KATHOPNISHAD -SHANTI MANTRA

                                                              ॐ सह नाववतु |

                                                 सह नौ भुनक्तु ।

                                               सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।

                                तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ।

                                      ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

                                        OM SAHA NAVAVATU|

                                        SA NAU BHUNAKTU |

                                    SA VIRYA KARAVAVAHAI|

                   TEJASVI  NAVADHITAMASTU MA VIDVISHAVAHAI|

                            OM SHANTIHI  SHANTIHI  SHANTIHI ||

THE GOD WHICH IS OMKAR, PROTECT BOTH OF US

NOURISH  US GIVE BOTH OF US THE STRENTH TO DO EFFORTS. 

THE STUDY THAT WE HAVE DONE, BECOME MORE BRIGHT OR GLOWING.  LET US NOT HATE ANYBODY. 

                                     PEACE -PEACE-PEACE |

      This is called SHATI MANTRA, which means it is for the peace. This is done in many chanting as the beginning or at the end or at bot times. It is done as prayer. In this Upanishad, Nachiket is talking to Lord of Death, So we have SADUN- with qualities OR GUNAS- God. So this is humanization of the God  so, the prayer is appropriate. 

     The concept of Upanishads was that the Teacher gave discourse to a student  and so at the end of the discourse the prayer involves two -the teacher and the student. In Sanskrit there is difference in the verb for singular, pleural and also one for TWO . They are asking for the blessing  and at the same time stating that when we study we know he meaning of the words , but we may not know the implied meaning  and we will ot get enlightened. So they are praying enlighten our STUDY. Certainly one can not study if there is threat or one is hungry  and so the they are asking to be protected and also nourish us . 

     The request for PEACE ,THREE TIMES has some meaning . The peace of environment is needed , the peach of mind is needed  and then the peace for past Karma should be there too. These are called ADHIBHAUTIC - meaning related to BHUTA or living beings -ADHIDAIVIC - meaning related to FATE and lastly ADHYATMIC - meaning related to ATMA or MIND . So we need all three  to be at PEACE. 

        

    

KATHOPNISHADA CHAPTER 6 SHLOKA 18

                                                     मृत्युप्रोक्तान्नचिकेतोऽथ लब्ध्वा 

                                                     विद्यामेतां योगविधिं च कृत्स्नम् ।

                                                      ब्रह्मप्राप्तो विरजोऽभूद्विमृत्यु-

                                                -रन्योऽप्येवं यो विदध्यात्ममेव ॥ १८ ॥

                                MRUTYU  PROKTANI  NACHIKETO- ATHA LABDHVA

                               VIDHYAM  ETAM  YOGA -VIDHIM  CHA  KRUTASNAM |

                                    BRAHMA-PRAPTO  VIRAJO BHUD  VIMRUTYAR

                                     ANYO PYA  EVAM YO  VID  ADHYATAM  EVA ||18

NACHIKETA,HAVING BEEN SO INSTRUCTED BY LORD OF DEATHIN THIS KMOWLEDGE

AND WHOLW PEOCESS OF YOGA,(HE) BECAME FREE FROM  ALL IMPUTUITES AND                                                   DEATH,AND ATTAINED BRAHAMAN.

                   AND SO WILL BE TOO ATTAIN WHO KNOWS THUS INNER SELF.||18

This is the last of the SHLOkAS ,of this UPANISHADA. We are told the detail of the way to know the Inner Self and Brahman . And once that happens ,one is free of all impurities and attains eternity. In this shloka, we have on word VIRAJA- This means things that are attached to Rajas Guna. So when we do not act on Rajasic element which is relates to desires , we are free . To me it is also interesting that this discourse to have freedom from DEATH is given by Lord of Death . It is like examiner for our examination giving us tips to pass the examination. Or IRS agent giving us educations on Taxes and tell us how to not pay taxes - freedom from paying taxes. We want freedom from death  and who better to teach us that than The Lord of Death. So this is the end of the KATHOPNISHADA.