kathopanishad-2-2-14-tadetaditi

Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society

Tad etad iti manyante’ nirdeśyam paramaṁ sukham, kathaṁ nu tad vijānīyām kimu bhāti vibhāti vā (2.2.14). How are we to designate the Atman as this or that when it is in all things? Mystics have called it ‘That which Is’. ‘This is That’ is the definition of the Atman, and not anything else, because indescribable supreme bliss is that Supreme Being. It cannot be indicated by any symbol.

Kathaṁ nu tad vijānīyām kimu bhāti vibhāti vā: In a humorous way Yama speaks to Nachiketas: “How can I speak about it? How can I understand it and explain it to you? How can I say whether it shines from within or from without? It is within as also without. This wonderful Atman, what shall I say about it? It can crop up in any form, here, there, everywhere. Does it shine or is it reflected through objects? What shall I say? I can only say verily it is That.”