कठोपनिषद

thumb|250px|kathopanishad krishna yajurved shakha ka yah upanishad atyant mahattvapoorn upanishadoan mean hai. is upanishad ke rachayita kath nam ke tapasvi achary the. ve muni vaishampayan ke shishy tatha yajurved ki kathashakha ke pravrirttak the. isamean do adhyay haian aur pratyek adhyay mean tin-tin valliyaan haian, jinamean vajashrava ke putr nachiketa aur yam ke bich sanvad haian. bhartu prapanch ne kath aur brihadaranyak upanishadoan par bhi bhashy rachana ki thi.

pratham adhyay

is adhyay mean nachiket apane pita dvara prata dit kiye jane par yam ke yahaan pahuanchata hai aur yam ki anupasthiti mean tin din tak bhookha-pyas yam ke dvar par baitha rahata hai. tin din bad jab yam lautakar ate haian, tab unaki patni unhean brahman balak atithi ke vishay mean batati hai. yamaraj balak ke pas pahuanchakar apani anupasthiti ke lie nachiketa se kshama maangate haian aur use isake lie tin varadan dene ki bat kahate haian. ve use uchit samman dekar v bhojan adi karake bhi santusht karane ka prayatn karate haian. taduparant nachiketa dvara varadan maangane par 'adhyatm' ke vishay mean usaki jijnasa shant karate haian.
pratham valli
katha is prakar hai ki kisi samay vajashrava rrishi ke putr vajashravas uddalak muni ne vishvajit yajn karake apana sampoorn dhan aur gauean dan kar dian. jis samay rritvijoan dvara dakshina mean prapt ve gauean le jaee ja rahi thian, tab unhean dekhakar vajashravas uddalak muni ka putr nachiketa soch mean p d gaya; kyoanki ve gauean atyadhik jarjar ho chuki thian. ve n to doodh dene yogy thian, n prajanan ke lie upayukt thian. usane socha ki is prakar ki gauoan ko dan karana doosaroan par bhar ladana hai. isase to pap hi lagega.
aisa vichar kar nachiketa ne apane pita se kaha-'he tat! isase achchha to tha ki ap mujhe hi dan kar dete.'
bar-bar aisa kahane par pita ne krodhit hokar kah diya-'maian tujhe mrityu ko deta hooan.'
pita ki ajna ka palan karane ke lie nachiketa yam ke dvar par ja pahuancha aur tin din tak bhookha-pyasa p da raha. jab yam ne use varadan dene ki bat kahi, to usane pahala varadan maanga.

pahala varadan

'he mrityudev! jab maian apake pas se lautakar ghar jaooan, to mere pita krodh chho d, shant chitt hokar, mujhase premapoorvak vyavahar karean aur apani shesh ayu mean unhean koee chinta n sataye tatha ve sukh se so sakean.' yamaraj ne 'tathastu, 'arthath 'aisa hi ho' kahakar pahala varadan diya.

doosara varadan

'he mrityudev! ap mujhe svarg ke sadhanabhoot us 'agnijnan' ko pradan karean, jisake dvara svargalok ko prapt hue purush amaratv ko prapt karate haian.' yamaraj ne nachiketa ko upadesh dete hue kaha-'he nachiketa! tum is 'agnividya' ko ekagr man se suno. svargalok ko prapt karane vali yah vidya atyant gopaniy hai.' taduparant yamaraj ne nachiketa ko samajhaya ki aisa yajn karane ke lie kitani eeantoan ki vedi banani chahie aur yajn kis vidhi se kiya jaye tatha kaun-kaun se mantr usamean bole jayean. ant mean nachiketa ki pariksha lene ke lie yamaraj ne usase apane dvara bataye yajn ka vivaran poochha, to balak nachiketa ne aksharash: us vidhi ko dohara diya. use sunakar yamaraj balak ki smaranashakti aur pratibha ko dekhakar bahut prasann hue. unhoanne kaha-'he nachiketa! tere maange gaye tin varadanoan ke atirikt maian tumhean ek varadan apani or se yah deta hooan ki mere dvara kahi gayi yah 'agnividya' aj se tumhare nam se jani jayegi. tum is anek roopoan vali, jnan-tattvamayi mala ko svakar karo.'

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nachiketa ko divy 'agnividya' prapt huee. isalie us vidya ka nam 'nachiketagni' (lipt n hone vale ki vidya) p da. is prakar ki trividh 'nachiket' vidya ka jnata, tin sandhiyoan ko prapt kar, tin karm sampann karake janm-mrityu se par ho jata hai aur param shanti prapt karata hai. acharyoan ne nachiket vidya ko 'prapti,' 'adhyayan' aur 'anushthan' tin vidhiyoan se yukt kaha hai. sadhak ko in tinoan ke sath atm-chetana ki sandhi karani p dati hai, arthath sthool, sookshm evan karan sharir ko is vidya se anupranit karana p data hai. is prakriya ko 'trisandhi' prapti kaha jata hai. kuchh achary mata-pita aur guru se yukt hone ko trisandhi' kahate haian. in sabhi ko divyagni ke anuroop dhalate hue sadhak janm-maran ke chakr se mukt ho jata hai. ab usane yamaraj se tisara var maanga.

tisara varadan

'he mrityudev! manushy ke mrit ho jane par atma ka astittv rahata hai, aisa jnaniyoan ka kathan hai, parantu kuchh ki manyata hai ki mrityu ke bad atma ka astitv nahian rahata. ap mujhe is sandeh se mukt karake batayean ki mrityu ke pashchath atma ka kya hota hai?' nachiketa ke tisare varadan ko sunakar yamaraj ne use samajhaya ki yah vishay atyant goodh haian isake badale ve use samast vishv ki sampada aur samrajy tak de sakate haian, kintu vah yah n poochhe ki mrityu ke bad atma ka kya hota hai; kyoanki ise janana aur samajhana atyant agamy hai, parantu nachiketa kisi bhi roop mean yamaraj ke pralobhan mean nahian aya aur apane maange hue varadan par hi a da raha.
dvitiy valli

• yamaraj ne nachiketa ke hath ho dekha, to kaha-'he nachiketa!'kalyan' aur 'saansarik bhogy padarthoan' ka marg alag-alag hai. ye donoan hi marg manushy ke sammukh upasthit hote haian, kintu buddhiman jan donoan ko bhali-bhaanti samajhakar unamean se ek apane lie chun lete haian. jo ajnani hote haian, ve bhog-vilas ka marg chunate haian aur jo jnani hote haian, ve kalyan ka marg chunate haian. priy nachiketa! shreshth atmajnan ko janane ka suavasar b di kathinaee se prapt hota hai. ise shushk tarkavitark se nahian jana ja sakata.'
• yamaraj ne bataya-'priy nachiketa! 'Om' hi vah paramapad hai. 'Om' hi aksharabrahm hai. is aksharabrahm ko janana hi 'atmajnan' hai. sadhak apani atma se sakshatkar karake hi ise jan pata hai; kyoanki atma hi 'brahm' ko janane ka pramukh adhar hai. ek sadhak manav-sharir mean sthit is atma ko hi janane ka prayatn karata hai.'
  

'n jayate mriyate va vipashchinnayan kutashchinn babhoov kashchith.
ajo nity: shashvatoayan puranoan n hanyate hanyamane sharire॥' 1/2/18॥ arthath yah nity jnan-svaroop atma n to utpann hota hai aur n mrityu ko hi prapt hota hai. yah atma n to kisi any ke dvara janm leta hai aur n koee isase utpann hota hai. yah atma ajanma, nity, shashvat au kshay tatha vriddhi se rahit hai. sharir ke nasht hone par bhi yah vinasht nahian hota.

• 'he nachiketa! paramatma is jivatma ke hriday-roopi gufa mean anu se bhi atisookshm aur mahanh se bhi atimahan roop mean virajaman haian. nishkam karm karane vala tatha shok-rahit koee virala sadhak hi, paramatma ko kripa se use dekh pata hai. dushkarmoan se yukt, indriyasakt aur saansarik moh mean phansa jnani vyakti bhi atmatattv ko nahian jan sakata.'
  

tritiy valli

• 'he nachiketa! jo vivekashil hai, jisane man sahit apani samast indriyoan ko vash mean kar liya hai, jo sadaiv pavitr bhavoan ko dharan karane vala hai, vahi us atm-tattv ko jan pata hai; kyoanki—
  

'esh sarveshu bhooteshu goodhatma n prakashate. drishyate tvagrayya buddhiya sookshmaya sookshmadarshibhi:॥' 1/3/12॥ arthath samast praniyoan mean chhipa hua yah atmatattv prakashit nahian hota, varanh yah sookshm drishti rakhane vale tattvadarshiyoan ko hi sookshm buddhi se dikhaee deta hai.

doosara adhyay

doosare adhyay mean parameshvar ki prapti mean jo badhaean ati haian, unake nivaran aur hriday mean unaki sthiti ka varnan kiya gaya hai. paramatma ki sarvavyapakata aur sansar-roopi ulate pipal ke vriksh ka vivechan, yog-sadhana, eeshvar-vishvas aur mokshadi ka varnan hai. ant mean brahmavidya ke prabhav se nachiketa ko brahm-prapti ka ullekh hai.
pratham valli

• paramatma ne samast indriyoan ka mukh bahar ki or kiya hai, jisase jivatma bahari padarthoan ko dekhata hai aur saansarik bhog-vilas mean hi usaka dhyan rama rahata hai. vah antaratma ki or nahian dekhata, kintu moksh ki ichchha rakhane vala sadhak apani samast indriyoan par niyantran karake antaratma ko dekhata hai. yah antaratma hi brahm tak pahuanchane ka marg hai. jahaan se sooryadev udit hote haian aur jahaan tak jakar ast hote haian, vahaan tak samast dev shaktiyaan virajaman haian. unhean koee bhi nahian laangh pata. yahi eeshvar hai. is eeshvar ko janane ke lie saty aur shuddh man ki avashyakata hoti hai.
• yamaraj nachiketa ko batate haian-'he nachiketa! shuddh jal ko jis patr mean bhi dalo, vah usi ke anusar roop grahan kar leta hai. paudhoan mean vah ras, praniyoan mean rakt aur jnaniyoan mean chetana ka roop dharan kar leta hai. usamean koee vikar utpann nahian hota. vah shuddh roop se kisi ke sath bhi ekaroop ho jata haian jo sadhak sabhi padarthoan se alipt hokar paramatmatattv se lipt hone ka prayas karata hai, us sadhak ko hi saty path ka pathik janakar 'atmatattv' ka upadesh diya jata hai.'
  

dvitiy valli

• 'he nachiketa! us chaitany aur ajanma parabrahm ka nagar gyarah dvaroan vala hai- do netr, do kan, do nasika randhr, ek mukh, nabhi, guda, jananendriy aur brahmarandhr. ye sabhi dvar sharir mean sthit haian. karm-bandhanoan se mukt hokar, jo sadhak dvaroan ke moh se sarvatha alipt rahakar nagar mean pravesh karata hai, vah nishchay hi paramatma tak pahuchata haian sharir mean sthit ek deh se doosari deh mean gaman karane ke svabhav vala yah jivatma, jab mrityu ke uparant doosare sharir mean chala jata hai, tab kuchh bhi shesh nahian rahata. yah gamanashil tattv hi brahm hai. yahi jivan ka adhar hai. pran aur apan isi ke ashray mean rahate haian. ab maian tumhean bataooanga ki mrityu ke uparant atma ka kya hota hai, arthath vah kahaan chala jata hai.'yamaraj ne age kaha-
  

'yonimanye prapadyante shariratvay dehin:.
sthanumanyeanusanyanti yathakarm yathashrutamh॥2/2/7॥'arthath apane-apane karm aur shastradhyayan ke anusar prapt bhavoan ke karan kuchh jivatma to sharir dharan karane ke lie vibhinn yoniyoan ko prapt karate haian aur any apane-apane karmanusar j d yoniyoan, arthath vriksh, lata, parvat adi ko prapt karate haian.

• 'he nachiketa! samast jivoan ke karmanusar unaki bhog-vyavastha karane vala paramapurush paramatma, sabake so jane ke uparant bhi jagata rahata hai. vahi vishuddh tattv parabrahm avinashi kahalata hai, jise koee laangh nahian sakata. samast lok usi ka ashray grahan karate haian. jis prakar ek hi agnitattv sampoorn brahmand mean pravesh karake pratyek adharabhoot vastu ke anuroop ho jata hai, usi prakar samast praniyoan mean sthit antaratma(brahm) ek hone par bhi anek roopoan mean pratibhasit hota hai. vahi bhitar hai aur vahi bahar hai.
  

'ekovashi sarvabhootantaratma ekan roopan bahudha y: karoti.'
tritiy valli

• is valli mean yamaraj brahm ki upama pipal ke us vriksh se karate haian, jo is brahmand ke madhy ulata lataka hua hai. jisaki j de oopar ki or haian aur shakhaean niche ki or lataki haian ya phaili huee haian. yah vriksh srishti ka sanatan vriksh hai. yah vishuddh, avinashi aur nirvikalp brahm ka hi roop hai.
• yamaraj batate haian ki yah sampoorn vishv us pran-roop brahm se hi prakat hota hai aur nirantar gatishil rahata hai. jo aise brahm ko janate haian, ve hi amrity, arthath moksh ko prapt karate haian is parabrahm ke bhay se hi agnidev tapate haian, sooryadev tapate haian. indr, vayu aur mrityudevata bhi inhian ke bhay se gatishil rahate haian.
• 'he nachiketa ! mrityu se poorv, jo vyakti brahm ka jnan prapt kar leta hai, vah jiv samast bandhanoan se mukt ho jata hai, anyatha vibhinn yoniyoan mean bhatakata hua apane karmoan ka phal prapt karata rahata hai. yah ant:karan vishuddh darpan ke saman hai. isamean hi brahm ke darshan kiye ja sakate haian. jab man ke sath sabhi indriyaan atmatattv mean lin ho jati haian aur buddhi bhi cheshtarahit ho jati he, tab ise jiv ki 'paramagati' kaha jata hai. indriyoan ka sanyam karake atma mean lin hona hi 'yog' hai. hriday ki samast granthiyoan ke khul jane se maranadharma manushy amritv, arthath 'moksh' ko prapt kar leta hai.' aisi vidya ko janakar nachiketa bandhanamukt hokar moksh ko prapt ho gaya.

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