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It is clear that every being chooses his own path at his own will. Preyas is that which attracts us at the first sight because it can give us immediate pleasure. Shreyas is that which does not attract us but is good for us. These two, though related severally to the human goals (prosperity here in this world and in after-worlds), they are opposed to each other as much as the nature of knowledge and ignorance. Thus, it is a choice of the two, as both cannot be performed together by the same person.<ref name=":1">Swami Gambhiranand, (1957) ''[http://estudantedavedanta.net/Eight-Upanisads-Vol-1.pdf Eight Upanishads, With the Commentary of Sankaracarya, Vol 1.]'' Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama</ref><ref name=":2">Swami Sharvananda, (1983) ''Kathopanishad'' (Telugu Translation) Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math</ref>

It is clear that every being chooses his own path at his own will. Preyas is that which attracts us at the first sight because it can give us immediate pleasure. Shreyas is that which does not attract us but is good for us. These two, though related severally to the human goals (prosperity here in this world and in after-worlds), they are opposed to each other as much as the nature of knowledge and ignorance. Thus, it is a choice of the two, as both cannot be performed together by the same person.<ref name=":1">Swami Gambhiranand, (1957) ''[http://estudantedavedanta.net/Eight-Upanisads-Vol-1.pdf Eight Upanishads, With the Commentary of Sankaracarya, Vol 1.]'' Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama</ref><ref name=":2">Swami Sharvananda, (1983) ''Kathopanishad'' (Telugu Translation) Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math</ref>

== श्रेयो धीरः वृणीते ॥ Wise choose Shreya  ==

== श्रेयो धीरः वृणीते ॥ Wise choose Shreya  ==

<blockquote>श्रेयश्च प्रेयश्च मनुष्यमेतः तौ सम्परीत्य विविनक्ति धीरः । श्रेयो हि धीरोऽभि प्रेयसो वृणीते प्रेयो मन्दो योगक्षेमाद्वृणीते ॥ २॥ (Katha. Upan. 1.2.2)</blockquote><blockquote>śreyaśca preyaśca manuṣyametaḥ tau samparītya vivinakti dhīraḥ । śreyo hi dhīro'bhi preyaso vr̥ṇīte preyo mando yogakṣemādvr̥ṇīte ॥ 2॥ (Katha. Upan. 1.2.2)</blockquote>Meaning: Both wellness and pleasure are approachable to mankind; the wise man examines and distinguished them. The wise man prefers Shreya (wellness) but men of poor intellect accept Preya (pleasures) for the sake of protection of the body.

<blockquote>श्रेयश्च प्रेयश्च मनुष्यमेतः तौ सम्परीत्य विविनक्ति धीरः । श्रेयो हि धीरोऽभि प्रेयसो वृणीते प्रेयो मन्दो योगक्षेमाद्वृणीते ॥ २॥ (Katha. Upan. 1.2.2)</blockquote><blockquote>śreyaśca preyaśca manuṣyametaḥ tau samparītya vivinakti dhīraḥ । śreyo hi dhīro'bhi preyaso vr̥ṇīte preyo mando yogakṣemādvr̥ṇīte ॥ 2॥ (Katha. Upan. 1.2.2)</blockquote>Meaning: Both wellness and pleasure are approachable to mankind; the wise man examines and distinguishes them. The wise man prefers Shreya (wellness) but men of poor intellect accept Preya (pleasures) for the sake of protection of the body.

धीरः ॥ One with intellect, having surveyed fully, i.e. having fully analysed discerns between Shreya and Preya, and opts for Shreya (wellness that takes one on path of Paratattva and Moksha) while मन्दः ॥ one with poor intellect, lacking in discrimination, opts for Preya for he seeks the wellness of his body. The path of preyas is the path of ignorance and that of sreyas is the path of Knowledge.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

धीरः ॥ One with intellect, having surveyed fully, i.e. having fully analysed discerns between Shreya and Preya, and opts for Shreya (wellness that takes one on path of Paratattva and Moksha) while मन्दः ॥ one with poor intellect, lacking in discrimination, opts for Preya for he seeks the wellness of his body. The path of preyas is the path of ignorance and that of sreyas is the path of Knowledge.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />