‘कठोपनिषदि आध्यात्मिकं माहात्म्यं विमर्शः’
Special Issue June 2023
Volume-XI, Special Issue, June 2023 | ||
Published Online: 30.06.2025 | Page No: 339-341 | |||
‘कठोपनिषदि
आध्यात्मिकं माहात्म्यं विमर्शः’
डॉ.सुदेवः, सहायक अध्यापक, संस्कृत विभाग, पाँचमुड़ा महाविद्यालय, बाँकुड़ा, पश्चिम बंगाल, भारत | |
Although the feelings described in the Upanishads are not as deep as the feelings found in the Vedic Samhitas, their language is also simple and comprehensible, yet being under the Upanishad Shruti, the specialty of using symbolic language is seen here and there. For example, take the following mantras of Ishavasyopanishad– अनेजदेकं मनसो जवीयो नैनद्देवा आप्नुवन् पूर्वमर्षत्। तद्धावतोऽन्यानत्येति तिष्ठत्तस्मिन्नपो मातरिश्वा दधाति।। अथवा अन्धं तमः प्रविशन्ति येऽविद्यामुपासते। ततो भूय इव ते तमो य उ विद्यायां रताः ।। Commentators have tried to explain these mantras from their own viewpoint. But a careful study of all these reveals that the commentators have stretched words to make the meaning consistent without understanding the actual meaning. Some such sciences like Madhuvidya and Brahmavidya etc. are mentioned in the Upanishads. But these sciences have remained mysterious because they are written in symbolic language. Similar symbolic descriptions are seen at many places in Kathopanishad also. If the truth be asked, then Kathopanishad describes spiritual practice. It is the best book to do. Nachiketa is a symbol of a seeker who wants to start the journey on the path of spirituality, who has been dutiful since childhood and is also endowed with wisdom. Seeing his father donating dilapidated old cows to Brahmins, he has a desire to save his father from sin. He questions his father as to whom he will donate it to. He is going to live in a householder's ashram, but he is born with wisdom and renunciation. Worldly pleasures cannot attract him, because he knows their true form. The thirst for knowledge is present in him since birth. He is aware of the fact that by consuming food, the lust of desires is not quenched but rather increases, just as fire does not get extinguished when it comes in contact with ghee, but rather burns more. He knows the goal of human life; His eyes are always on the same goal. He is strong-willed, fearless and steadfast in his determination. Despite various types of temptations given by Yamraj, he remains firm on his decision. Yamraj gave various types of temptations to Nachiketa and gave detailed advice on self-knowledge and the means to achieve it after testing him properly. This is the main theme of this Upanishad. | |
Keywords: Upanishad, world, spiritual, afterlife, nectar, subject, finance, desire, greed, material, temptation, money, wealth, Yamraj, Nachiketa, knowledge |