Katha Upanishad 2.1.4
(The Waking and Dream states)
स्वप्नान्तं जागरितान्तं चोभौ येनानुपश्यति ।
महान्तं विभुमात्मानं मत्वा धीरो न शोचति ॥ ४ ॥
"He who perceives both the dream state and the waking state as manifestations of the same Supreme Self, which is vast and all-pervading, becomes Wise. Knowing this Great and Omnipresent Self, the Wise One does not grieve."
This verse from the Katha Upanishad addresses the Nature of the Self (Ātman) and its relationship with different states of experience — waking and dreaming. The verse suggests that a person who perceives both the dream and waking states as arising within the same Consciousness recognizes the all-encompassing Nature of the Self. The Self is described as mahantam
(great) and vibhum (all-pervading), emphasizing its boundlessness beyond individual perception. This Realization leads to a state of detachment from transient experiences, preventing sorrow and suffering.
In Advaita Vedānta, this verse aligns with the idea that both waking and dream states are ultimately mithyā (impermanent) and that the underlying Awareness in both is the Ātman, which remains unchanged. Just as dream experiences seem real while one is dreaming but are realized to be unreal upon waking, so too, the waking world is seen as transient when one awakens to the Ultimate Truth of the Self. The Wise One (dhīraḥ) understands this and remains free from sorrow, for they are no longer attached to fleeting experiences.
This verse is also a call to transcend the identification with bodily existence and limited individual consciousness. The Realization of the Self as mahantam vibhum — the immense and Omnipresent Reality — allows one to see beyond individual joys and sorrows.
Liberation (mokṣa) is attained when one sees the same Consciousness operating in all states and experiences. This aligns with the Upanishadic view that the Self is beyond duality, birth, and death, and is the eternal witness (sākṣī).
Comparison with Similar Verses from Other Vedic Texts
Māṇḍūkya Upanishad 7:
सुषुप्तस्थानः प्राज्ञोऽद्वैतः आनन्दमयो ह्यानन्दभुक् चेतोमुखः प्राज्ञः तृतीयः पादः ॥
"The state of deep sleep is where one neither desires anything nor sees any dream. The Self in this state is undivided, full of bliss, and is the enjoyer of that bliss. It is the gateway to Consciousness and is called ‘Prajña’ (the Wise One)."
This verse from the Māṇḍūkya Upanishad expands on the idea that the Self transcends all states of experience—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. While the Katha Upanishad verse describes waking and dream states as arising from the same Consciousness, this verse adds the deep sleep state and presents the Prajñā (the experiencer in deep sleep) as undivided bliss, indicating that Pure Consciousness remains unchanged across all states.
Bhagavad Gītā 2.13:
देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा।
तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति ॥
"Just as the embodied soul experiences childhood, youth, and old age within this body, so too does it attain another body after death. The Wise One (dhīraḥ) is not deluded by this."
This verse from the Bhagavad Gītā parallels the Katha Upanishad verse by emphasizing the wisdom of the dhīraḥ, the enlightened being who does not grieve over transitions and changes. Just as the Wise do not lament the shift from one life stage to another, they also do not grieve over the changes between waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, knowing the eternal Self remains unaffected.
Yoga Vāsiṣṭha 6.1.32:
यथा स्वप्नेन दृश्यन्ते चित्राण्युत्सङ्गशायिना ।
तथा जागरिते सर्वं मृषैव न तु वस्तुतः ॥
"Just as various images appear in dreams while one sleeps on a bed, so too is everything seen in the waking state an illusion and not Real in the Absolute sense."
This verse from the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha strongly aligns with the Katha Upanishad verse by asserting that both waking and dream experiences are ultimately illusions. The wise person realizes this and, like the dhīraḥ of the Katha Upanishad, becomes free from sorrow. While the Upanishadic verse focuses on perceiving the Unity behind waking and dreaming, the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha verse explicitly declares their illusory nature, reinforcing the concept of non-duality (Advaita).
The Katha Upanishad 2.1.4 provides a profound insight into the continuity of Consciousness across different states. It aligns with other Upanishadic, Gītā, and Yogic teachings that emphasize the non-dual nature of the Self, transcending all experiential realms. The Realization that both waking and dream states arise from the same Consciousness leads to inner stability, Wisdom, and liberation from sorrow.
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