Spirituality & Society Spirituality Issue 1, 25-Mar-20 EN

Kaṭha Upaniṣad

न जायते म्रियते वा विपश्चिन् , नायं कुतश्चिन्न बभूव कश्चित् ।

अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो, न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥ १८॥[1]

हन्ता चेन्मन्यते हन्तु हतश्चेन्मन्यते हतम् ।

उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते ॥ १९॥[2]

अणोरणीयान्महतो महीया – नात्माऽस्य जन्तोर्निहितो गुहायाम् ।

तमक्रतुः पश्यति वीतशोको, धातुप्रसादान्महिमानमात्मनः ॥ २०॥[3]

Kaṭha Upaniśad Chapter 1 Valli 2 Verse 18-20

The Self which perceives everything is not born,

It does not die; It did not emerge from somewhere

And it is not the result of any physical growth.

Unborn, eternal, everlasting and ancient

It does not die when the body dies.

If someone thinks he is killing someone

And if someone thinks he is being killed;

Neither understand the truth.

The Self does not kill and is not killed.

Minuter than the minutest,

Larger than the largest

This Self is hidden in the heart of every creature.

The person free from desire and thus

Liberated from grieving

Sees – because of the clarity of his inner being –

The greatness of the Self.


[1] https://upanishads.org.in/upanishads/3/1/2/18

[2] https://upanishads.org.in/upanishads/3/1/2/19

[3] https://upanishads.org.in/upanishads/3/1/2/20

Dr. Victor van Bijlert
Faculty of Religion and Theology, Beliefs and Practices Vrije University, Amsterdam
https://research.vu.nl/en/persons/va-van-bijlert

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