VALLI -1

kāṭhakopaniṣat

kathamiti ucyate ---

pītodakā jagdhatṛṇā

dugdhadohā nirindriyāḥ  |

anandā nāma te lokās-

tānsa gacchati tā dadat  || 1. 1. 3 ||

pītodakā ityādinā dakṣiṇārthā gāvo viśeṣyante | pītamudakaṃ yābhistā pītodakāḥ | jagdhaṃ bhakṣitaṃ tṛṇaṃ yābhistā jagdhatṛṇāḥ | dugdho dohaḥ kṣīrākhyo yāsāṃ tā dugdhadohāḥ | nirindriyā prajananāsamarthā jīrṇā niṣphalā gāva ityarthaḥ | yāstā evaṃbhūtā gā ṛtvigbhyo dakṣiṇābuddhyā dadat prayacchan anandā anānandā asukhā nāmetyetat | ye te lokāstān sa yajamāno gacchati | || 1. 1. 3 | |

sa hovāca pitaraṃ tata kasmai māṃ dāsyasīti  |

dvitīyaṃ tṛtīyaṃ tam̐ hovāca mṛtyave tvā dadāmīti  | | 1. 1. 4 | |

tadevaṃ kratvasaṃpatti-nimittaṃ pituraniṣṭaṃ phalaṃ putreṇa satā nivāraṇīyaṃ mayā ātma-pradānenāpi kratu-saṃpattiṃ kṛtvetyevaṃ manyamānaḥ pitaramupagamya sa hovāca pitaram, he tata = tāta kasmai ṛtvigviśeṣāya dakṣiṇārthaṃ māṃ dāsyasīti = prayacchasītyetat | sa evamuktena pitrā upekṣyamāṇo:'pi dvitīyaṃ tṛtīyamapi uvāca --- kasmai māṃ dāsyasi, kasmai māṃ dāsyasīti | nāyaṃ kumāra-svabhāva iti kruddhaḥ san, pitā taṃ ha = putraṃ kila uvāca, mṛtyave = vaivasvatāya tvā = tvāṃ dadāmīti | || 1. 1. 4 | |

sa evamuktaḥ putra ekānte paridevayāṃcakāra | katham? ityucyate ---

bahūnāmemi prathamo bahūnāmemi madhyamaḥ  |

kisvidyamasya kartavyaṃ yanmayā:'dya kariṣyati  | | 1. 1. 5 | |

buhūnāṃ śiṣyāṇāṃ putrāṇāṃ vā emi = gacchāmi prathamaḥ san mukhyayā śiṣyādivṛttyetyarthaḥ | madhyamānāṃ ca bahūnāṃ madhyamaḥ = madhyamayaiva vṛttyaimi | nādhamayā kadācidapi | tamevaṃ viśiṣṭa-guṇamapi putraṃ mām, ’mṛtyave tvā dadāmi’ ityuktavān pitā | sa kiṃsvit yamasya kartavyaṃ = prayojanaṃ mayā pradattena kariṣyati yat-kartavyam adya? nūnaṃ prayojanamanapekṣyaiva krodhavaśāduktavān pitā | tathāpi tatpiturvaco mṛṣā mā bhūditi evaṃ matvā paridevanāpūrvakamāha pitaraṃ śokāviṣṭaṃ kiṃ mayoktamiti ||1.1.5||

sanmārgaḥ sadaiva sevanīyaḥ

anupaśya yathā pūrve

pratipaśya tathā:'pare  |

sasyamiva martyaḥ pacyate

sasyamivājāyate punaḥ  | |  1. 1. 6 | |

anupaśya = ālocaya = vibhāvaya anukrameṇa yathā = yena prakāreṇa vṛttāḥ pūrve = atikrāntāḥ = pitṛ-pitāmahādayastava | tāndṛṣṭvā ca teṣāṃ vṛttamāsthātumarhasi | vartamānāśca apare sādhavo yathā vartante tāṃśca tathā pratipaśya = ālocaya | na ca teṣāṃ mṛṣākaraṇaṃ vṛttaṃ vartamānaṃ vā asti | tadviparītamasatāṃ ca vṛttaṃ mṛṣākaraṇam | na ca mṛṣābhūtaṃ kṛtvā kaścidajarāmaro bhavati | yataḥ sasyamiva martyaḥ = manuṣyaḥ pacyate = jīrṇo = mriyate, mṛtvā ca sasyamiva ājāyate = āvirbhavati punarevamanitye jīvaloke kiṃ mṛṣākaraṇena ? pālayātmanaḥ satyam | preṣaya māṃ yamāyetyabhiprāyaḥ | |  1. 1. 6 | |

sa evamuktaḥ pitā ātmanaḥ satyatāyai preṣayāmāsa | sa ca yama-bhavanaṃ gatvā tisro rātrīruvāsa yame proṣite | proṣyāgataṃ yamam amātyā bhāryā vā ūcurbodhayantaḥ ---

vaiśvānaraḥ praviśatyatithirbrāhmaṇo gṛhān  |

tasyaitā śāntiṃ kurvanti hara vaivasvatodakam  | |  1. 1. 7 | |

vaiśvānaro agnireva sākṣāt praviśati atithiḥ san brāhmaṇo gṛhān dahanniva | tasya dāhaṃ śamayanta ivāgneretāṃ pādyāsanādi-dāna-lakṣaṇāṃ śāntiṃ kurvanti santo:'titheryataḥ, ataḥ hara āhara he vaivasvata, udakaṃ naciketase pādyārtham yataścākaraṇe pratyavāyaḥ śrūyate ||  1. 1. 7 | |

athityupekṣaṇe doṣāḥ

āśāpratīkṣe saṃgatam̐ sūnṛtāṃ ceṣṭāpūrte

putrapaśūm̐śca sarvān  |

etadvṛṅkte puruṣasyālpamedhaso

yasyānaśnanvasati brāhmaṇo gṛhe ||1.1.8||

āśā-pratīkṣe = anirjñāta-prāpyeṣṭārtha-prārthanā = āśā, nirjñāta-prāpyārtha-pratīkṣaṇaṃ = pratīkṣā, te āśā-pratīkṣe, saṃgataṃ = satsaṃyogajaṃ phalam, sūnṛtāṃ ca = sūnṛtā hi = priyā vāk, tannimittaṃ ca, iṣṭāpūrte = iṣṭaṃ = yāgajaṃ phalaṃ, pūrtam = ārāmādi-kriyājaṃ phalam, putrapaśūṃśca = putrāṃśca paśūṃśca sarvān, etat sarvaṃ yathoktaṃ vṛṅkte = varjayati = vināśayatītyetat | puruṣasya alpa-medhasaḥ = alpa-prajñasya, yasya anaśnan = abhuñjāno brāhmaṇo gṛhe vasati | tasmādanupekṣaṇīyaḥ sarvāvasthāsvapyatithirityarthaḥ ||1.1.8||

evamukto mṛtyuruvāca naciketasamupagamya pūjā-puraḥsaram ---

tisro rātrīryadavātsīrgṛhe me:'naśnan

brahmannatithirnamasyaḥ  |

namaste:'stu brahman svasti me:'stu

tasmātprati trīnvarānvṛṇīṣva ||1.1.9||

tisro rātrīḥ yat = yasmāt avātsīḥ = uṣitavānasi, gṛhe me = mama anaśnan he brahman atithiḥ san namasyaḥ = namaskārārhaśca, tasmāt namaḥ te = tubhyam astu = bhavatu | he brahman svasti = bhadraṃ me astu | tasmāt bhavato:'naśanena madgṛhavāsa-nimittāddoṣāt tatprāptyupaśamena | yadyapi bhavadanugraheṇa sarvaṃ mama svasti syāt, tathāpi tvadadhika-saṃprasādanārthamanaśanenoṣitāmekaikāṃ rātriṃ prati trīn varān vṛṇīṣva abhipretārtha-viṣayān prārthayasva mattaḥ | |1.1.9||

naciketāstvāha -- yadi ditsurvarān ---

śāntasaṃkalpaḥ sumanā yathā syād

vītamanyurgautamo mā:'bhi mṛtyo  |

tvatprasṛṣṭam mā:'bhivadetpratīta

 etat trayāṇāṃ prathamaṃ varaṃ vṛṇe  | | 1.1.10 | |

śāntasaṃkalpa upaśāntaḥ saṃkalpo yasya māṃ prati ’yamaṃ prāpya kiṃ nu kariṣyati mama putraḥ’ iti, sa śāntasaṃkalpaḥ sumanāḥ prasannacittaśca yathā syāt vītamanyuḥ vigataroṣaśca gautamaḥ mama pitā mā abhi māṃ prati he mṛtyo, kiñca, tvatprasṛṣṭaṃ tvayā vinirmuktaṃ preṣitaṃ gṛhaṃ prati mā mām abhivadet pratītaḥ labdha-smṛtiḥ, ’sa evāyaṃ putro mamāgataḥ’ ityevaṃ pratyabhijānannityarthaḥ15 | etat prayojanaṃ trayāṇāṃ varāṇāṃ prathamam ādyaṃ varaṃ vṛṇe prārthaye yatpituḥ paritoṣaṇam | | 1.1.10 | |

mṛtyuruvāca –

yathā purastād bhavitā pratīta

auddālakirāruṇirmatprasṛṣṭaḥ  |

sukham̐ rātrīḥ śayitā vītamanyuḥ

 tvāṃ dadṛśivānmṛtyumukhāt pramuktam  | | | | 1.1.11 | |

yathā buddhiḥ tvayi purastāt = pūrvam āsītsnehasamanvitā pitustava, bhavitā prītisamanvitastava pitā tathaiva pratītaḥ = pratītavānsan | auddālakiḥ = uddālaka va auddālakiḥ, aruṇasyāpatyam = āruṇiḥ dvyāmuṣyāyaṇo vā | matprasṛṣṭaḥ = mayānujñātaḥ san uttarā api rātrīḥ sukhaṃ = prasannamanāḥ śayitā = svaptā vītamanyuḥ = vigatamanyuśca bhavitā syāt, tvāṃ = putraṃ dadṛśivān = dṛṣṭavān san mṛtyu-mukhāt = mṛtyu-gocarāt pramuktaṃ santam | |1.1.11 | |

naciketā uvāca –

svarge loke na bhayaṃ kiṃcanāsti

na tatra tvaṃ na jarayā bibheti  |

ubhe tīrtvā:'śanāyāpipāse

 śokātigo modate svargaloke  | | 1.1.12 | |       

svarge loke rogādi-nimittaṃ bhayaṃ kiṃcana = kiṃcidapi nāsti | na ca tatra tvaṃ mṛtyo sahasā prabhavasi, ato jarayā yukta iha loka iva tvatto na bibheti kaścittatra | kiṃ ca ubhe aśanāyā,pipāse tīrtvā = atikramya śokamatītya gacchatīti śokātigaḥ san mānasena duḥkhena varjitaḥ modate hṛṣyati svargaloke divi ||1.1.12 | |

sa tvamagni svargyamadhyeṣi mṛtyo

prabrūhi tva śraddadhānāya mahyam |

svargalokā amṛtatvaṃ bhajanta

etad dvitīyena vṛṇe vareṇa || 1.1.13||

evaṃguṇa-viśiṣṭasya svarga-lokasya prāpti-sādhana-bhūtam agniṃ svargyaṃ sa tvaṃ mṛtyuḥ adhyeṣi = smarasi = jānāsītyarthaḥ | he mṛtyo, yataḥ taṃ prabrūhi = kathaya śraddadhānāya = śraddhāvate mahyaṃ svargārthine | yenāgninā citena svargalokāḥ svargo loko yeṣāṃ te svargalokāḥ = yajamānāḥ amṛtatvam = amaraṇatāṃ = devatvaṃ bhajante = prāpnuvanti, tat etat agnivijñānaṃ dvitīyena vareṇa vṛṇe | ||| 1.1.13||

mṛtyoḥ pratijñeyam ---

pra te bravīmi tadu me nibodha

svargyamagniṃ naciketaḥ prajānan |

anantalokāptimatho pratiṣṭhāṃ

viddhi tvametaṃ nihitaṃ guhāyām || 1.1.14||

te = tubhyaṃ prabravīmi; yattvayā prārthitaṃ tat u me = mama vacasaḥ nibodha = budhyasva ekāgramanāḥ san | svargyaṃ = svargāya hitaṃ = svarga-sādhanam agniṃ he naciketaḥ prajānan = vijñātavānsannahamityarthaḥ | prabravīmi tannibodheti ca śiṣya-buddhi-samādhānārthaṃ vacanam |

adhunāgniṃ stauti -- anantalokāptiṃ = svarga-loka-phala-prāpti-sādhanamityetat, atho api pratiṣṭhām = āśrayaṃ jagato virāṭsvarūpeṇa, tam etam agniṃ mayocyamānaṃ viddhi = vijānīhi tvaṃ nihitaṃ = sthitaṃ guhāyām | viduṣāṃ buddhau niviṣṭamityarthaḥ | ||| 1.1.14||

idaṃ śrutervacanam ---

lokādimagniṃ tamuvāca tasmai

yā iṣṭakā yāvatīrvā yathā vā |

sa cāpi tatpratyavadadyathoktaṃ

athāsya mṛtyuḥ punarevāha tuṣṭaḥ ||1.1.15||

lokādiṃ = lokānāmādiṃ prathama-śarīritvāt = agniṃ taṃ prakṛtaṃ naciketasā prārthitam uvāca = uktavānmṛtyuḥ tasmai = naciketase | kiṃ ca, yāḥ iṣṭakāḥ cetavyāḥ svarūpeṇa yāvatīrvā saṃkhyayā yathā vā cīyate:'gniryena prakāreṇa sarvametaduktavānityarthaḥ | sa cāpi naciketāḥ tat mṛtyunoktaṃ pratyavadat yathāvatpratyayenāvadat pratyuccāritavān | atha asya pratyuccāraṇena tuṣṭaḥ san mṛtyuḥ punarevāha vara-traya-vyatirekeṇānyaṃ varaṃ ditsuḥ | |1.1.15||

katham ?

tamabravīt prīyamāṇo mahātmā

varaṃ tavehādya dadāmi bhūyaḥ |

tavaiva nāmnā bhavitāyamagniḥ

sṛṅkāṃ cemāmanekarūpāṃ gṛhāṇa ||1.1.16||

taṃ = naciketasam abravīt prīyamāṇaḥ śiṣyasya yogyatāṃ paśyanprīyamāṇaḥ = prītimanubhavan mahātmā akṣudra-buddhiḥ varaṃ tava caturtham iha prītinimittam adya = idānīṃ dadāmi bhūyaḥ = punaḥ prayacchāmi | tavaiva naciketasaḥ nāmnā = abhidhānena prasiddhaḥ bhavitā mayocyamānaḥ ayam agniḥ | kiñca, sṛṅkāṃ = śabdavatīṃ ratnamayīṃ mālām imām anekarūpāṃ = vicitrāṃ gṛhāṇa = svīkuru | yadvā, sṛṅkām akutsitāṃ gatiṃ karmamayīṃ gṛhāṇa | anyadapi karma-vijñānamaneka-phala-hetutvātsvīkurvityarthaḥ | |1.1.16||

punarapi karmastutimevāha --

triṇāciketastribhiretya sandhiṃ

trikarmakṛttarati janmamṛtyū |

brahmajajñaṃ devamīḍyaṃ viditvā

nicāyyemā śāntimatyantameti ||1.1.17||

triṇāciketaḥ triḥ kṛtvā nāciketo:'gniścito yena sa triṇāciketaḥ; tadvijñānavānvā | tribhiḥ mātṛpitrācāryaiḥ etya prāpya sandhiṃ = sandhānaṃ = sambandham, mātrādyanuśāsanaṃ yathāvatprāpyetyetat | taddhi prāmāṇya-kāraṇaṃ śrutyantarādavagamyate | 'yathā mātṛmānpitṛmānācāryavānbrūyāt’ (bṛ.u. 4|1|2) ityādeḥ | veda-smṛti-śiṣṭairvā pratyakṣānumānāgamairvā | tebhyo hi viśuddhiḥ pratyakṣā | trikarmakṛt ijyādhyayana-dānānāṃ kartā tarati atikrāmati janma-mṛtyū | kiṃca, brahmajajñam, brahmaṇo = hiraṇyagarbhājjāto brahmajaḥ brahmajaścāsau jñaśceti brahmajajñaḥ | sarvajño hyasau | taṃ devaṃ = dyotanājjñānādi-guṇavantam, īḍyaṃ = stutyaṃ viditvā śāstrataḥ, nicāyya = dṛṣṭvā cātmabhāvena imāṃ = svabuddhipratyakṣāṃ śāntim = uparatim atyantam eti = atiśayenaiti | vairājaṃ padaṃ jñāna-karma-samuccayānuṣṭhānena prāpnotītyarthaḥ | |1.1.17||

idānīmagni-vijñāna-cayana-phalamupasaṃharati, prakaraṇaṃ ca ---

triṇāciketastrayametadviditvā

ya evaṃ vidvāścinute nāciketam |

sa mṛtyupāśān purataḥ praṇodya

śokātigo modate svargaloke || 1.1.18||

triṇāciketaḥ trayaṃ yathoktam ’yā iṣṭakā yāvatīrvā yathā vā’ iti | etat viditvā = avagamya yaḥ ca evam ātma-svarūpeṇa agniṃ vidvān cinute = nirvartayati nāciketam agniṃ kratum, sa mṛtyu-pāśān adharmājñāna-rāga-dveṣādi-lakṣaṇān purataḥ = agrataḥ, pūrvameva śarīra-pātādityarthaḥ, praṇodya = apahāya, śokātigaḥ mānasairduḥkhairvigata ityetat, modate svarga-loke vairāje virāḍātma-svarūpa-pratipattyā || 1.1.18||

eṣa te:'gnirnaciketaḥ svargyo

yamavṛṇīthā dvitīyena vareṇa |

etamagniṃ tavaiva pravakṣyanti janāsaḥ

tṛtīyaṃ varaṃ naciketo vṛṇīṣva || 1.1.19 ||

eṣa te tubhyam agniḥ varaḥ he naciketaḥ, svargyaḥ svarga-sādhanaḥ, yam agniṃ varam avṛṇīthāḥ = vṛtavān = prārthitavānasi dvitīyena vareṇa, so:'gnirvaro datta ityuktopasaṃhāraḥ | kiñca, etam agniṃ tavaiva nāmnā pravakṣyanti janāsaḥ = janā ityetat | eṣa varo datto mayā caturthastuṣṭena | tṛtīyaṃ varaṃ naciketaḥ vṛṇīṣva | tasminhyadatta ṛṇavānevāhamityabhiprāyaḥ | |1.1.19||

etāvaddhyatikrāntena vidhi-pratiṣedhārthena mantra-brāhmaṇenāvagantavyaṃ yadvaradvaya-sūcitaṃ vastu | nātma-tattva-viṣaya-yāthātmya-vijñānam | ato vidhi-pratiṣedhārtha-viṣayasya ātmani kriyā-kāraka-phalādhyāropaṇa-lakṣaṇasya svābhāvikasyājñānasya saṃsāra-bījasya nivṛttyarthaṃ tadviparīta-brahmātmaikatva-vijñānaṃ kriyā-kāraka-phalādhyāropaṇa-śūnyamātyantika-niḥśreyasa-prayojanaṃ vaktavyamityuttaro grantha ārabhyate | tametamarthaṃ dvitīya-vara-prāptyāpyakṛtārthatvaṃ tṛtīya-vara-gocaram ātmajñānam antareṇa ityākhyāyikayā prapañcayati | yataḥ pūrvasmāt karma-gocarāt sādhya-sādhana-lakṣaṇāt anityāt viraktasyātmajñāne:'dhikāra iti tannindārthaṃ putrādyupanyāsena pralobhanaṃ kriyate |

naciketā uvāca 'tṛtīyaṃ varaṃ naciketo vṛṇīṣva' ityuktaḥ san ---

yeyaṃ prete vicikitsā manuṣye-

:'stītyeke nāyamastīti caike |

etadvidyāmanuśiṣṭastvayā:'haṃ

varāṇāmeṣa varastṛtīyaḥ ||1.1.20||

yeyaṃ vicikitsā = saṃśayaḥ prete = mṛte manuṣye, asti ityeke asti śarīrendriya-manobuddhi-vyatirikto dehāntara-saṃbandhyātmā ityeke manyante, nāyamasti iti caike nāyamevaṃvidho:'stīti caike | atra cāsmākaṃ na pratyakṣeṇa, nāpyanumānena nirṇayavijñānam | etadvijñānādhīno hi paraḥ puruṣārtha ityataḥ etat vidyāṃ vijānīyām aham anuśiṣṭaḥ = jñāpitaḥ tvayā | varāṇāmeṣa varastṛtīyo:'vaśiṣṭaḥ | |1.1.20||

kimayamekāntato niḥśreyasa-sādhanātmajñānārho na vetyetatparīkṣaṇārthamāha ---

devairatrāpi vicikitsitaṃ purā

na hi suvijñeyamaṇureṣa dharmaḥ |

anyaṃ varaṃ naciketo vṛṇīṣva

mā moparotsīrati mā sṛjainam || 1.1.21||

devairapi atra = etasminvastuni vicikitsitaṃ = saṃśayitaṃ purā = pūrvam | na hi suvijñeyaṃ = suṣṭhu vijñeyam asakṛcchrutamapi prākṛtairjanaiḥ, yataḥ aṇuḥ = sūkṣma eṣa ātmākhyaḥ dharmaḥ | ataḥ anyam = asaṃdigdhaphalaṃ varaṃ naciketaḥ, vṛṇīṣva | mā = māṃ mā uparotsīḥ = uparodhaṃ mā kārṣīḥ = adhamarṇamivottamarṇaḥ | atisṛja = vimuñca enaṃ = varaṃ mā = māṃ prati || 1.1.21||

evamukto naciketā āha –

devairatrāpi vicikitsitaṃ kila

tvaṃ ca mṛtyo yanna sujñeyamāttha |

vaktā cāsya tvādṛganyo na labhyo

nānyo varastulya etasya kaścit || 1.1.22||

devairatrāpi vicikitsitaṃ kila iti bhavata eva naḥ śrutam | tvaṃ ca mṛtyo, yat = yasmāt na sujñeyam ātmatattvam āttha = kathayasi | ataḥ paṇḍitairapyavedanīyatvāt vaktā ca asya = dharmasya tvādṛk = tvattulyaḥ anyaḥ paṇḍitaśca na labhyaḥ anviṣyamāṇo:'pi | ayaṃ tu varo niḥśreyasa-prāpti-hetuḥ | ataḥ na anyaḥ varaḥ tulyaḥ sadṛśaḥ asti etasya kaścit api | anitya-phalatvādanyasya sarvasyaivetyabhiprāyaḥ | |1.1.22||

evamukto:'pi punaḥ pralobhayannuvāca mṛtyuḥ ---

śatāyuṣaḥ putrapautrānvṛṇīṣva

bahūnpaśūn hastihiraṇyamaśvān |

bhūmermahadāyatanaṃ vṛṇīṣva

svayaṃ ca jīva śarado yāvadicchasi || 1.1.23||

śatāyuṣaḥ = śataṃ varṣāṇi āyūṃṣi yeṣāṃ tān śatāyuṣaḥ putra-pautrān vṛṇīṣva | kiṃca, gavādi-lakṣaṇān bahūn paśūn hasti-hiraṇyam, hastī ca hiraṇyaṃ ca hasti-hiraṇyam, aśvān ca | kiñca, bhūmeḥ = pṛthivyāḥ mahat = vistīrṇam āyatanam = āśrayaṃ = maṇḍalaṃ = sāmrājyaṃ vṛṇīṣva | kiñca, sarvamapyetadanarthakaṃ svayaṃ cedalpāyurityata āha -- svayaṃ ca tvaṃ jīva = dhāraya śarīraṃ samagrendriyakalāpaṃ śaradaḥ = varṣāṇi yāvat icchasi jīvitum || 1.1.23||

etattulyaṃ yadi manyase varaṃ

vṛṇīṣva vittaṃ cirajīvikāṃ ca |

mahābhūmau naciketastvamedhi

kāmānāṃ tvā kāmabhājaṃ karomi || 1.1.24||

etattulyam = etena = yathopadiṣṭena sadṛśam anyamapi yadi manyase varam, tamapi vṛṇīṣva | kiṃca, vittaṃ = prabhūtaṃ hiraṇya-ratnādi cirajīvikāṃ ca saha vittena vṛṇīṣvetyetat | kiṃ bahunā? mahābhūmau = mahatyāṃ bhūmau rājā naciketaḥ tvam edhi = bhava | kiñcānyat, kāmānāṃ divyānāṃ, mānuṣāṇāṃ ca tvā = tvāṃ kāma-bhājaṃ = kāma-bhāginaṃ = kāmārhaṃ karomi, satya-saṃkalpo hyahaṃ devaḥ || 1.1.24||

ye ye kāmā durlabhā martyaloke

sarvān kāmāśchandataḥ prārthayasva |

imā rāmāḥ sarathāḥ satūryā

na hīdṛśā lambhanīyā manuṣyaiḥ |

ābhirmatprattābhiḥ paricārayasva

naciketo maraṇaṃ mā:'nuprākṣīḥ || 1.1.25||

ye ye kāmāḥ = prārthanīyā durlabhāḥ ca martyaloke, sarvān tān kāmān chandataḥ = icchātaḥ prārthayasva | kiñca, imāḥ = divyā apsarasaḥ, ramayanti puruṣāniti rāmāḥ, saha rathairvartanta iti = sarathāḥ, satūryāḥ = savāditrāḥ, tāśca na hi lambhanīyāḥ = prāpaṇīyāḥ īdṛśāḥ = evaṃvidhā manuṣyaiḥ = martyaiḥ asmadādi-prasādamantareṇa | ābhiḥ matprattābhiḥ = mayā pradattābhiḥ = paricārikābhiḥ paricārayasva ātmānam, pāda-prakṣālanādi-śuśrūṣāṃ kārayātmana ityarthaḥ | he naciketaḥ, maraṇaṃ = maraṇa-saṃbaddhaṃ praśnaṃ pretyāsti nāstīti kāka-danta-parīkṣārūpaṃ mā anuprākṣīḥ maivaṃ praṣṭumarhasi | |1.1.25||

mṛtyunā evaṃ pralobhyamāno:'pi naciketā mahāhradavadakṣobhya āha ---

śvobhāvā martyasya yadantakaitat

sarvendriyāṇāṃ jarayanti tejaḥ |

api sarvaṃ jīvitamalpameva

tavaiva vāhāstava nṛtyagīte ||1.1.26||

śvo bhaviṣyanti, na veti saṃdihyamāna eva yeṣāṃ bhāvo bhavanaṃ tvayopanyastānāṃ bhogānāṃ te śvobhāvāḥ | kiñca, martyasya = manuṣyasya antaka = he mṛtyo, yat etat sarvendriyāṇāṃ tejaḥ tat jarayanti = apakṣapayanti | apsaraḥprabhṛtayo bhogā anarthāyaivaite, dharma-vīrya-prajñā-tejo-yaśaḥ-prabhṛtīnāṃ kṣapayitṛtvāt | yāṃ cāpi dīrgha-jīvikāṃ tvaṃ ditsasi tatrāpi śrṛṇu | sarvaṃ yadbrahmaṇo:'pi jīvitam āyuḥ alpameva, kimutāsmadādi-dīrgha-jīvikā | ataḥ tavaiva tiṣṭhantu vāhā rathādayaḥ, tathā tava nṛtyagīte ca | |1.1.26||

kiñca ---

na vittena tarpaṇīyo manuṣyo

lapsyāmahe vittamadrākṣma cettvā |

jīviṣyāmo yāvadīśiṣyasi tvaṃ

varastu me varaṇīyaḥ sa eva || 1.1.27||

na prabhūtena vittena tarpaṇīyo manuṣyaḥ | na hi loke vittalābhaḥ kasyacittṛptikāro dṛṣṭaḥ | yadi nāmāsmākaṃ vitta-tṛṣṇā syāt, lapsyāmahe = prāpsyāmahe vittam, adrākṣma = dṛṣṭavanto vayaṃ cet tvā = tvām | jīvitamapi tathaiva -- jīviṣyāmaḥ yāvat yāmye pade tvam īśiṣyasi = īśiṣyase prabhuḥ syāḥ | kathaṃ hi martyastvayā sametyālpadhanāyurbhavet? varastu me varaṇīyaḥ sa va yadātmavijñānam || 1.1.27||

yataśca ---

ajīryatāmamṛtānāmupetya

jīryanmartyaḥ kvadhaḥsthaḥ prajānan |

abhidhyāyan varṇaratipramodān

atidīrghe jīvite ko rameta ||1.1.28||

ajīryatāṃ = vayohānimaprāpnuvatām amṛtānāṃ sakāśam upetya = upagamya ātmana utkṛṣṭaṃ prayojanāntaraṃ prāptavyaṃ tebhyaḥ prajānan upalabhamānaḥ svayaṃ tu jīryan martyaḥ jarā-maraṇavān kvadhaḥsthaḥ kuḥ = pṛthivī adhaścāsau antarikṣādi-lokāpekṣayā tasyāṃ tiṣṭhatīti kvadhaḥsthaḥ san kathamevamavivekibhiḥ prārthanīyaṃ putra-vittādyasthiraṃ vṛṇīte |

'kva tadāsthaḥ’ iti vā pāṭhāntaram | asminpakṣe caivam akṣarayojanā | teṣu putrādiṣu āsthā āsthitiḥ tātparyeṇa vartanaṃ yasya sa tadāsthaḥ | tato:'dhikataraṃ puruṣārthaṃ duṣprāpamapi abhiprepsuḥ kva tadāstho bhavet? na kaścittadasārajñastadarthī syādityarthaḥ | sarvo hyuparyuparyeva bubhūṣati lokaḥ | tasmānna putra-vittādi-lobhaiḥ pralobhyo:'ham | kiṃ ca, apsaraḥpramukhān varṇaratipramodān anavasthitarūpatayā abhidhyāyan = nirūpayan yathāvat atidīrghe jīvite kaḥ vivekī rameta | |1.1.28||

ato vihāyānityaiḥ kāmaiḥ pralobhanam, yanmayā prārthitaṃ ---

yasminnidaṃ vicikitsanti mṛtyo

yatsāmparāye mahati brūhi nastat |

yo:'yaṃ varo gūḍhamanupraviṣṭo

nānyaṃ tasmānnaciketā vṛṇīte || || 1.1.29||

yasmin prete idaṃ vicikitsanaṃ = vicikitsanti asti nāstītyevaṃ-prakāraṃ he mṛtyo, sāmparāye = paralokaviṣaye mahati = mahatprayojana-nimitte ātmano nirṇaya-vijñānaṃ yat, tat brūhi = kathaya naḥ asmabhyam | kiṃ bahunā, yo:'yaṃ prakṛta ātmaviṣayaḥ varaḥ gūḍhaṃ = gahanaṃ durvivecanaṃ prāptaḥ anupraviṣṭaḥ, tasmāt varāt anyam avivekibhiḥ prārthanīyamanitya-viṣayaṃ varaṃ naciketāḥ na vṛṇīte manasāpi iti śrutervacanamiti ||1.1.29||

iti śrīmatparamahaṃsa-parivrājakācārya-govinda-bhagavatpūjyapāda-śiṣya-śrīmadācārya-śrīśaṅkara-bhagavataḥ kṛtau kaṭhopaniṣadbhāṣye prathamādhyāye prathamavallībhāṣyam samāptam ||