Bhashya
ननु कथं युक्तं शिष्ययोर्विपरीतग्रहणमनुज्ञातुं प्रजापतेःविगतदोषस्य आचार्यस्य सतः ? सत्यमेवम्, नानुज्ञातम् ।कथम् ? आत्मन्यध्यारोपितपाण्डित्यमहत्त्वबोद्धृत्वौ हि इन्द्र-विरोचनौ, तथैव च प्रथितौ लोके ; तौ यदि प्रजापतिना'मूढौ युवां विपरीतग्राहिणौ' इत्युक्तौ स्याताम् ; ततः तयोश्चि-त्ते दुःखं स्यात् ; तज्जनिताच्च चित्तावसादात् पुनःप्रश्नश्रवण-ग्रहणावधारणं प्रति उत्साहविघातः स्यात् ; अतो रक्षणीयौशिष्याविति मन्यते प्रजापतिः ।गृहीतां तावत्, तदुदशराव-दृष्टान्तेन अपनेष्यामीति च ।ननु न युक्तम् एष उ एव इत्यनृतंवक्तुम् ।न च अनृतमुक्तम् ।कथम् ? आत्मनोक्तः अक्षि-पुरुषः मनसि संनिहिततरः शिष्यगृहीताच्छायात्मनः ;सर्वेषां चाभ्यन्तरः 'सर्वान्तरः' इति श्रुतेः ; तमेवावोचत्एष उ एव इति ; अतो नानृतमुक्तं प्रजापतिना ॥
In plain words
Now, how could a flawless teacher like Prajāpati allow his disciples to misunderstand? True, he did not allow it by design. Indra and Virocana considered themselves learned and great, and were renowned as such. Had Prajāpati bluntly told them they were foolish and mistaken, distress would have entered their minds. From that discouragement, their zeal for asking, listening, and retaining instruction would have withered. Realizing this, Prajāpati thought: 'These disciples must be protected. Let them hold their view for now; I will dispel their delusion using the water-pan illustration.' But wasn't it wrong for him to utter an untruth by saying 'This one alone'? No, no untruth was spoken. Why? Because the conscious person in the eye, whom Prajāpati had in mind, was far more immediate and real than the crude shadow-self the disciples had grasped. Furthermore, as scripture declares, he is the 'innermost of all.' Prajāpati was teaching that very truth, so no falsehood was spoken.
Close to the Sanskrit
Now then, how is it proper for a faultless teacher, Prajāpati, to permit the pupils' misunderstanding? True thus, it was not permitted. How? Indra and Virocana fancied themselves possessed of superimposed scholarship, greatness, and understanding, and were thus renowned in the world; if they had been told by Prajāpati 'You two are foolish, holding perverted views,' then distress would arise in their minds, and from that mental depression there would occur a destruction of enthusiasm regarding repeated questioning, listening, grasping, and retention. Therefore, Prajāpati considers, the disciples must be protected. Let them hold their view for now, I will remove it through that example of the water vessel. Now, is it not improper to utter an untruth saying 'This very one alone'? But no untruth was spoken. How? The person in the eye spoken of in relation to the Self was far more immediate in his mind than the shadow-self grasped by the disciples; and he is the innermost of all, as śruti states 'the innermost of all.' He spoke precisely of that one, saying 'This very one alone.' Therefore no untruth was spoken by Prajāpati.