न हि सुविज्ञेयमणुरेष धर्मः ।
अन्यं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व
मा मोपरोत्सीरति मा सृजैनम् ॥ २१॥
na hi suvijñeyamaṇureṣa dharmaḥ .
anyaṃ varaṃ naciketo vṛṇīṣva
mā moparotsīrati mā sṛjainam .. 21..
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Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 12
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Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 14
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 15
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 16
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 17
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 18
Part 2 – Canto 3 – Verse 19
Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society
Devair atrāpi vicikitsitam purā, na hi suvijñeyam, aṇur eṣa dharmaḥ, anyaṁ varaṁ naciketo vṛṇīṣva, mā moparotsīr ati mā sṛjainam (1.1.21): Lord Yama replies, “You are asking this kind of question? Don’t harass me unnecessarily. Because I asked you to choose a third boon, you are asking this kind of question which is too difficult for me, because even the gods have a doubt about this matter, let alone mortals. Even the celestials in heaven cannot answer this question and you, mortal young boy, want to know this?” Devair atrāpi vicikitsitam purā, na hi suvijñeyam: “It is not easy to understand.” Aṇur eṣa dharmaḥ: “Very subtle is this truth. Please ask for something else.” Anyaṁ varaṁ naciketo vṛṇīṣva: “Don’t bind me with this request.” Mā moparotsīr ati mā sṛjainam: “Please relieve me from this obligation to answer this kind of question.” Yama himself wants to be free from this bond, or noose, of the question of this boy. “Ask for something else. Every glorious thing, wonderful thing, magnificent thing I shall give you, but don’t put a question like this.”
Kathopanishad – Verse 21 – kathopanishad-1-1-21-devairatrāpi – In Sanskrit with English Transliteration, Meaning and Commentary by Adi Shankaracharya (Sankara Bhashya) – Katha-1-1-21
Sri Shankara’s Commentary (Bhashya) translated by S. Sitarama Sastri
Death in order to test whether he was or was not absolutely fit to acquire the knowledge of the âtman leading to emancipation, said this: ‘Even by the gods in older times, doubt was entertained on this point. It is not easy to be known, though heard explained, by ordinary men. Because this subject of the âtman is subtle. Therefore, Oh, Nachikêtas, ask for another boon, whose fruit is certain; press me not as a creditor presses a debtor. Give up this boon for me.