Text:
तँ ह कुमारँ सन्तं दक्षिणासु नीयमानासु श्रद्धाऽऽविवेश सोऽमन्यत ॥ २ ॥
tam̐ ha kumāram̐ santaṃ dakṣiṇāsu nīyamānāsu śraddhā’‘viveśa so’manyata || 2 ||
2. Him, though young, zeal possessed when rewards were being distributed; he thought.
Shankara’s Commentary:
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.