The Upaniṣads / Kaṭha / 5.14 How should I know
5.14
तदेतदिति मन्यन्तेऽनिर्देश्यं परमं सुखम् ।
कथं नु तद् विजानीयां किमु भाति विभाति वा tad etad iti manyante 'nirdeśyaṃ paramaṃ sukham |
kathaṃ nu tad vijānīyāṃ kim u bhāti vibhāti vā
The line
This they take to be that: the highest happiness, not to be designated. How, now, should I know it? Does it shine, or does it shine out?
नेपालीमा
यसलाई उनीहरू त्यो ठान्छन्, नाम दिन नसकिने सर्वोच्च सुख। अब म त्यसलाई कसरी जानूँ? के त्यो चम्कन्छ कि चम्काउँछ?
Where it sits
The next mantra answers the question about shining. The sun does not shine there.
Split: tat etat iti manyante (ततेततिति मन्यन्ते) + anirdeśyam (अनिर्देश्यम्) + paramam sukham (परमम् सुखम्) + katham nu (कथम् नु) + tat vijānīyām (तत् विजानीयाम्) + kim u bhāti (किमु भाति) + vibhāti vā (विभाति वा)
Sanskrit, in depth
The words
| Word | Grammar | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| tat etat iti manyante (ततेततिति मन्यन्ते) | they think, that is this | Heard tad etad iti manyante (तदेतदिति मन्यन्ते). |
| anirdeśyam (अनिर्देश्यम्) | accusative | Not to be pointed out. Heard 'nirdeśyam (ऽनिर्देश्यम्). |
| paramam sukham (परमम् सुखम्) | the highest ease | Heard paramaṃ sukham (परमं सुखम्). |
| katham nu (कथम् नु) | how, indeed | The question. |
| tat vijānīyām (तत् विजानीयाम्) | might I know that | Optative. Heard tad vijānīyām (तद् विजानीयाम्). |
| kim u bhāti (किमु भाति) | does it shine | Present. |
| vibhāti vā (विभाति वा) | or does it shine forth | Present. |
The phrases
They consider that highest ease, which cannot be pointed at. How should I know it? Does it shine, or shine out?
Sanskrit in this line
Manyante anirdeśyam (मन्यन्ते अनिर्देश्यम्) is manyante 'nirdeśyam (मन्यन्तेऽनिर्देश्यम्).
Say it back
Ask the mantra's two questions about light.