Katha Upanishad is an esoteric - a mystical, spiritual exposition appended to a Brahmana of the Krishna - YajurVeda. It was translated into Persian and made available all over Europe. Among the 108
Upanishads, Katha Upanishad is well known for its simplicity and clarity. This Upanishad forms part of the Kata Shaaka (branch) of Krishna Yajur Veda. Hence, it is called as the Kato-Upanishad. The Katha Upanishad points out that this world and our life is more subtle and more involved in various ways, than is comprehensible to our limited intelligence. It teaches the supreme value of knowledge, which is the ultimate blessedness. Seeking after sensual pleasures is not advisable.
Katha Upanishad encodes the wisdom of the entire life of man in the story of a great seeker of the absolute Truth, Nachiketas, the son of a great sage Vajasravasa, known also as Sage Gautama. The Upanishad narrates a conversation between Nachiketas and Yama, and Yama teaches the young boy the mystery of life and death. Though young, Nachiketas understands the concept of Brahman and the supreme bliss by the end of Yama's teaching.
