Katha Upanishad Verse 1.2.2

Yama explains that life presents a constant choice between what is spiritually beneficial (the Good) and what is merely agreeable to the senses (the Pleasant). The man of wisdom (Dhira) uses his discrimination to choose the Good, while the ignorant person, driven by attachment to the body, chooses the Pleasant.

Sanskrit Verse

श्रेयश्च प्रेयश्च मनुष्यमेतस्तौ संपरीत्य विविविनक्ति धीरः ।
श्रेय्रो हि धीरोऽभिप्रेयसो वृणीते प्रेयो मन्दो योगक्शेमाद्वृणीते ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

śreyaśca preyaśca manuṣyametastau saṃparītya vivinakti dhīraḥ |
śreyo hi dhīro’bhipreyaso vṛṇīte preyo mando yogakśemādvṛṇīte || 2 ||

Translation

Both the good and the pleasant approach the mortal; the intelligent man examines and distinguishes them; for, the intelligent man prefers the good to the pleasant; the ignorant man chooses the pleasant for the sake of his body.

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Cross-references:

• Dhammapada Verse 16.4 (Freedom from endearment as freedom from grief and fear)