Kathopanishad - Story of Nachiketa Part 15

As his second boon, instead of asking for a guaranteed place in Heaven, Nachiketa wanted to know - what knowledge should be known and what Karmas should be performed in order to enter Heaven.  

Dharam Raj must have been delighted to find such a great and keen student. He says to Nachiketa:

                     प्र ते ब्रवीमि तदु मे निबोध स्वर्ग्यमग्निम् नचिकेतः प्रजानन 

                    अनंतलोकाप्तिमथो प्रतिष्ठाम विद्धि त्वमेतं निहितं गुहायाम  

                   "Pra Te Braveemi Tadu May Nibodh

                   Swargyam-agnim Nachiketah Prajaanan

                   Anantlokaaptim atho Pratishthaam

                   Viddhi Tvametam Nihitam Guhaayaam"

                                                  (1 - 14 Kathopanishad)

"I will explain it to you well (in detail), Nachiketa, pay attention to me. Learn from me carefully, and know about the Agni - the Gyan (knowledge) which leads to Swarga. 

Know it well to attain the Eternal Heaven and to remain in that realm - which is seated/hidden in the cave". 

Many scholars translate the word ‘Agni’ literally and talk about some special kind of ancient ritual - sacrificial ‘fire’ used to perform Yagnas in the Vedic period. Translating it literally as sacrificial fire makes it related to some particular religion, and might create doubts and disagreements in the minds of the followers of the other religions or atheists. 

Numerous times the word Agni has been used as a symbol for Gyana or knowledge in Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and other Scriptures as well. 

Not rituals, but appropriate Gyana or knowledge is what leads to a happy and peaceful life in the outer and inner - physical and psychological worlds. Not rituals, but appropriate Gyana or knowledge is what leads to a happy and peaceful life in the outer and inner - physical and psychological worlds. And it is seated/hidden in the Guha - the cave.

Just as a cave, hidden in the mountains or deep in the earth is not visible from outside, similarly this secret Gyan and the blissful state may not be visible from outside. It is seated deep in the cavity of the heart or mind, the Chita, the sub-conscious - it is beyond the dominions of the Conscious mind. 

It is not for a show-off. 

The Shruti says: The one who says I know- knows not.

Unfortunately, nowadays, Spirituality has become a fashion, a social event - an entertainment or a thing to show off. 

Dharam Raj says it is seated in the hidden cave of the Sub-conscious mind. It has to go beyond the grips of the conscious mind. Until and unless this 'Fire' - the Gyana finds its way into the Chita- the Subconscious mind and stays seated in the Subconscious, it may not provide tranquility, the Bliss. To achieve such a state, one must practice and strive to remember the Gyana and repeat it often. (which Nachiketa did in the next verse – repeating the instructions he received, back to the Guru) 

There might be another reason for many students and disciples to not being able to achieve that state.  

Dharam Raj, the greatest teacher of the time, says to his worthy student: “Pay attention to me O’ Nachiketa. Listen carefully and know well this Fire - the Gyan, from me - from my mouth.” 

In the olden days, the learning was directly between Teacher and student - Guru and disciple - especially spiritual knowledge. Disciples learned directly from the Guru’s mouth and cleared their doubts directly from the teacher/ the Guru – not from other sources. Unfortunately, now everything is learned indirectly from other sources such as fellow senior students or monitors or the internet or Google- not directly from the Guru. And that makes a big difference.

When I was in high school, our teachers randomly used to pick some students and asked them to repeat what the teacher had just said. We were supposed to memorize the lesson and repeat it the next day. 

When we went from high school to college, we learned that college teachers were not known as teachers. They were lecturers. True to the literal meaning of the word, they just delivered the lectures. It was up to the students whether to pay attention or not- to understand and grasp the lesson or not - the Teachers were not responsible. 

Unfortunately, the same is happening today with the Spiritual schools also. They have also become institutionalized – established organizations with hierarchies of their own. They deliver prestigious spiritual knowledge in the form of lectures to masses – in groups of hundreds and thousands. Often through their representatives. It’s totally up to the listeners and disciples to understand and grasp the Gyana and other instructions on their own. Some disciples might be able to apprehend it well and follow, while others may not.

Here, Dharam Raj is instructing the disciple directly and firmly: “Listen to me. Pay attention to me. You must know it well and absorb it deep in the cave of your heart – the subconscious mind”. 

Being face to face with his teacher – sitting alone at the feet of the Guru, and being instructed directly and so strongly by the Guru, Nachiketa, the disciple has no other choice than thoroughly paying full attention to his words–to his instructions…and then repeating it back to him.

                                                 ‘Rajan Sachdeva’

To Be Continued……