Katha Upanishad: Verse 1.1.20

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

येयं प्रेते विचिकित्सा मनुष्येऽस्तीत्येके नायमस्तीति चैके। एतद्विद्यामनुशिष्टस्त्वयाहं वराणामेष वरस्तृतीयः॥२०॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

या इयं प्रेते विचिकित्सा मनुष्ये अस्ति इति एके न अयम् अस्ति इति च एके। एतत् विद्याम् अनुशिष्टस्त्वया अहं वराणाम् एषः वरः तृतीयः॥

Recitation with translationKatha Upanishad 1.1.20

IAST Transliteration

yeyaṃ prete vicikitsā manuṣye'stītyeke nāyamastīti caike | etadvidyāmanuśiṣṭastvayāhaṃ varāṇāmeṣa varastṛtīyaḥ ||

Translation

Es besteht dieser Zweifel über den Menschen, wenn er gestorben ist: einige sagen, er existiert, andere sagen, er existiert nicht. Dies möchte ich wissen, von dir gelehrt. Dies ist die dritte der Gaben.

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Academic Translation

There is this doubt about a man when he is dead: some say 'he exists,' others say 'he does not exist.' This I would know, taught by you. This is the third of the boons.

Verse Context

• Atman (the Self) and Paraloka-vidya (knowledge of the afterlife)
• Mahavakya: Indirectly relates to 'Tat Tvam Asi' (Chandogya Upanishad) - the inquiry into the nature of the Self that exists beyond death
• Krishna Yajur Veda
• Taittiriya Shakha
• Chandas: Anushtup