Kathopanishad- Verse 7 - kathopanishad-1-2-7-śravaṇāyāpi

Kathopanishad – Part 1 – Canto 2 – Verse 7 « »

श्रवणायापि बहुभिर्यो न लभ्यः
शृण्वन्तोऽपि बहवो यं न विद्युः ।
आश्चर्यो वक्ता कुशलोऽस्य लब्धा
आश्चर्यो ज्ञाता कुशलानुशिष्टः ॥ ७॥

śravaṇāyāpi bahubhiryo na labhyaḥ
śṛṇvanto’pi bahavo yaṃ na vidyuḥ .
āścaryo vaktā kuśalo’sya labdhā
āścaryo jñātā kuśalānuśiṣṭaḥ .. 7..

7 Many there are who do not even hear of Atman; though hearing of Him, many do not comprehend. Wonderful is the expounder and rare the hearer; rare indeed is the experiencer of Atman taught by an able preceptor.

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

Of thousands who seek good, it is some one like you who becomes the knower of the âtman; for, even for hearing, the âtman is not attainable by many; many others, though they hear of him, do not know the âtman, not being entitled, because their minds are not purified; again, the expounder of the îtman is, like a wonder, some one among many, Similarly, even among many who have so heard, some one alone of many, that is able, attains the âtman; the knower of the âtman is a wonder—some me who is instructed by an able preceptor.

Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society

Śravaṇāyāpi bahubhir yo na labhyaḥ, śṛṇvanto’pi bahavo yaṁ na vidyuḥ, āścaryo vaktā kuśalo’sya labdhā, āścaryo jñātā kuśalānuśiṣṭaḥ (1.2.7): Yama says, “This truth, Nachiketas, about which you have been asking me to speak, is indeed very difficult. I shall tell it to you. Even if it is told and you hear it, you will not be able to comprehend it immediately. Even to hear this great truth is difficult, and if you have the blessing to listen to this kind of truth, you are really a great man, a virtuous person, and you have done great meritorious deeds in the previous birth. Otherwise, the opportunity to even listen to this will not arise.”

There are people who listen to it, but nothing enters their brain. Some sound is made, and some words enter, but what is the meaning of it? What exactly is meant by saying that there is a world above this earth? What exactly is meant by saying that the soul can exist independent of the physical individuality? Who can understand all these things? Even if you are told this, you will not be able to understand it. If anybody can talk and make you understand what it is, that teacher must be a great wonder indeed, and if anyone can receive this knowledge, that student must also be a great wonder. A miracle indeed is the student who can listen to this and understand it, a wonder indeed is the teacher who can actually speak it, a wonder indeed is the person who has understood it, and a wonder indeed is the person who has been able to express it in an intelligible style.

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

Kathopanishad – Verse 7 – kathopanishad-1-2-7-śravaṇāyāpi – In Sanskrit with English Transliteration, Meaning and Commentary by Adi Shankaracharya (Sankara Bhashya) – Katha-1-2-7