Katha Upanishad Verse 1.1.26

Nachiketas, demonstrating profound discrimination (Vairagya), rejects Yama’s offerings of worldly pleasures, celestial maidens, and long life. He recognizes that such pleasures are fleeting and eventually drain the spiritual vigor of the senses, choosing instead to seek the secret of death.

Sanskrit Verse

श्वोभावा मर्त्यस्य यदन्तकैतत्सर्वेंद्रियाणां जरयंति तेजः ।
अपि सर्वं जीवितमल्पमेव तवैव वाहास्तव नृत्यगीते ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

śvobhāvā martyasya yadantakaitatsarveṃdriyāṇāṃ jarayaṃti tejaḥ |
api sarvaṃ jīvitamalpameva tavaiva vāhāstava nṛtyagīte || 26 ||

Translation

Ephemeral these; Oh Death, these tend to the decay of the fire (vigour) of all the senses in man. Even the longest life is, indeed, short. Thine alone be the chariots, the dance and music.