The Upaniṣads / Kaṭha / 2.23 Whom he chooses
2.23
नायमात्मा प्रवचनेन लभ्यो न मेधया न बहुना श्रुतेन ।
यमेवैष वृणुते तेन लभ्यस् तस्यैष आत्मा विवृणुते तनूं स्वाम् nāyam ātmā pravacanena labhyo na medhayā na bahunā śrutena |
yam evaiṣa vṛṇute tena labhyas tasyaiṣa ātmā vivṛṇute tanūṃ svām
The line
This self is not obtained by lecturing, not by intelligence, not by much hearing. He is obtained by the one whom he chooses. To him this self reveals his own form.
नेपालीमा
यो आत्मा प्रवचनले, मेधाले र धेरै सुनेर पाइँदैन। जसलाई ऊ रोज्छ त्यसले उसलाई पाउँछ, र त्यसलाई यो आत्माले आफ्नै रूप देखाउँछ।
Where it sits
The choosing has turned around. The boy chose a boon. Here the self is the one who chooses the person. The next mantra names who is not fit.
Split: na ayam ātmā (न अयमात्मा) + pravacanena (प्रवचनेन) + labhyaḥ (लभ्यः) + na medhayā (न मेधया) + na bahunā śrutena (न बहुना श्रुतेन) + yam eva (यमेव) + eṣaḥ (एषः) + vṛṇute (वृणुते) + tena (तेन) + labhyaḥ (लभ्यः) + tasya (तस्य) + ātmā (आत्मा) + vivṛṇute (विवृणुते) + tanūm (तनूम्) + svām (स्वाम्)
Sanskrit, in depth
The words
| Word | Grammar | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| na ayam ātmā (न अयमात्मा) | not this self | Heard nāyam ātmā (नायमात्मा). |
| pravacanena (प्रवचनेन) | instrumental | By proclamation, by lecturing. |
| labhyaḥ (लभ्यः) | to be obtained | Heard labhyo (लभ्यो). |
| na medhayā (न मेधया) | not by intelligence | Instrumental of medhā (मेधा). |
| na bahunā śrutena (न बहुना श्रुतेन) | not by much hearing | Instrumental. |
| yam eva (यमेव) | whom alone | Heard yam eva (यमेव). |
| eṣaḥ (एषः) | nominative | This one. The self. Heard eṣa (एष). |
| vṛṇute (वृणुते) | present | He chooses. |
| tena (तेन) | instrumental | By that one. |
| labhyaḥ (लभ्यः) | to be obtained | Heard labhyas (लभ्य). |
| tasya (तस्य) | genitive | Of him. To him. Joins eṣaḥ (एषः): tasyaiṣa (तस्यैष). |
| ātmā (आत्मा) | nominative | The self. |
| vivṛṇute (विवृणुते) | present | He reveals. He uncovers. |
| tanūm (तनूम्) | accusative | His body, his own form. Heard tanūṃ (तनूं). |
| svām (स्वाम्) | accusative, feminine | His own. Agrees with tanūm (तनूम्). |
The phrases
Three instrumentals fail. The self is obtained by the one whom the self chooses. To him the self uncovers his own form.
Sanskrit in this line
Na ayam (न अयम्) is nāyam (नायम्). Yam eva eṣaḥ (यमेव एषः) is yam evaiṣa (यमेवैष). Tasya eṣaḥ (तस्य एषः) is tasyaiṣa (तस्यैष).
Say it back
Say the three means that do not obtain him, and who does the choosing.