[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Vedic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda) › [Upaniṣads](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad) › [Principal (early) Upaniṣads](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya) › [Kaṭhopaniṣad](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.katha) › [Kathopanishadbhashya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.katha!sankara) › 68 # Kaṭha Upaniṣad 68 Kaṭhopaniṣadbhāṣya 68 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [68](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.katha!sankara.68) yataś cājīryatāṃ vayohāṇim aprāpnuvatām amṛtānāṃ sakāśam upetyopagamyātmana utkṛṣṭaṃ prayojanāntaraṃ prāptavyaṃ tebhyaḥ prajānann upalabhamānaḥ svayaṃ tu jīryan martyo jarāmaraṇavān kvadhaḥsthaḥ kuḥ pṛthivy adhaś cāsāv āntarikṣādilokāpekṣayā tasyāṃ tiṣṭhatīti kvadhaḥsthaḥ san katham evam avivekibhiḥ prārthanīyaṃ putravittādyasthiraṃ vṛṇīte / "kva tadāsthaḥ" iti vā pāṭhāntaram / asmin pakṣe caivam akṣarayojanā teṣu putrādiṣv āsthā sthitis tātparyeṇa vartanaṃ yasya sa tadāsthaḥ, tato 'dhikataraṃ puruṣārthaṃ duṣprāpam api prāpipayiṣuḥ kva tadāstho bhavet ? na kaścit tadasārajñas tadarthī syād ity arthaḥ / sarvo hy uparyuparyeva bubhūṣati lokas tasmān na putravittādilobhaiḥ pralobhyo 'ham / kiñ cāpsaraḥ pramukhān varṇaratipramodānanavasthitarūpatayābhidhyāyannirūpayanyathāvad atidīrghe jīvite ko vivekī rameta ///1,1.28 // > Shankara’s Commentary: > Com.—Again, having approached those whose age knows no decay and who are immortal and knowing of some other surpassing benefit to be had from them, how çould a mortal, himself living on earth below (below, relatively the Antariksha, i.e., region of the sky), pray for such transitory things, as sons, wealth, gold, etc., covetable only by the ignorant? Another reading has ‘Kvatadasthah’ for ‘Kvadhasthah’; the meaning according to this reading is this: Tadasthah, one who ardently covets them, i.e., sons and the rest; when will one, who seeks higher objects than these though difficult to attain, thirst for these? The meaning is that no one who knows them as valueless, will wish for them. Everybody in the world wishes to become something higher and higher than he is; therefore, I am not to be tempted by the prospect of sons, wealth, etc.; and what sensible man will delight in longevity who knows the transitory nature: of nymphs and of the delights of music and sports? > — S. Sitarama Sastri 1898, The Kaṭha Upaniṣad and Śrī Śaṅkara's Commentary - [Previous: 67](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.katha!sankara.67) - [Next: 69](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.katha!sankara.69) ## Translations (2) - [The Kaṭha Upaniṣad and Śrī Śaṅkara's Commentary](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.katha!sankara~en-sitaramasastri.1.1.28.p2) — S. Sitarama Sastri 1898, English - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.katha!sankara~en-mt.68) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [Kaṭhopaniṣad](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.katha.1.28) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.katha!sankara.68](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.upanisad.mukhya.katha!sankara.68) · Pramāṇa