बहूनामेमि प्रथमो बहूनामेमि मध्यमः । किं स्विद्यमस्य कर्तव्यं यन्मयाद्य करिष्यति ॥
bahūnāmemi prathamo bahūnāmemi madhyamaḥ | kiṃ svidyamasya kartavyaṃ yanmayādya kariṣyati ||
Among many I go as the first; among many I go in the middle. What could Yama have to do that he will do through me today?
बहुतों में मैं सबसे आगे चलता हूँ, बहुतों में बीच वालों में। यम का ऐसा कौन-सा काम है जो वह आज मुझसे करवाएगा?
Meaning today and contextआज के लिए अर्थ और संदर्भ
Faced with a harsh turn of events, Naciketas does not rage; he calmly weighs his own worth and asks what purpose this could serve.
कठोर परिस्थिति आने पर नचिकेता विलाप नहीं करता; वह शांत होकर अपना मूल्य आँकता है और पूछता है कि इसमें क्या प्रयोजन हो सकता है।
Naciketas reflects to himself after his father's words: he is neither the best nor the worst of pupils, and wonders what use Yama could have for him.