Sri Katha Upanishad

The Katha Upanishad tells the story of the brahmana boy Naciketa who is cursed by his angry father to go to the underworld presided over by Yama, the god of death. Naciketa waits for three nights and when the god of death finally arrives, Naciketa is granted three boons by him. His first wish is that he should be reunited with his father and forgiven by him. His second wish is to learn about the worship of the sacred fire that grants one liberation and his third wish is to be given knowledge about the Absolute Truth. Upon hearing Naciketa’s third wish, Yama tests him and offers him all sorts of worldly pleasures instead. However, Naciketa is determined and seeing his resolve, Yama teaches him. Through his conversation with Death, Naciketa attains enlightenment.

This Upanishad forms a part of the Brahmana belonging to the Katha Shakha of the Krishna Yajur Veda. It stands in a class by itself. It combines charming poetry, elevating mysticism, and profound philosophy. The subject of the mystery of death is introduced through the medium of an interesting anecdote; and the teaching of the Upanishad is presented in the form of a dialogue between a mere boy, Nachiketa, and Yama, the King of Death. With the text of the Upanishad in Devanagari, a lucid and faithful translation of the text and commentary, relevant notes, reference to quotations, and index to texts, this Upanishad is a must for all students of Vedanta. Published by Advaita Ashrama, a publication house of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math.

Sri Katha Upanishad in English rhyme with original text have no consensus regarding their source. They vary from Yajur, Sama, Atharva to Rig-Veda. Upanishads are prime portions of the Vedas, They are the foundational theological discourses of Hindu traditions called Vedanta or the conclusion of the Vedas.

The whole world runs away from death, because death snatches everything, but the one who accepts it and willingly faces it, receives something from death itself. Ironically, knowledge of death gives you the gift of life. Katopanishad tells the story of young Nachiketa who goes to face the lord of death and the extraordinary dialogue that ensues between them. Upanishad means sitting close to the Master. Gurudev takes us through this beautiful story integrating its profoundness with real-life situations, turning abstract philosophy into existential reality.

This is a new and contemporary translation of one of India's most revered texts - The Katha Upanishad. Tigunait delights us with an understandable version of one of the most difficult texts of all religious traditions. The story is of a young boy who compels the Lord of Death to reveal the secret of what happens after we die. Tigunait's commentary and translation make this text ideal for anyone looking for inner growth and enlightenment.

Art lovers, spiritual seekers, and anyone entranced by The Perfection of Wisdom, Words of Paradise, and The Moon in the Pines will want to own The Katha Upanishad. One of India's most revered texts and part of the famous Hindu scriptures, the thousand-year-old Vedas, it tells the story of a young boy who compels the Lord of Death to reveal the secret of what happens after we die. There are, teaches The Katha Upanishad, two paths in life. One -- that of the senses -- leads to the world and all its pleasures. But since all material things must perish, it ends inevitably in death. The other path is the way inward that leads to grace, a spiritual journey toward immortality and joyous union with the universal Divine. This translation converts simply and practically the wisdom at the heart of the scripture.

This book is the English translation of Katha Upanishad by Swami Sarvananda, who was a disciple of Swami Brahmananda and one of the vice-presidents of the Ramakrishna Order. It contains original mantras, transliteration, construed text (anvaya) with a literal word by word meaning and overall English translation, with useful notes. The book also contains a useful introductory note on the Upanishad.