THE SCIENCE OF SOUL                        (KATHOPANISHAD)


          Kathopanishad is one of the greatest Hindu Upanishads.  It clears the doubts about soul and  shows the greatest Truths of Hindu philosophy.  Gita has a bigger of its portion as a reflection of Kathopanishad.  Kathopanishad has been written like a story in which there is a Brahmin called Vajshrava, who has a learned teen aged son Nachiketa.  Once Vajshrava performs a Yajna and at the end of it gives gifts to the Brahmins.  But he gives away those cows, as gifts who are old ill or are not giving milk.  This disturbs Nachiketa a lot and he tells his father ," The Sastra say that you should give away your precious things as gift of Yajna and I am your precious thing.  Whom are you giving me?  His father first did not take notice but on repeated querries he became angry and said ." Nachiketa I give you as gift to Yamaraj (The God death).   Nachiketa got ready to go to Yama.  His father repented but could not stop Nachiketa.

              Nachiketa reaches Yama's house and since he is not there, he waits for 3 days without eating or drinking anything.  Yama when comes to know about it, he becomes concerned and tells Nachiketa," O pious brahmin boy from earth, you waited and fasted for me for three days.  I will compensate you with three boons".

              Nachiketa Tells ," My first wish is that my father should go to the right path and should love me again if I meet him again". "Granted" Yama says.  As second boon Nachiketa wants to know the secret of Yajna which takes one to the highest heaven".  Yama tells that also and names it as Nachiketa-Agni for future references.  Then Nachiketa asks," O Yama some people say Soul is there some say it is not.  What happens after death.  Tell me the secret of the Soul".  Yama tells," This science is very difficult and many devas are still confused on this. Better you take a thousand years of life, Vast kingdom, and the great whores of Heaven as your slaves but do not ask me this question".  But Nachiketa says," I do not want these perishable things. and if the science has even perplexed the devas then I must know it.
Yama becomes happy and says," You are the real pupil.  I offered you these things just to test you.  I will tell you the science of Soul".

      From here comes, the greatest Truth about Soul, God and Universe. The story further is reproduced in original Sanskri Shlokas alongwith their simple English translation.

(In case of any mistake in Sanskrit words, the software is to be blamed)

                                                                                     ..............Contd