The works of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya

Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣadbhāṣyam

Avatarika

Avatarika

कोऽसौ स्वाभाविकः पाप्मासङ्गो मृत्युः? कुतो वा तस्योद्भवः? केन वा तस्यातिक्रमणम्? कथं वा?—इत्येतस्यार्थस्य प्रकाशनाय आख्यायिका आरभ्यते ।कथम्?—

In plain words

What is this natural, unattached taint we call death? Where does it arise from? How does one cross beyond it? To illuminate this very meaning, a story is begun. How does it go?

Close to the Sanskrit

What is that innate, unattached taint, death? Whence also is its emergence? By what also is its crossing over? How also?—for the illumination of this meaning a tale is commenced. How?