Katha Upanishad 2.11
intermediate
कामस्याप्तिं जगतः प्रतिष्ठां क्रतोरानन्त्यमभयस्य पारम्। स्तोममहदुरुगायं प्रतिष्ठां दृष्ट्वा धृत्या धीरो नचिकेतोऽत्यस्राक्षीः॥
kāmasyāptiṃ jagataḥ pratiṣṭhāṃ kratorānantyamabhayasya pāram | stomamahardurugāyaṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ dṛṣṭvā dhṛtyā dhīro naciketo'tyasrākṣīḥ ||
""Having seen the fulfillment of desire, the foundation of the world, the endlessness of ritual, the shore of fearlessness, the great, wide-spread goal, you, wise Nachiketa, through steadfastness let them all go.""
What This Means:
Yama praises Nachiketa for seeing all worldly and heavenly attainments - and still letting them go with steadfast wisdom.
Going Deeper:
Nachiketa had the discrimination to see that even these great attainments are limited compared to the knowledge of the Self.
How To Apply This:
Can you see something as valuable yet still let it go for something higher? That's true discrimination.
#renunciation#discrimination#steadfastness