Katha Upanishad 4.2
intermediate
पराचः कामाननुयन्ति बालास्ते मृत्योर्यन्ति विततस्य पाशम्। अथ धीरा अमृतत्वं विदित्वा ध्रुवमध्रुवेष्विह न प्रार्थयन्ते॥
parācaḥ kāmānanuyanti bālāste mṛtyoryanti vitatasya pāśam | atha dhīrā amṛtatvaṃ viditvā dhruvamadhruvṣviha na prārthayante ||
""The childish pursue external desires and walk into the snare of death spread wide. But the wise, knowing immortality, seek not the stable among unstable things here.""
What This Means:
Immature people chase outer pleasures and fall into death's trap. The wise, knowing what's truly eternal, don't seek permanence in impermanent things.
Going Deeper:
Death's snare is identification with what changes. The wise know the difference between dhruva (stable) and adhruva (unstable).
How To Apply This:
What are you seeking that's truly permanent? Or are you chasing stability in unstable things?
#desire#death's snare#discernment