Vedas 44 - Kathopanishad - Part 3 D - The Inefficient Charioteer Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon
Vedas 44 - Kathopanishad - Part 3 D - The Inefficient Charioteer
"O dear, Nachiketaa! Listen to me! "
"A careful and an intelligent Charioteer,
Holds the reins of horses efficiently,
Handling them with skill,
With a disciplined mind,
With control over his senses.
He can, then, cleverly steer the chariot,
He can move in right direction
And reach the right destination! "
"A careless and inefficient Charioteer
With no discipline,
With no control over his senses,
With an impure mind
Leads the horses astray,
Letting them gallop into a dangerous zone,
May fall into a pit or
May even endanger his life! "
"The ‘Self' or
The ‘Atman' or
The ‘Purusha' can be realised,
Through deep concentration,
Through a refined and a pure mind.
To awaken to this subtle Reality,
One needs to learn from great Gurus,
One has to tread a difficult path of austerity."
The wise Nachiketa, ever alert, nods his head with a smile.
Kathopanishad is, perhaps, the most widely known Upanishad. The dialogue is long and spreads over six chapters containing 119 verses.
This is the third chapter, which has the most crucial verse with an explanation through a Similie of a Chariot.
Yama clearly explains to Nachiketaa, what is mortal and what is immortal.
This is, perhaps, the most interesting dialogue that I have ever read.I am attempting to summarise and make it as concise as possible. Each Upanishad should be read from the beginning and in order of the Series, otherwise, the meaning will be lost. It would be difficult to comprehend the philosophy of the Upanishad.
In the request of Nachiketaa Yama, the king of death presents the secracy of eternal power. Here it may be cited...... The ‘Self' or The ‘Atman' or The ‘Purusha' can be realised, Through deep concentration, Through a refined and a pure mind. To awaken to this subtle Reality, One needs to learn from great Gurus, One has to tread a difficult path of austerity. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Kumarmani ji for reading and quoting a verse as your comment.
Hats off to the stupendous work of translating and spreading treasures of wisdom embedded in Hindu scriptures like Kathopnishad. I will definitely go through it from the beginning. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for reading this poem and for your wonderful comment, Ratnakar ji.
Hats off to the stupendous task of translating and spreading vast treasures of wisdom embedded in ancient Hindu scriptures like Kathopanishad. I would definitely go for it from the beginning.. Thanks for sharing.
Ratnakar ji, i am really happy to see you back in Poem Hunter. Do stay and continue your good work, Sir.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/6/2024 10:45:38 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Profound message, if we leave them uncontrolled they will start controlling us.