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 1.1.5

Among many I am the first, and among many I am the most average. What duty of Yama will be served today by giving me away to him?


One interpretation is that Nachiketa, humbly asserting his qualifications, is claiming that he is the both the best among his father's sons and disciples, and also the most average. That is, he is saying that despite his young age, he is not the least qualified among his father's sons and disciples.

Another interpretation is that he is saying he is the best among his father's sons and disciples in some aspect of spirituality, and the most average amongst them in another. One could even interpret this as him saying he is not the worst at anything. For the purpose of clarity, the translation does not editorialize the interpretation, and closely follows the original Sanskrit instead.

  • bahūnāmemi — of many
    Refers to Vajasrava's many sons and disciples

  • prathamo — the first
    Used to denote something that comes before all others in a sequence or hierarchy

  • bahūnāmemi — of many
    Refers to Vajasrava's many sons and disciples

  • madhyamaḥ — most average
    Used to denote something that is at neither extreme in a sequence

    • madhya — middle

    • maḥ — most

    मध्यमः

  • kim — what

  • svidyamasya — belonging to Yama
    Yama is the deity representing death

  • kartavyaṃ — action, duty
    Kartavya (ಕರ್ತವ್ಯ) is any action, task, etc. required by or relating to one's occupation or position, which ought to be done by duty

  • yanmayā'dya — which by me today

  • kariṣyati — will accomplish

Katha Upanishad