Arise! Awake! Having obtained excellent teachers, understand. Sharp as a razor’s edge, difficult to cross — thus the wise declare the path to be.

This verse is one of the most quoted from the Upaniṣads, a call to spiritual action.

Uttiṣṭhata — Arise! Come out of prostration, of inertia.

Jāgrata — Awake! From ignorance, from metaphysical sleep.

Prāpya varān — having obtained the excellent ones, that is, qualified teachers.

Nibodhata — understand, realize, awaken to knowledge.

Kṣurasya dhārā niśitā duratyayā — the edge of a razor, sharp, difficult to traverse. Metaphor for the spiritual path:

• It is subtle, difficult to perceive
• It requires extreme precision
• One slip and there is a fall

Durgaṃ pathaḥ — difficult path. There are no shortcuts or easy ways.

The tone is urgent. Life is brief, the human opportunity precious, the path narrow. The sages (kavayaḥ) do not promise ease but truth.