas,

 

" Anupashya Yatha:pu:rve:

Prathipasya Thatha:pare:

Sasyamiva Marthya: Paschate:

Sasyamiva:ja:yathe punah "

 

Just like many crops are harvested in agricultural

fields and they vanish into the same soil eventually,

our bodies are crops produced from this Earth, given

to experience the results of the Karma of each soul

("punya" and "pa:pa"). You use your body or not, it

will die one day and decompose into the 5 elements. If

you use it in the "right" manner so that you can

harbour "right" desires, it can liberate you,

otherwise you get another body that suits your desires

(Or Karma: as we ultimately do what we desire to do).

 

Moreover, our forefathers never reneged on their

words, they always regarded "righteous behaviour" as

the highest virtue. So, in order to tread their path,

I should follow what you said advertently or

inadvertently, I should go and serve Yamaraja. My

dear father, please do not be disappointed and permit

me to leave for Yamalokam.

 

It is not clear if Nachike:thas has entered Yamaloka

with his material body OR he left his present body and

entered Yamaloka with some other divine body. Both are

probable, as history says Arjuna and Dasharatha could

goto different higher planets with their present

material body. However for us, it is just enough to

know that somehow Nachike:thas could reach Yamalokam

safely.

 

By the time Nachike:thas reached Yamaloka, Yama was

not there. Yamadu:thas were confused to see this small

boy in Yamaloka, as he was not an expected guest that

day. However Nachike:thas was welcomed nicely in the

Yamaloka by the ordered servants of Yama

("YamaKimkara:s"). But Nachike:thas being exemplary in

his behaviour refused to enjoy anything they offered

him, considering himself to be a menial servant of

Yama who cannot act out of his own interests and

whims.

 

In the next mail, we see Yamaraja extolling the

qualities of Nachike:thas and the most confidential

information Yama is going to bestow upon us.

 

Kindly forgive adiye:n's mistakes,

 

Jai Srimanna:ra:yana,

Adiye:n.

 

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

-----------------

 

1. Discuss the confidential information (information

about "Athma") as disclosed by Nachiketh:as in his

conversation with Va:jasravas.

 

2. Is it wise to use this temporary body for cheap

pleasures of this world? What happens if you do not

use it every moment for the purpose for which it is

granted? Think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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