Kathopanishad - Chapter 1, Valli 1 - Grantha

𑌕𑌠𑍋𑌪𑌨𑌿𑌷𑌤𑍍 𑌅𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯 1, 𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍀 1, opens one of the most compelling 𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁-𑌶𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯 dialogues in world philosophy: the encounter of 𑌨𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌾 and 𑌯𑌮𑌃. This first section is narrative in form but deeply metaphysical in intent. It stages the central problem of human life - mortality, value, and meaning - then introduces a seeker whose sincerity is stronger than comfort, fear, or temptation.

The 𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍀 begins in a ritual setting (𑌵𑌾𑌜𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌸's sacrifice), but quickly shifts to ethical and existential scrutiny. 𑌨𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌾's questions expose hollowness in performative religiosity and reveal the demand for inner truth. His journey to 𑌯𑌮's abode symbolizes the shift from social 𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮-performance to uncompromising inquiry into what survives death.

𑌅𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯 1
𑌵𑌲𑍍𑌲𑍀 1

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
This is Katha Upanishad chapter 1, section 1, the section that establishes the narrative and seeker-qualification foundation where Nachiketa's sincerity enters the teaching field.

𑌓𑌂 𑌉𑌶𑌨𑍍‌ 𑌹 𑌵𑍈 𑌵𑌾𑌜𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌸𑌃 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌵𑍇𑌦𑌸𑌂 𑌦𑌦𑍌।
𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌹 𑌨𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌾 𑌨𑌾𑌮 𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌆𑌸 ॥1॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
The sacrificer performed a rite in which he gave away all possessions; he had a son, the young seeker of this dialogue.

𑌤𑌂 𑌹 𑌕𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌸𑌂𑌤𑌂 𑌦𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌿𑌣𑌾𑌸𑍁 𑌨𑍀𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌸𑍁 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌽𑌽𑌵𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌶। 𑌸𑍋𑌽𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌤 ॥2॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
As the sacrificial gifts were being distributed, the young Nachiketa was filled with reverent trust and began to reflect deeply.

𑌪𑍀𑌤𑍋𑌦𑌕𑌾 𑌜𑌗𑍍𑌧𑌤𑍃𑌣𑌾 𑌦𑍁𑌗𑍍𑌧𑌦𑍋𑌹𑌾 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌃।
𑌅𑌨𑌂𑌦𑌾 𑌨𑌾𑌮 𑌤𑍇 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌸 𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑌾 𑌦𑌦𑌤𑍍‌ ॥3॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Cows that had drunk their last, eaten their last, given their last milk, and lost all vitality were being given. One who gives such unworthy gifts reaches joyless worlds.

𑌸 𑌹𑍋𑌵𑌾𑌚 𑌪𑌿𑌤𑌰𑌂 𑌤𑌤 𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍈 𑌮𑌾𑌂 𑌦𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌸𑍀𑌤𑌿।
𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍀𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑍃𑌤𑍀𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑌂 𑌹𑍋𑌵𑌾𑌚 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌵𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌦𑌦𑌾𑌮𑍀𑌤𑌿 ॥4॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Nachiketa asked his father, "To whom will you give me?" Repeating the question, he finally heard in anger: "I give you to Death."

𑌬𑌹𑍂𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍇𑌮𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌥𑌮𑍋 𑌬𑌹𑍂𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍇𑌮𑌿 𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌃।
𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌯𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿 ॥5॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Nachiketa reflected: among many I am not unworthy; what indeed is to be done with me there? What purpose does this sending to Death serve?

𑌅𑌨𑍁𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌯 𑌯𑌥𑌾 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌯 𑌤𑌥𑌾𑌽𑌪𑌰𑍇।
𑌸𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌵 𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌜𑌾𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌃 ॥6॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Look at those before and after: mortals decay like grain and are born again like grain.

𑌵𑍈𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌰𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿𑌥𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌣𑍋 𑌗𑍃𑌹𑌾𑌨𑍍‌।
𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯𑍈𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑌾𑌂𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌂𑌤𑌿 𑌹𑌰 𑌵𑍈𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍋𑌦𑌕𑌮𑍍‌ ॥𑍭॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
A brahmana guest entering a house is like sacred fire. Therefore proper hospitality must be offered. Bring water (for welcome), O attendants of Yama.

𑌆𑌶𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍀𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇 𑌸𑌂𑌗𑌤𑌂 𑌸𑍂𑌨𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌚𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌪𑌶𑍂𑌂𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍‌।
𑌏𑌤𑌦𑍍‌ 𑌵𑍃𑌂𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌷𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌮𑍇𑌧𑌸𑍋 𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌶𑍍𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌸𑌤𑌿 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌣𑍋 𑌗𑍃𑌹𑍇 ॥𑍮॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
For one of little understanding, if a brahmana guest remains unfed in his house, his hopes, merits, good associations, truthful gains, and prosperity are all diminished.

𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌰𑍋 𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍃𑌹𑍇 𑌮𑍇𑌽𑌨𑌶𑍍𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌤𑌿𑌥𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌨𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌃।
𑌨𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑍇𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌵 ॥𑍯॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
O revered guest, you stayed in my house for three nights unfed. May peace be restored; therefore choose three boons in compensation.

𑌶𑌾𑌂𑌤𑌸𑌂𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌃 𑌸𑍁𑌮𑌨𑌾 𑌯𑌥𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌵𑍀𑌤𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍌𑌤𑌮𑍋 𑌮𑌾𑌭𑌿 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍋।
𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌂 𑌮𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌵𑌦𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍀𑌤 𑌏𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌥𑌮𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍇 ॥10॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
For my first boon, may my father Gautama become peaceful, free of anger, and receive me with recognition and affection when I return from you.

𑌯𑌥𑌾 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌦𑍍‌ 𑌭𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍀𑌤 𑌔𑌦𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌲𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍁𑌣𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌃।
𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌂 𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌃 𑌶𑌯𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌵𑍀𑌤𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂 𑌦𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌮𑍁𑌖𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍‌ ॥11॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Yama grants: your father will be as before, free from anger, and will sleep peacefully after seeing you returned from death unharmed.

𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇 𑌨 𑌭𑌯𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌂𑌚𑌨𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌨 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌨 𑌜𑌰𑌯𑌾 𑌬𑌿𑌭𑍇𑌤𑌿।
𑌉𑌭𑍇 𑌤𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌽𑌶𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌪𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌸𑍇 𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌾𑌤𑌿𑌗𑍋 𑌮𑍋𑌦𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇 ॥12॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
In the heavenly world there is no fear, no old age, no hunger or thirst; one who reaches it transcends sorrow and rejoices.

𑌸 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌗𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌷𑌿 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌬𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌹𑌿 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌦𑌧𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌯 𑌮𑌹𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍‌।
𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌾 𑌅𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌭𑌜𑌂𑌤 𑌏𑌤𑌦𑍍‌ 𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍀𑌯𑍇𑌨 𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍇 𑌵𑌰𑍇𑌣 ॥13॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
O Death, you know the fire that leads to heavenly attainment; teach it to me, one who asks with reverent trust. This is my second boon.

𑌪𑍍𑌰 𑌤𑍇 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌵𑍀𑌮𑌿 𑌤𑌦𑍁 𑌮𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌬𑍋𑌧 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌗𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍‌।
𑌅𑌨𑌂𑌤𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌮𑌥𑍋 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌾𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌤𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌗𑍁𑌹𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍‌ ॥14॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Yama said: I will teach you this heaven-leading fire; understand it well. Know it as the means to vast merit-attainment and as a principle with deeper inner grounding.

𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌮𑌗𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌂 𑌤𑌮𑍁𑌵𑌾𑌚 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑍈 𑌯𑌾 𑌇𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌾 𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌤𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌯𑌥𑌾 𑌵𑌾।
𑌸 𑌚𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌦𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌥𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌥𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌹 𑌤𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌃 ॥15॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Yama explained the ritual in full detail - arrangement and method. Nachiketa repeated it exactly as taught, and Yama was pleased.

𑌤𑌮𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌵𑍀𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌣𑍋 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾 𑌵𑌰𑌂 𑌤𑌵𑍇𑌹𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯 𑌦𑌦𑌾𑌮𑌿 𑌭𑍂𑌯𑌃।
𑌤𑌵𑍈𑌵 𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌨𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌽𑌯𑌮𑌗𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌃 𑌸𑍃𑌂𑌕𑌾𑌂 𑌚𑍇𑌮𑌾𑌮𑌨𑍇𑌕𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌾𑌂 𑌗𑍃𑌹𑌾𑌣 ॥16॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Pleased with him, Yama granted an added gift: this fire shall be known by your name, and he offered further honors to Nachiketa.

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌾𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌭𑌿𑌰𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌯 𑌸𑌂𑌧𑌿𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑌤𑌿 𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍂।
𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌜𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌮𑍀𑌡𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌨𑌿𑌚𑌾𑌯𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌮𑌾𑌂 𑌶𑌾𑌂𑌤𑌿𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂𑌤𑌮𑍇𑌤𑌿 ॥1𑍭॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
One who properly knows and performs the threefold Nachiketa discipline, integrating its required links, crosses birth-death limitations in the promised sense and attains deep peace.

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌾𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌮𑍇𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌯 𑌏𑌵𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍁𑌤𑍇 𑌨𑌾𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌮𑍍‌।
𑌸 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌶𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌣𑍋𑌦𑍍𑌯 𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌾𑌤𑌿𑌗𑍋 𑌮𑍋𑌦𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇 ॥1𑍮॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Whoever knows this threefold Nachiketa discipline and performs it properly overcomes the binding snares of mortality in its ritual sense and rejoices in heavenly attainment beyond ordinary sorrow.

𑌏𑌷 𑌤𑍇𑌽𑌗𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌨𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌯𑌮𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍀𑌥𑌾 𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍀𑌯𑍇𑌨 𑌵𑌰𑍇𑌣।
𑌏𑌤𑌮𑌗𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌂 𑌤𑌵𑍈𑌵 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌂𑌤𑌿 𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌸𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍃𑌤𑍀𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑍋 𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌵 ॥1𑍯॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
This, Nachiketa, is the heaven-leading fire you asked as your second boon, and it will be remembered by your name. Now choose your third boon.

𑌯𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌿𑌕𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌾 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍀𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌕𑍇 𑌨𑌾𑌯𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍀𑌤𑌿 𑌚𑍈𑌕𑍇।
𑌏𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌶𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌾𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌮𑍇𑌷 𑌵𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍃𑌤𑍀𑌯𑌃 ॥20॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
There is this doubt about the person after death - some say one continues, others deny it. I ask to be taught this truth by you; this is my third boon.

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌿𑌕𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾 𑌨 𑌹𑌿 𑌸𑍁𑌵𑌿𑌜𑍍𑌞𑍇𑌯𑌮𑌣𑍁𑌰𑍇𑌷 𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌃।
𑌅𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑍋 𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌵 𑌮𑌾 𑌮𑍋𑌪𑌰𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍀𑌰𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑌾 𑌸𑍃𑌜𑍈𑌨𑌮𑍍‌ ॥21॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Even the gods have doubted this matter; it is subtle and difficult to know. Choose another boon, Nachiketa - do not press me on this.

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌿𑌕𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌲 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌚 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌨 𑌸𑍁𑌜𑍍𑌞𑍇𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌥।
𑌵𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌚𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌦𑍃𑌗𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌨 𑌲𑌭𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌨𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌵𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌯 𑌏𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌕𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍‌ ॥22॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Yes, this is subtle and debated even among gods - and you are the best teacher of it. No other boon equals this one; therefore I ask only this.

𑌶𑌤𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌷𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌪𑍌𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌵 𑌬𑌹𑍂𑌨𑍍𑌪𑌶𑍂𑌨𑍍𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌹𑌿𑌰𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍‌।
𑌭𑍂𑌮𑍇𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌹𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌤𑌨𑌂 𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌵 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌂 𑌚 𑌜𑍀𑌵 𑌶𑌰𑌦𑍋 𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌦𑌿𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌸𑌿 ॥23॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Choose long life, descendants, wealth, power, vast dominion - and live as many years as you wish.

𑌏𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌯𑌦𑌿 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌸𑍇 𑌵𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍀𑌷𑍍𑌵 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌂 𑌚।
𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌭𑍂𑌮𑍌 𑌨𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌧𑌿 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌭𑌾𑌜𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍋𑌮𑌿 ॥24॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
If you wish, choose any boon equal to these - wealth, long life, great sovereignty. I can make you enjoyer of all desired pleasures.

𑌯𑍇 𑌯𑍇 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌲𑌭𑌾 𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌂𑌶𑍍𑌛𑌂𑌦𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌵।
𑌇𑌮𑌾 𑌰𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑌰𑌥𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑌤𑍂𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌨 𑌹𑍀𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌾 𑌲𑌂𑌭𑌨𑍀𑌯𑌾 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑍈𑌃।
𑌆𑌭𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌚𑌾𑌰𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌵 𑌨𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑍋 𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌮𑌾𑌽𑌨𑍁𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌶𑍀𑌃 ॥25॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Ask for all rare humanly unattainable pleasures - celestial delights, chariots, music, enjoyments. But do not ask me about death.

𑌶𑍍𑌵𑍋𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾 𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌯𑌦𑌂𑌤𑌕𑍈𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌜𑌰𑌯𑌂𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑍇𑌜𑌃।
𑌅𑌪𑌿 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌮𑌲𑍍𑌪𑌮𑍇𑌵 𑌤𑌵𑍈𑌵 𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌵 𑌨𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌗𑍀𑌤𑍇 ॥26॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
All these pleasures are short-lived and exhaust the senses. Even long life is brief for mortals. Keep your chariots, music, and dances - they are not what I seek.

𑌨 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌨 𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌣𑍀𑌯𑍋 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌲𑌪𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌹𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌶𑍍𑌮 𑌚𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾।
𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍋 𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌦𑍀𑌶𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌿 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌮𑍇 𑌵𑌰𑌣𑍀𑌯𑌃 𑌸 𑌏𑌵 ॥2𑍭॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
A person is never truly fulfilled by wealth. If needed, wealth can be gained anyway under your governance; lifespan too is in your domain. Therefore the boon I seek is that one alone.

𑌅𑌜𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌮𑍃𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌪𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌯 𑌜𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌵𑌧𑌃𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌨𑌨𑍍‌।
𑌅𑌭𑌿𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍋𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌤𑌿𑌦𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌘𑍇 𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑍋 𑌰𑌮𑍇𑌤 ॥2𑍮॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Having approached the deathless reality, what thoughtful mortal would still delight in merely sensory pleasures and long life as final aims?

𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌿𑌕𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌂𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌾𑌂𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌯𑍇 𑌮𑌹𑌤𑌿 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑍂𑌹𑌿 𑌨𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌤𑍍‌।
𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑍋 𑌗𑍂𑌢𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍋 𑌨𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍇𑌤𑌾 𑌵𑍃𑌣𑍀𑌤𑍇 ॥2𑍯॥

Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Teach me that great truth about which doubt remains concerning what lies beyond death. This hidden, penetrating boon alone I choose - no other.

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