Kathopanishad- Verse 4 - kathopanishad-1-2-4-dūramete

Kathopanishad – Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 4 « »

दूरमेते विपरीते विषूची
अविद्या या च विद्येति ज्ञाता ।
विद्याभीप्सिनं नचिकेतसं मन्ये
न त्वा कामा बहवोऽलोलुपन्त ॥ ४॥

dūramete viparīte viṣūcī
avidyā yā ca vidyeti jñātā .
vidyābhīpsinaṃ naciketasaṃ manye
na tvā kāmā bahavo’lolupanta .. 4..

4 Wide apart and leading to different ends are these two: ignorance and what is known as Knowledge. I regard you, O Nachiketa, to be one who desires Knowledge; for even many pleasures could not tempt you away.

Table of Contents

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

It has been stated that he who, of these pursues the good, attains the good and he that pursues the pleasant forfeits consummation; why is that so? Because, these two travel at a great distance from each-other, being mutually exclusive as they are of the nature of knowledge and ignorance, like light and darkness going different ways, i.e., leading to different results, being the cause of bondage and emancipation. What are these two is explained. Ignorance which, deals with ‘the pleasant’ and knowledge which deals with ‘the good,’ both well understood by the intelligent; here, I regard you Nachikêtas, as longings after knowledge, because objects of desire the nymphs and the rest—which tempt the intellect of the ignorant, have not, though numerous, shaken thee, i.e., diverted thee from the path of ‘the good, by creating in you a desire for worldly enjoyment. Therefore, I regards you as longing after knowledge and worthy of attaining ‘the good.’ This is the drift.

Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society

Dūram ete viparīte viṣūcī, avidyā yā ca vidyeti jñātā: vidyābhīpsinaṁ nachiketasam manye, na tvā kāmā bahavo lolupantaḥ (1.2.4): The path of the pleasant is called avidya, and the path of the good is called vidya. They are totally different, one from the other. The aims of these two paths, the goals to which these paths will lead, are totally different, one having no connection with the other as night has no connection with daylight or illness has no connection with health. Great indeed is the glory that comes upon the person treading the path of the good. Sorrow will be the outcome of the person who searches after pleasures, treading the wrong path. Yama says, “Now I understand that Nachiketas wants only knowledge and not wealth. Now it is clear to me. All the greatest of joys materially construed have not been capable of tempting you.”

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

Kathopanishad – Verse 4 – kathopanishad-1-2-4-dūramete – In Sanskrit with English Transliteration, Meaning and Commentary by Adi Shankaracharya (Sankara Bhashya) – Katha-1-2-4