Kathopanishad- Verse 6 - kathopanishad-1-2-6-na sāmparāyaḥ

Kathopanishad – Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 6 « »

न साम्परायः प्रतिभाति बालं
प्रमाद्यन्तं वित्तमोहेन मूढम् ।
अयं लोको नास्ति पर इति मानी
पुनः पुनर्वशमापद्यते मे ॥ ६॥

na sāmparāyaḥ pratibhāti bālaṃ
pramādyantaṃ vittamohena mūḍham .
ayaṃ loko nāsti para iti mānī
punaḥ punarvaśamāpadyate me .. 6..

6 The Hereafter never reveals itself to a person devoid of discrimination, heedless and perplexed by the delusion of wealth. “This world alone exists,” he thinks, “and there is no other.” Again and again he comes under my sway.

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

Therefore alone, i.e., being ignorant, the way to the other world shines not for him. Sâmparâyah, the other world. Sâmparâyah, some means pointed out by the Sâstras and leading to the attainment of the other world; that means does not shine for the benefit of the ignorant man who is led astray, his mind being engrossed by such benefits, as son, cattle, etc., and who is enveloped by the darkness Of ignorance caused by wealth. Constantly thinking that this world alone which is perceived and which consists of women, food, drink, etc., exists, and that there is no other invisible world, he is born again and again and becomes subject to me, i.e., Death. The meaning is that he becomes subject to be tossed in grief, such as birth, death, etc., such is the world in general.

Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society

Na sāmparāyaḥ pratibhāti bālam pramādyantaṁ vittamohena mūḍham: ayaṁ loko nāsti para iti mānī, punaḥ punar vaśam āpadyate me (1.2.6): Children are these people living in this world. They do not know what is above the world. Do children know what is outside the world? Children indeed are all people, all humanity, because mankind as a whole is wrongly under the impression that this world is complete in itself and whatever we get from this world is all we can expect in our life, not knowing that there is a life beyond this world.

Here is a dig at atheists and people who do not believe that there is another world different from this world. Like children, they do not apprehend the existence of a world beyond this world. Why is it so? Because they are giddy with the power and intoxication of wealth that has deprived them of their understanding, and they seem to be satisfied with this earthly joy. They do not know that there is something else waiting for them, which they will have to confront one day or the other. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. We should not be under the impression we can go scot-free just because we do not know that there is another world. One day we will have to know it, and we will have to pay the price for our ignorance. People say, “This world is all; there is no other world.” Such people come under the clutch of death. They perish, and they get reborn only to perish once again. Sorrow shall be their lot. Yama shall control them because they do not believe in other worlds and the laws that are transcendent to this physical world.

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

Kathopanishad – Verse 6 – kathopanishad-1-2-6-na sāmparāyaḥ – In Sanskrit with English Transliteration, Meaning and Commentary by Adi Shankaracharya (Sankara Bhashya) – Katha-1-2-6