kathopanishad-1-1-12-svarge loke

Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society

Svarge loke na bhayaṁ kiṁ ca nāsti na tatra tvaṁ na jarayā bibheti. ubhe tīrtvā aśanāyā pipāse śokātigo modate svarga-loke; sa tvam agniṁ svargyam adhyeṣi mṛtyo, prabrūhi taṁ śraddadānāya mahyam, svarga-lokā amṛtatvam bhajanta, etad dvitīyena vṛṇe vareṇa (1.1.12-13): Nachiketas speaks. “I have heard, O Master, that there is a heavenly world of deathless beings. Na tatra tvaṁ: You are not there. It means that death is not there. And no one there is afraid of old age. The gods in heaven are said to be free from old age and death. There is birth, childhood and youth. There are only three conditions of life there—birth, childhood and youth—but no decay, no old age, no death. I have heard that such a realm exists. There is no fear in that kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is free from fear of every kind; this is what I have heard. Hunger and thirst do not torment people there. They are not actually people; they are called angels, gods. Freed from every kind of grief, the denizens of heaven enjoy life perpetually. What is this heaven? Where does it exist? What is its dimension, and what is the reason for the denizens, the citizens, the occupants of that region to be so happy, free from the sorrow of old age and death? Please instruct me in the knowledge of that particular sacrifice, the fire sacrifice, by the performance of which I shall be able to attain to that heaven where glory is the heritage of everyone. No sorrow of any kind will be there. Please instruct me into this vidya, the secret knowledge of a great unknown sacrifice, because it is difficult to imagine what kind of sacrifice it could be which can transform a mortal into a deathless being in the heavenly world. It is not known to people because had it been known to everybody, all would have performed that sacrifice. The world would have been depopulated and there would be overpopulation in the kingdom of heaven. That does not take place because no one in the world knows what it is.”

Now, when we read this, we should not be under the impression that we will get this knowledge merely by reading these two verses. The writer of the Upanishad has been careful to tell us that such a knowledge was granted to Nachiketas without telling us what that knowledge is.

“So great Master, you know this great vidya, this art, this science of this sacrifice. I am full of faith. I eagerly seek this knowledge. Please tell it to me, because one who attains to that heavenly world enjoys deathlessness. May I also be blessed with that boon. This is the second boon. Will you kindly give it to me?” asks Nachiketas.