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 1.1.6

Look back at our ancestors and see how it is with us now. A mortal ripens like corn, and like corn he springs up again.


The young Nachiketa espouses his philosophical wisdom on the nature of reincarnation with the analogy of corn. Just as a mortal being ripens and is harvested by death, they rise up again. Nachiketa calls on his father to look back on the ancestral tradition of strict adherence to true speech, and to therefore fulfill his sacrifice to death.

  • anupaśya — keep in view

    अनुपश्य

  • yathā — how, just as

  • pūrve — ancestors
    those who came before

  • pratipaśya — observe

  • tathā'pare — others as well
    Refers to the sages and holy men of the present time

  • sasyamiva — like corn

  • martyaḥ — mortal

  • pacyate — ripens

  • sasyamivājāyate — corn is born

  • punaḥ — again

Katha Upanishad