kathopanishad-1-3-16-nāciketamupākhyānaṃ

Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society

Nāciketam upākhyānam mṛtyu-proktaṁ sanātanam, uktvā śrutvā ca medhāvī brahma-loka mahīyate (1.3.16): Here a tentative closing of the teaching takes place. Many people think that the Upanishad closes here and perhaps it is taken up again in the Second Section, or perhaps the Second Section is an independent Upanishad itself, etc., on account of the words that are used here in this verse. This is the story of Nachiketas. This is the wisdom imparted to Nachiketas by Mrityu, the great Lord of Death. Whoever speaks it, whoever hears it, such a blessed soul, highly intelligent, glories in Brahmaloka, the region of the eternal. Whoever reads this, whoever studies this, whoever speaks this, whoever hears this, understands it, and practises it according to the rules mentioned here will reach the abode of the Absolute.