KATHOPNISHADA CHAPTER 6 SHLOKA - 4

                                                                    इह चेदशकद्बोद्धुं 

                                                                  प्राक्षरीरस्य विस्रसः । 

                                                                   ततः सर्गेषुलोकेषु

                                                                शरीरत्वाय कल्पते॥ ४

                                                    EHA  CHEDASHAKAD  BODHUM 

                                                    PRAK  SHARIRASHY  VISRASAH|

                                                     TATAH  SARGESHU  LOKESHU 

                                                       SHARIRTATVAY  KALPATE ||4

                IF HE 'KNOWS'  (BRAHMAN) BEFORE THE DEATH OF THE 

                PHYSICAL  BODY -HE IS LIBERATED (FROM BONDAGE OF THIS WORLD)

               IF NOT   THEN HE HAS TO 'TAKE' A PHYSICAL BODY AGAIN 

                                             IN THE WORLD OF CREATION||4

           This is the Shloka in which there are 2 different things that we are told . One is that there is a goal in this life which is to KNOW BRAHMAN. The goal of life is not to make more money and become rich and leave lots of money for children and grandchildren. The goal is not to do charity or find out new methods or invention for comfort of physical body But the goal is to KNOW BRAHMAN. This does not mean that one should leave everything and take SANYAS. or not do our job or do the duty - teacher doctor , engineer or accountant or soldier etc . All these things must be done  and so is helping poor and sick . But that will not stop the cycle of death and birth. But unless one KNOWS - COMPREHEND the real nature or the Brahman, one will not end the cycle of birth and cycle. 

    So, the first one is that it's possible to KNOW the Brahman in this life  and then we are liberated The second point is related to first. We are told that there is rebirth and there is only one way to end it . So we have reincarnation of physical body. When one does not KNOW the Brahman, then one has end of reincarnation 

     Know the Brahman before you die  and you will be not reborn or will be liberated  and if you don't then you will be born again in different physical body. 

KATHOPNISHADA CHAPTER 6 SHLOKA - 3

                                                                     भयादस्याग्निस्तपति

                                                                      भयात्तपति सूर्यः । 

                                                                      भयादिन्द्रश्च वायुश्च 

                                                                     मृत्युर्धावति पञ्चमः ॥ ३

                                                           BHAYAT  ASYA AGNIS TAPATI 

                                                              BHAYAT  TAPATI  SURYAH |

                                                          BHAYAT  INDRACHY  VAYUCHYA 

                                                    MRYTYUR  DHAVATI  PASCHYAMAH ||3

DUE TO THE FEAR OF HIM  THE FIRE BURNS AND SUN SHANES AND DUE TO HIS FEAR 

        THE INDRA, VAYU AND THE DEATH- THE FIFTH DO THEIR FUNCTION }}3

      This Shloka we are again told that the force behind everything is the BRAHMAN. The BRAHMAN is needed for anything that the nature does or can do . I have mentioned in past that the nature or the PRAKRUTI does not have spirit or energy  and it itself cannot do any action unless enlightened by the PURUSHA - also called BRHMAN or Consciousness. If there is no consciousness does not have 3 GUNAS namely the Stawic , Rjaasic and Tamasic, are needed for any desire  and so it will not act But when they two come together , then the Fire burns and the Sun shines  and the Indra functions and also Death works the way in which it functions.

   Some people will say this in very simple way that EVERTHING in this universe happens due to wish and desire of the GOD . We in BHAKTIYOGA - devotional way of looking at this we say that not a single leaf on a tree moves without HIS wish and permission and knowledge.