Kathopanishad- Verse 25 - kathopanishad-1-1-25-ye ye kāmā

Kathopanishad – Part 1 – Canto 1 – Verse 25 « »

ये ये कामा दुर्लभा मर्त्यलोके
सर्वान् कामाँश्छन्दतः प्रार्थयस्व ।
इमा रामाः सरथाः सतूर्या
न हीदृशा लम्भनीया मनुष्यैः ।
आभिर्मत्प्रत्ताभिः परिचारयस्व
नचिकेतो मरणं माऽनुप्राक्षीः ॥ २५॥

ye ye kāmā durlabhā martyaloke
sarvān kāmām̐śchandataḥ prārthayasva .
imā rāmāḥ sarathāḥ satūryā
na hīdṛśā lambhanīyā manuṣyaiḥ .
ābhirmatprattābhiḥ paricārayasva
naciketo maraṇaṃ mā’nuprākṣīḥ .. 25..

25 Whatever desires are difficult to satisfy in this world of mortals, choose them as you wish: these fair maidens, with their chariots and musical instruments – men cannot obtain them. I give them to you and they shall wait upon you. But do not ask me about death.

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Sri Shankara’s Commentary (Bhashya) translated by S. Sitarama Sastri

Ask, as you like, for all desired objects, which are covetable, but not easily attainable in the land of mortals. Again, here are these celestial nymphs (the term Râmâs meaning those who delight males) with their chariots and with their musical instruments; and women like these cannot be obtained by mortals without the grace of beings like us; with these female attendants given by me, have thy services performed, such as cleaning the feet with water, etc.; Oh Nachikêtas, it does not become you to put me the question connected with death, i.e., whether, when man is dead, there is or is not anything surviving—a question (as unprofitable as that) of examining the number of crow’s teeth.

Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society

Ye ye kāmā durlabhā martya-loke sarvān kāmāṁś chandataḥ prārthayasva, imā rāmāḥ, sarathāḥ satūryāḥ, na hīdṛśā lambhanīyā manuṣyaiḥ, ābhir mat-prattābhiḥ paricārayasva, naciketo, maraṇam mānuprākṣīḥ (1.1.25): Yama continues, “You can ask for things which no man on earth can get, and I shall give that also.” See the temptations. “All wealth which humanity cannot expect, you can have that. That which is superhumanly possible but humanly not possible, that also I am prepared to give you—all the desires conceivable in the world. Here are the maidens with musical instruments in their hands, capable of entertaining you with their songs and dances. These things you cannot get anywhere in this world. No man in the world can have this opportunity of such a blessedness and glory that I am presenting before you.” Ābhir mat-prattābhiḥ paricārayasva: “Be attended with all the celestials. Are you satisfied?” Naciketo, maraṇam mānuprākṣīḥ: “About death, speak not to me.”

Links
Various resources on the Kathopanishad
Upanishad Series – Katopanishad Commentary by Swami Chinmayananda

Kathopanishad – Verse 25 – kathopanishad-1-1-25-ye ye kāmā – In Sanskrit with English Transliteration, Meaning and Commentary by Adi Shankaracharya (Sankara Bhashya) – Katha-1-1-25