Vedas 34 -Kathopanishad -Part 1 A - The Father-Son Dialogue Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon
Vedas 34 -Kathopanishad -Part 1 A - The Father-Son Dialogue
Vaajasravasa, a wealthy man,
Verily, aspired to attain heavenly bliss,
Visvajit sacrifice, was the one he attempted.
Vain Vaajasravasa, never thought deeply,
Valueless cows, he offered for the sacrifice,
Vegetating cows that grew old and helpless.
Nachiketaa, the son of Vaajasravasa,
Noticed that his father's sacrifice was made by
Neither cows that grazed to eat grass or milked,
Nor cows that possessed any vigour or vitality.
Nachiketaa, hardly twelve years of age, observed
How worthless was the sacrifice of his father!
Brave Nachiketaa,
Boldly questioned his father,
He knew his father was wrong,
He knew his father was cheating.
He asked his father:
" Dear Dad, to whom will thou give me? "
Vaajasravasa heard the question of his son.
But ignored it.
Nachiketaa again asked his father
"To whom will thou give me? "
Vaajasravasa continued to ignore his son's query.
But Nachiketaa was persistent.
Once again, he shouted out:
"Dad, tell me, to whom will thou give me away? "
This time, the father Vaajasravasa
Turned around, burning with anger
And replied:
" I give thee unto Yama - the God of Death"!
I acknowledge the work of Board of scholars who have made exhaustive study of the 112 Upanishads, published by Parimal Publications, Delhi. The Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai Publications of various Upanishads with deep insight into the subject by authors like Swami Paramananda and Swami Harshananda, have been a great source of learning and understanding for me of these Upanishads.
I beg for forgiveness, if there are any errors, in my attempt to translate this great work.
I agree with Mr Glen, every religion in one or the other way have similar teachings, the greed in humans are more or less similar. The supreme sacrifice in the history is that by Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) who sacrificed his son Ismail (PBUH) or the sake of Almighty (having seen a dream from Almighty) and there are several other instances where people were reluctant to make sacrifices. Great one in poetic form Geeta ji.
Hi, Geeta! The title of this got my attention. This is unlike most things I’ve read. What does come to mind is a passage from the prophet Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament in the Christian bible, chastizing people for bringing offerings that are the worst, not the best, they can offer. How ridiculous, yes? , to think we can fool the divine. Hoping this finds you well, Glen
Glen, so glad to see you reading the Vedic Poems. You will be pleasantly surprised to know that there are so many thoughts similar in the scriptures of the East and West. When you offer something as a donation to others it should be of high quality and useful. Absolutely! How can we ever think of fooling the divine? Thanks a lot Glen.
The sacrifice done by father, Vaajasravasa, didn't present appreciation to Nachiketaa and then he asked to his father whom he was going to give him. Vaajasravasa turned around, burning with anger replied that he was going give him to Yama - the God of Death! You have so nicely and touchingly inscribed here. Then this story will be continued on Vedas 34 -Kathopanishad -Part 1 B perhaps. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Kumarmani ji. Yes, the story will be continued. Kathopanishad is a long Upanishad with profound knowledge of life and death. The dialogue between Nachiketaa and Yama, is the most intense and absorbing part of the Upanishad.
young boy named Nachiketaa and Yama...... i had heard of it in my school days. but as time goes on and when we are mature to understand the sense of it......... it all look so different....... thank u for the depth in you that lead the readers into the path of the wholeness.. thank u dear Lalithayam.. tony
Thank you so much Tony. So happy that you read this poem. A special thanks for the lovely title of Lalithyam! It gives me immense joy to hear this word as it is the main characteristic feature of Mohiniattam. God bless you, Tony!
(2) His father ought to have given away things which were dear to him as per the goodwill generated by his Yajna. He wanted or rather persisted that his father should give him (being his darling son) away instead of those worthless things. This set the stage for a more eventful denouement in the form of Yama-Nachiketaa dialogue. Geeta ji, you really deserve our gratitude for presenting the essence of Part 1 of Katha Upnishad so impeccably.
Thank you for the excellent introduction to this story of Nachiketaa. Now, begins the dialogue between Nachiketaa and Yama, most exceptional, imparting to us the meaning of life and death on this earth and the goal of every man.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/22/2024 1:58:38 AM # 1.0.0.1119
(1) The episode begins with an interesting observation by Nachiketaa, son of Vaajasravasa who after the completion of his Yajna (or yagya) distributed goodies among the invitees. Nachiketaa felt that the goodies were, in fact, outdated and, as such, had no worth.