यः सेतुरीजानानामक्षरं ब्रह्म यत् परम् ।
अभयं तितीर्षतां पारं नाचिकेतँ शकेमहि ॥ २॥
yaḥ seturījānānāmakṣaraṃ brahma yat param .
abhayaṃ titīrṣatāṃ pāraṃ nāciketam̐ śakemahi .. 2..
We know how to perform the Nachiketa sacrifice, which is the bridge for sacrificers; and we know also that supreme, imperishable Brahman, which is sought by those who wish to cross over to the shore where there is no fear.
Commentary:
We are now in a position to understand the nature of the Nachiketas sacrifice. By the performance of such a sacrifice, or yajna, one reaches the akṣara, the imperishable Brahman, the Absolute, yat param, the Supreme Being. It is a fearlessness granted to all those who are to cross the ocean of mortal existence, samsara as it is called. This Brahman, this Supreme Being, is like a bridge, by walking over which, by traversing which, we can cross over samsara, this mundane existence. This knowledge comes to us through the Nachiketas sacrifice—nāciketaṁ śakemahi.
Now we have some verses which are of practical importance. Actual sadhana, spiritual practice, is described here in the coming verses, which are very, very important for every seeker, worth committing to memory every day as a holy mantra.