Kaṭha Upaniṣad 93

93

punar api tuṣṭa āha -- jānāmy ahaṃ śevadhir nidhiḥ karmaphalalakṣaṇo nidhir iva prāthyata iti / asāv anityam anitya iti jānāmi / na hi yasmād anityair adhruvair yan nityaṃ dhruvaṃ tatprāpyate paramātmākhyaḥ śevadhiḥ / yas tv anityasukhātmakaḥ śevadhiḥ sa evānityair dravyaiḥ prāpyate hi yatas tatas tasmān mayā jānatāpi nityam anityasādhanaiḥ prāpyata iti nāciketaś cito 'gnir anityair dravyaiḥ paśvādibhiḥ svargasukhasādhanabhūto 'gnir nirvartita ity arthaḥ / tenāham adhikārāpanno nityaṃ yāmyaṃ sthānaṃ svargākhyaṃ nityam āpekṣikaṃ prāptavān asmi ///1,2.10 //

Shankara’s Commentary:
Com.—Delighted, Death says again: I know that the treasure, i.e., the reward of Karma, because it is sought after like a treasure, is not eternal; for, that which is constant, i.e., the treasure named Paramatman cannot be reached by things not constant. That treasure alone, which is in the nature of uncertain happiness, can be obtained by uncertain things. Therefore, by me, though I know that the eternal cannot be attained by ephemeral aids, has been propitiated, the fire Nachiketas leading to the attainment of heavenly joys with ephemeral things. By virtue of that, I have attained the position of authority, this office of Death known as Svarga eternal, but only relatively.