देवैरत्रापि विचिकित्सितं पुरा न हि सुविज्ञेयमणुरेष धर्मः । अन्यं वरं नचिकेतो वृणीष्व मा मोपरोत्सीरति मा सृजैनम् ॥ २१॥

devairatrāpi vicikitsitaṃ purā na hi suvijñeyamaṇureṣa dharmaḥ । anyaṃ varaṃ naciketo vṛṇīṣva mā moparotsīrati mā sṛjainam ॥ 21॥

purā = in days of yore; atra = with regard to this thing; vicikitsitam = doubt was entertained; devaiḥ api = even by gods; hi = since; eṣa dharmaḥ = this principle called the Self; na suvijñeyam = is not easily comprehensible [to common people] anuḥ = it being so subtle and abstract. [Hence] naciketaḥ = O Naciketa; vṛṇīśva = you ask for; anyaṁ varaṁ = some other boon [- less complex]. Mā uparotsīḥ = do not press; mā = me [mā being the same as mām (me)]; ati sṛja = give up; enam = this one.