Brahman

kaṭhopaniṣad - adhyāya 2, vallī 1

(Kathopanishad - Chapter 2, Valli 1 in English (IAST))

From Vedas

This section of the Kathopanishad features the profound dialogue between the young seeker Nachiketa and Lord Yama. It explores the nature of the Supreme Self, contrasting the pursuit of external sensory pleasures with the inner realization of the soul. By teaching the path of self-restraint and spiritual discernment, these verses serve as a guide for those seeking immortality and eternal truth. Reciting or meditating on these verses helps practitioners detach from fleeting worldly desires, sharpen their internal focus, and attain profound clarity, leading to the ultimate realization of the undying, singular nature of the Atman.

adhyāya 2

vallī 1
parāñcikhāni vyatṛṇatsvayambhūstasmātparāṅpaśyati nāntarātman|
kaściddhīraḥ pratyagātmānamaikṣadāvṛttacakṣuramṛtatvamicchann ||1||
parācaḥ kāmānanuyanti bālāste mṛtyoryanti vitatasya pāśam|
atha dhīrā amṛtatvaṃ-vi~ditvā dhruvamadhruveṣviha na prārthayante ||2||
yena rūpaṃ rasa-ṅgandhaṃ śabdānspar​śāṃśca maithunān|
etenaiva vijānāti kimatra pariśiṣyate| etadvai tat ||3||
svapnānta-ñjāgaritānta-ñcobhau yenānupaśyati|
mahāntaṃ-vi~bhumātmāna-mmatvā dhīro na śocati ||4||
ya ima-mmadhvadaṃ-ve~da ātmāna-ñjīvamantikāt|
īśāna-mbhūtabhavyasya na tato vijugupsate| etadvai tat ||5||
yaḥ pūrva-ntapaso jātamadbhyaḥ pūrvamajāyata|
guhā-mpraviśya tiṣṭhantaṃ-yo~ bhūtebhirvyapaśyata| etadvai tat ||6||
yā prāṇena sambhavatyaditirdevatāmayī|
guhā-mpraviśya tiṣṭhantīṃ-yā~ bhūtebhirvyajāyata| etadvai tat ||7||
araṇyornihito jātavedā garbha iva subhṛto garbhiṇībhiḥ|
dive dive īḍyo jāgṛvadbhir​haviṣmadbhirmanuṣyebhiragniḥ| etadvai tat ||8||
yataścodeti sūryo-'staṃ-ya~tra ca gacchati|
ta-ndevā-ssarve-'rpitāstadu nātyeti kaścana| etadvai tat ||9||
yadeveha tadamutra yadamutra tadanviha|
mṛtyo-ssa mṛtyumāpnoti ya iha nāneva paśyati ||10||
manasaivedamāptavya-nneha nānā-'sti kiñcana|
mṛtyo-ssa mṛtyu-ṅgacchati ya iha nāneva paśyati ||11||
aṅguṣṭhamātraḥ puruṣo madhya ātmani tiṣṭhati|
īśāno bhūtabhavyasya na tato vijugupsate| etadvai tat ||12||
aṅguṣṭhamātraḥ puruṣo jyotirivādhūmakaḥ|
īśāno bhūtabhavyasya sa evādya sa u śvaḥ| etadvai tat ||13||
yathodaka-ndurge vṛṣṭa-mparvateṣu vidhāvati|
eva-ndharmānpṛtha-kpaśyaṃstānevānuvidhāvati ||14||
yathodakaṃ śuddhe śuddhamāsikta-ntādṛgeva bhavati|
eva-mmunervijānata ātmā bhavati gautama ||15||

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