kathopanishad-1-1-27-na vittena

Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society

Na vittena tarpaṇīyo manuśyaḥ, lapsyāmahe vittam adrākṣma cet tvā, jīviṣyāmo yāvad īśiṣyasi tvaṁ varastu me varaṇīyaḥ sa eva (1.1.27): Nachiketas continues, “No man can be satisfied with wealth. Have you seen anybody in the world who is satisfied with wealth?” Lapsyāmahe vittam adrākṣma cet tvā: “When we behold a person like you, we have observed all the world. The very vision of a Master like you is wealth by itself. I am face-to-face with the great celestial Master. Is that not wealth? Do you want me to have further wealth of gold and silver? Is it equal to you when I am sitting before you? We will live in this world only as long as you permit us, because death will overtake everybody one day or the other. Even if I am granted the longest life, what is the longest life? It has to end one day, and Yama will come. Therefore, I want only that which I asked for, and not anything else.” Varastu me varaṇīyaḥ sa eva: “I insist on that one thing which I asked for, and I shall not listen to anything else that you tell me.”