न स्विदेतेऽप्युच्छिष्टा इति न वा अजीविष्यमिमानखादन्निति होवाच कामो म उदपानमिति ॥ १.१०.४ ॥
In plain words
"Are not these too leavings?" "I should not have lived if I had not eaten them," said he; "but water I can have as I wish."
The commentators
Chāndogyopaniṣadbhāṣyam· bhāṣya
किं न स्विदेते कुल्माषा अप्युच्छिष्टा , इत्युक्त आह उषस्ति — न वै अजीविष्य नैव जीविष्यामि इमान् कुल्मा षान् अखादन् अभक्षयन् इति होवाच । काम इच्छातो मे मम उदकपानं लभ्यत इत्यर्थः । अतश्चैतामवस्थां प्राप्तस्य विद्याधर्मयशोवत स्वात्मपरोपकारसमर्थस्यैतदपि कर्म कुर्वतो न अघस्पर्श इत्यभिप्रायः । तस्यापि जीवितं प्रति उपायान्तरेऽजुगुप्सिते सति जुगुप्सितमेतत्कर्म दोषाय, ज्ञानावलेपनं कुर्वतो नरकपात स्यादेवेत्यभिप्रायः, प्रद्राणकशब्दश्रवणात् ॥
In plain words
Are not these pulses also leftovers? Thus questioned, Uṣasti replied: Indeed no, I would not have survived if I had not eaten these pulses. As for drinking water, it is available to me at will.
Close to the Sanskrit
What, are not these pulses also leftovers? Thus addressed, Uṣasti said: No indeed, I would not have lived if I had not eaten these pulses, thus he said. My water-drinking is obtained at pleasure, meaning that.