Kathopanishad Introduction
The Katha Upanishad (Kathopanishad) is the legendary story of a little boy, Nachiketa – the son of Sage Vajasravasa, who meets Yama (the deity of death). Their conversation evolves to a discussion of the nature of man, knowledge, Atman (Soul, Self) and Moksha (liberation). This Upanishad is one of the most popular Upanishads for its simplicity and clarity in making the subject matter regarding the Highest truth easily comprehensible. It consists of two chapters (adhyāyas), each divided into three sections (vallis) that contain a total of 119 mantras. Many mantras of Kathopanishad have been repeated in the Bhagavad-Gitä in verbatim/or adapted.
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॥ अथ कठोपनिषद् ॥
ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सहवीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु । मा विद्विषावहै ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
.. atha kaṭhopaniṣad ..
oṃ saha nāvavatu . saha nau bhunaktu . sahavīryaṃ karavāvahai .
tejasvi nāvadhītamastu . mā vidviṣāvahai ..
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ..
Om. May Brahman protect us both! May Brahman bestow upon us both the fruit of Knowledge! May we both obtain the energy to acquire Knowledge! May what we both study reveal the Truth! May we cherish no ill feeling toward each other!
Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!
Kathopanishad Home Page
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Invocation
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 1
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 2
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 3
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 4
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 5
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 6
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 7
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 8
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 9
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 10
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 11
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 12
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 13
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 14
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 15
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 16
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 17
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 18
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 19
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 20
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 21
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 22
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 23
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 24
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 25
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 26
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 27
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 28
Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 29
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 1
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 2
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 3
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 4
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 5
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 6
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 7
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 8
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 9
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 10
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 11
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 12
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 13
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 14
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 15
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 16
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 17
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 18
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 19
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 20
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 21
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 22
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 23
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 24
Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 25
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 1
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 2
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 3
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 4
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 5
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 6
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 7
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 8
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 9
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 10
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 11
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 12
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 13
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 14
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 15
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 16
Part 1 – Canto 3 – Verse 17
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 1
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 2
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 3
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 4
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 5
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 6
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 7
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 8
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 9
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 10
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 11
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 12
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 13
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 14
Part 2 – Canto 1 – Verse 15
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 1
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 2
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 3
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 4
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 5
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 6
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 7
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 8
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 9
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 10
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 11
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 12
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 13
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 14
Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 15
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 1
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 2
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 3
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 4
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 5
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 6
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 7
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 8
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 9
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 10
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 11
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 12
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 13
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 14
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 15
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 16
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 17
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 18
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 19
Katha Upanishad – Introduction – Kathopanishad Introduction – In Sanskrit with English Transliteration, Meaning and Commentary by Adi Shankaracharya (Sankara Bhashya) – Katha-Introduction
Sri Shankara’s Commentary (Bhashya) translated by S. Sitarama Sastri
This sânti (expiatory prayer) is stated here for the purpose of removing all faults incurred by the disciple and preceptor, in the course of receiving, and imparting knowledge respectively, and caused by dereliction of rules due to oversight or excitement. Let him protect us both by illumining the nature of knowledge. Who? He alone, the Lord of all, revealed by the Upanishads. Again, let him protect us both, by revealing the fruits of such knowledge. Let us together acquire the strength produced by knowledge. Moreover, may what is studied by us, who are bright, be well studied! Or may what is studied, i.e., acquired by study, by us, be very potent! May we, disciple and preceptor, never hate each other, owing to blame incurred by us, by improper recital or instruction due to oversight! The repetition three times of ‘Peace,’ as ‘Peace! Peace! Peace!’ is for averting all evil. The word Om is to show that the Upanishad ends here.