Katha Upanisad

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This volume is based on the commentary on the Katha Upanisad given by Shri Anirvan during his talks in Calcutta in 1958.

Katha Upanisad holds an important place in Indian philosophy. Though, men know the difference between the preferable good way and the way of pleasures, they generally take to the way of pleasures. In this Upanisad, through the dialogue between Yama-the god of death and Naciketa, a search has been undertaken to find the way of abstinence (nivrtti) from the way of natural activity (pravrtti). With diligence one can see the great difference between Knowledge and Ignorance, between Virtue (dharma) and Sin (adharma) and one can discover an unknown world where all these differences dissolve, where Truth and Harmony are realized. The real and secret inner truth, the eternal and Universal Dharma is laid in this Supreme Truth. Being pleased with the faith, aspiration and illumined intelligence of Naciketa, Yama-the deity of Dharma gracefully bestows this Supreme Truth to Naciketa.

The extra-ordinary discussion on Brahman in the Katha-Upanisad is the nerve centre of the spiritual sadhana of India. This discussion about Brahman found in these talks on Katha-Upanisad by Srimat Anirvan will open up new vistas of Truth.

Srimat Anirvan, the Vedic Savant, the seer of Truth is no more with us. During his life-time, the Burdwan University was honoured to have published his commentaries on the three Upanisads, Isa, Aitareya and Kena as the first three volumes of the Upanisat Prasamga Series. By going through these three Upanisads, one can understand, what should be the standard of the books published by any University. Of course, though conscious, we cannot maintain this standard as it is very difficult to get books of such high standard for publication. It was Srimat Anirvan's wish to complete the commentary of Katha- Upanisad and get it published. But destiny willed otherwise. Based on his talks, Sri Gautam Dharmapal and Smt. Gouri Dharmapal have compiled this commentary on the Katha- Upanisad. Like other volumes of the Upanisat Prasamga Series, the great scholar and singer Dr. Gobinda Gopal Mukopadhyay has gone through this manuscript as well and has helped us in all ways in getting it published. Of course, he is a famous professor of the Burdwan University and one of us. We are pleased to see his great love and generous feelings for the University even after retirement. The Burdwan University in general and myself in particular, feel obliged to the Dharmapal couple for allowing us to publish this 'Katha-Upanisad' as the fourth volume of the University Upanisat Prasamga Series. We convey our gratitude to them.

Those who are a little conversant with Indian philosophy surely know what an important place, Katha-Upanisad holds. Though, men know the difference between the preferable good way and the way of pleasures, they generally take to the way of pleasures. In this Upanisad, through the dialogue between Yama-the god of death and Naciketa, a search has been undertaken to find the way of abstinence (nivrtti) from the way of natural activity (pravrtti). With diligence we can see the great difference between Knowledge and Ignorance, between Virtue (dharma) and Sin (adharma) and we can discover an unknown world where all these differences dissolve, where Truth and Harmony are realized. The real and secret inner truth, the eternal and Universal Dharma is laid in this Supreme Truth. Being pleased with the faith, aspiration and illumined intelligence of Naciketa, Yama-the deity of Dharma gracefully bestows this Supreme Truth to Naciketa.

The extra-ordinary discussion on Brahman that we find in the Katha-Upanisad is the nerve centre of the spiritual sadhana of India. We sincerely believe that this discussion about Brahman found in these talks on Katha-Upanisad by Srimat Anirvan will open up new vistas of Truth before the readers. Gathering strength from that faith we present this Upanisad before the readers as our offering of faith and respect to Srimat Anirvan. We sincerely hope all those who read this book will benefit from it and move forward towards Truth and Harmony.