Katha Upanishad: Verse 1.1.4
स होवाच पितरं तत् कस्मै मां दास्यतीति। द्वितीयं तृतीयं तं होवाच मृत्यवे त्वा ददामीति॥४॥
सः ह उवाच पितरम् तत् कस्मै माम् दास्यति इति। द्वितीयम् तृतीयम् तम् ह उवाच मृत्यवे त्वा ददामि इति
sa hovāca pitaraṃ tat kasmai māṃ dāsyatīti। dvitīyaṃ tṛtīyaṃ taṃ hovāca mṛtyave tvā dadāmīti
नचिकेता ने बाप से पूछा, मुझे किसीको दोगे? बाप ने जवाब नहीं दिया। दूसरी बार पूछा, तीसरी बार पूछा। तब बाप गुस्से में बोला, मैं तुम्हे मृत्यु को देता हूँ।
He said to his father: 'To whom will you give me?' A second time, a third time, he said to him: 'To Death I give you.'
- स होवाच = सः + ह + उवाच
- तद् कस्मै = तत् + कस्मै (तद् → तत्)
- दास्यतीति = दास्यति + इति
- तं होवाच = तम् + ह + उवाच
- मृत्यवे त्वा = मृत्यवे + त्वा
- ददामीति = ददामि + इति
About this Verse
- Central concept
- Vairagya (Dispassion) and Adhikari (Qualification for Knowledge)
- The mahavakyas
- This verse establishes the context for the profound teachings on Atman that follow, culminating in insights aligned with 'Tat Tvam Asi'
- Veda
- Krishna Yajur Veda
- Shakha
- Taittiriya Shakha
- Chandas
- Prose (Gadya)
Yoga and practice
Illustrates the quality of persistent inquiry (Jijnasa) essential for spiritual practice; demonstrates the seeker's readiness to confront mortality as the ultimate teacher
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