Universal Wisdom & Light Upanishadic Verse
Katha Upanishad 1.3.14: rise, wake up and learn from the best teachers; the path is as sharp as a razor’s edge. Sanskrit text and meaning.
Sanskrit
उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत ।
क्षुरस्य धारा निशिता दुरत्यया दुर्गं पथस्तत्कवयो वदन्ति ॥
One online edition prints the first letter of “kṣurasya” (“of a razor”) wrongly; the standard word is used here.
Transliteration (IAST)
uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prāpya varān nibodhata |
kṣurasya dhārā niśitā duratyayā durgaṃ pathas tat kavayo vadanti ||
Meaning
Rise! Wake up! Go to the best teachers and learn. The wise say that the path is as hard to cross as the sharp edge of a razor.
Source / Textual Reference
Katha Upanishad 1.3.14 (Part 1, Valli 3, verse 14)
Text compared with Wisdomlib (Shankara’s commentary edition) and Sanskrit Documents. Some modern writers cite the verse with a different number; 1.3.14 is the number in both editions we compared.
Traditional Significance
The Katha Upanishad tells of a boy, Nachiketa, who asks Yama, the lord of death, what lies beyond. This verse comes at the end of the third section of the first part, after the picture of the body as a chariot.
Swami Vivekananda often quoted this verse. The words “Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached” are his own wording, not a literal translation.
Traditional Practice
The verse is read, studied and often quoted in talks and lessons. There is no fixed time or number of repetitions.
Related Content
- Asato Ma Sadgamaya, a prayer to be led from darkness to light
- Satyam Vada Dharmam Chara, the teacher’s advice to students
- Gita 6.35, steadying the restless mind