Kaṭha Upaniṣad 8

8

taṃ ha naciketasaṃ kumāraṃ prathamavayasaṃ santam aprāptajananaśaktiṃ bālam eva śraddhāstikyabuddhiḥ pitur hitakāmaprayuktaviveśa praviṣṭavatī / kasmin kāla ity āha -- ṛtvigbhyaḥ sadasyebhyaś ca dakṣiṇāsu nīyamānāsu vibhāgenopanīyamānāsu dakṣiṇārthāsu goṣu, sa āviṣṭaśraddho naciketā amanyata ///1,1.2 //

Shankara’s Commentary:
Com.—Him, i.e., Nachiketas, though in the prime of life, i.e., young and not possessed of the power of procreating zeal, i.e., faith in the existence of a future state, entered, induced by the desire of good to his father. At what time is explained; when cows were brought to be distributed among the Ritviks and the sadasyas for their rewards; possessed of zeal, Nachiketas thus thought.