Part One, Second Valli

1.2.1 The good is one thing, the pleasant another;both bind a person, each to a different end.All goes well for one who takes the good;one who chooses the pleasant misses the true aim.

1.2.2 The good and the pleasant approach a human being;the wise consider both and distinguish them.The wise choose the good over the pleasant;the foolish choose the pleasant for gain and security.

1.2.3 You, Nachiketas, saw and rejecteddesires, lovely and seemingly dear.You did not take the necklace made of wealthin which so many people sink.

1.2.4 Far apart, opposed, leading in different directionsare what are called ignorance and knowledge.I consider Nachiketas a seeker of knowledge;your many desires have not enticed you.

1.2.5 Living in the midst of ignorance,thinking themselves wise and learned,fools wander in circles, stumbling,like the blind led by the blind.

1.2.6 The world beyond does not appear to the childmade heedless and deluded by wealth.Thinking, “This world alone exists; there is no other,”he falls again and again into my power.

1.2.7 Many never even have the chance to hear of him;many who hear do not understand him.Wondrous is his teacher, skillful his seeker;wondrous is one who knows him, taught by the skillful.

1.2.8 Taught by a lesser person, this one cannot easilybe understood, however much one ponders him.When taught by one who is not other than him, doubt has no foothold;he is subtler than the measure of the subtle, beyond reasoning.

1.2.9 This insight cannot be reached by argument;taught by another, it is well understood, dear one.You have attained it; you are steadfast in truth.May we have more questioners like you, Nachiketas.

1.2.10 I know that the treasure called wealth is impermanent;what endures cannot be reached through things that do not.Yet I built the Nachiketas fire,and with transient things attained the enduring.

1.2.11 Fulfillment of desire, foundation of the world,limitless fruit of ritual, the shore beyond fear,the great and widely praised foundation—you saw theseand, wise Nachiketas, resolutely let them go.

1.2.12 Knowing through inward contemplation the ancient god,hard to see, hidden deep within,seated in the secret chamber of the heart,the wise leave both joy and sorrow behind.

1.2.13 Hearing this, a mortal takes it to heart,draws out and reaches this subtle truth of being.Having found what brings delight, he rejoices;I believe the door stands open to Nachiketas.

1.2.14 “What you see beyond right and wrong,beyond what is done and what is not done,beyond what has been and what will be—tell me of that.”

1.2.15 “The goal proclaimed by all the Vedas,spoken of by every austerity,for which people undertake the disciplined life:I tell you in brief. It is Om.

1.2.16 This very syllable is Brahman; this syllable is the supreme.Knowing this very syllable, one obtains what one desires.

1.2.17 This is the finest support; this is the supreme support.Knowing this support, one is exalted in the world of Brahman.

1.2.18 The knowing Self is neither born nor dies;it did not spring from anything, nor did anything spring from it.Unborn, eternal, everlasting, ancient,it is not killed when the body is killed.

1.2.19 If the killer thinks he kills, or the killed thinks he is killed,neither understands: this one neither kills nor is killed.

1.2.20 Smaller than the small, greater than the great,the Self lies hidden in a creature's heart.One without desire, freed from sorrow, seesthrough the serenity of the senses the majesty of the Self.

1.2.21 Sitting still, it travels far; lying down, it goes everywhere.Who but I can know that god, who is joy and beyond joy?

1.2.22 Bodiless among bodies, abiding among the unstable,the great, all-pervading Self: knowing it, the wise do not grieve.

1.2.23 This Self cannot be gained through recitation,nor by intellect, nor by hearing much.It is gained by the one whom the Self chooses;to that one the Self reveals its own form.

1.2.24 Not one who has failed to turn from wrongdoing, nor one who lacks peace or composure,nor one whose mind is restless can reach it through understanding.

1.2.25 For whom both priestly and royal power are food,and Death is a seasoning—who truly knows where that one is?”

1.2.1 The good is one thing and the pleasant another;they have different aims, but both bind a person.Things go well for someone who chooses the good;someone who chooses the pleasant misses the true goal.

1.2.2 The good and the pleasant both come to a person.A wise person weighs them and tells them apart.The wise choose the good over the pleasant;the foolish choose the pleasant to secure and keep what they have.

1.2.3 Nachiketas, you considered and turned awaypleasures that looked attractive to you.You did not take the chain made of wealthin which so many people sink.

1.2.4 What people call ignorance and knowledge go in opposite directionsand are far apart.I think you want knowledge, Nachiketas;many pleasures did not tempt you.

1.2.5 People living in ignorancethink they are wise and learned.Confused, they wander around,like blind people led by another blind person.

1.2.6 The life to come is not clear to a thoughtless person,who is careless and confused by wealth.Thinking, “This world exists, and no other does,”such a person falls under my power again and again.

1.2.7 Many people never even get to hear about the Self;many who hear about it still do not understand it.The person who explains it is rare, and finding a skilled student is rare;the person who understands it after skillful teaching is rare.

1.2.8 When someone of lesser understanding teaches it,it cannot easily be understood, however much one thinks about it.When taught by one who knows it as not separate from themselves, there is no confusion about the way to it;it is subtler than the smallest measure and cannot be reached by reasoning.

1.2.9 This understanding cannot be reached by argument.It becomes clear when taught by someone who knows it, dear one.You have gained it, and you hold firmly to the truth.May we have other questioners like you, Nachiketas.

1.2.10 I know that a treasure is impermanent;what lasts cannot be reached by things that do not last.So I built the Nachiketas fire;with things that do not last, I reached what lasts.

1.2.11 You saw the fulfillment of desire, the foundation of the world,the endless reward of sacrifice, the far shore of fearlessness,the great and widely praised foundation;but you wisely and firmly turned these things down, Nachiketas.

1.2.12 The ancient divine Self is hard to see, hidden deep within,set in the heart's secret place.By finding it through inward contemplation,the wise person leaves both joy and sorrow behind.

1.2.13 When a mortal hears this, takes it in,and separates out and reaches this subtle truth,that person is glad, having found a source of gladness.I think the door is open for you, Nachiketas.

1.2.14 “Tell me what you see that is beyond rightand wrong, beyond what is done and not done,and beyond what has happened and what will happen.Tell me about that.”

1.2.15 “All the Vedas speak of one goal,and all acts of discipline point to it.People live as students of sacred knowledge because they want it.I will tell you briefly what it is: Om.

1.2.16 This syllable is indeed Brahman; this syllable is the highest reality.Whoever knows this syllable gets what they desire.

1.2.17 It is the best support; it is the highest support.Knowing this support, one is honored in the world of Brahman.

1.2.18 The knowing Self is not born and does not die;it did not come from anything, nor did anything come from it.Unborn, eternal, lasting, ancient,it is not killed when the body is killed.

1.2.19 If a killer thinks they kill it, or someone killed thinks it has been killed,neither understands. It does not kill and cannot be killed.

1.2.20 Smaller than the smallest and greater than the greatest,the Self is hidden in the heart of every living being.Someone without selfish desire sees it and is free of sorrow;through the calm of the senses, that person sees the greatness of the Self.

1.2.21 Sitting still, it travels far; lying down, it goes everywhere.Who but I can know this divine being, which is both joyful and beyond joy?

1.2.22 The Self has no body, yet stays in bodies that do not last.Knowing this great, all-pervading Self, a wise person does not grieve.

1.2.23 The Self is not reached by instruction,or by intelligence, or by hearing much teaching.Only the person whom the Self chooses can reach it;to that person the Self shows its own nature.

1.2.24 Someone who has not stopped wrongdoing, who is not calm or focused,and whose mind is not at peace cannot reach it through understanding.

1.2.25 For the one to whom priests and warriors alike are food,and death is a seasoning, who knows where that one is?