Katha Upanishad

The Katha Upanishad tells the story of a young boy, Nachiketa, son of the sage Vajasravasa. Nachiketa is witnessing his father donate all his possessions in an act of penance, and in a spirit of youthful inquiry, repeatedly asks to whom he was to be donated. Angered by the boy's questioning, his father exclaims "I give you to death!"

To stay true to his father's word, the boy departs to the abode of Yama, the God of death. Upon arriving, he patiently waits three days for Yama to return. His sincerity is rewarded by Yama with three wishes, one for each day he was kept waiting.

His first wish is for his father to be happy upon seeing his return. His second wish is to learn a fire sacrifice that provides passage to heaven, which is explained to him and named the Nachiketa sacrifice in his honor. His third wish is simple - "I would like to know what happens after death."

Yama attempts to dissuade him by offering wealth, pleasures, and power. Undeterred, Yama goes on to paint a detailed portrait of the subtle nature of reality according to Brahmanic philosophy. Many of the verses and concepts of the Katha Upanishad can be found in the Bhagavad Gita.

Katha 1.1.1

Sage Vajasravasa performed the Visvajit sacrifice, in which he gave away all his wealth. He had a son named Nachiketa.


The Katha Upanishad provides poignant names to its characters, such as Vajasrava, which literally means "one who has attained fame for making charitable gifts of rice". The scene of the Upanishad opens in the household of this great scholar, who is fulfilling an austere sacrifice where one donates the entirety of their wealth.

His son Nachiketa has a similar word play to his name. Na kṣiti and Na aksiyete, pronounced similarly to Nachiketa, mean "non-decay" or "imperishable" - a meaning that is relevant later in the story.

  • uśan ha vai — the story goes
    Indeclinables used to call to remembrance some past events or history

  • vājaśravasaḥ — son of Vajasrava

  • sarvavedasaṃ — sacrifice where one gives away all their wealth

  • dadau — gave in charity

  • tasya — his

  • ha — indeed
    Vocative particle to indicate "so the story goes".

  • naciketā — Nachiketa

  • nāma — name

  • putra — son

  • āsa — was

Katha Upanishad