एतद्ध स्म वै तद्विद्वानाह महिदास ऐतरेयः स किं म एतदुपतपसि योऽहमनेन न प्रेष्यामीति स ह षोडशं वर्षशतमजीवत्प्र ह षोडशं वर्षशतं जीवति य एवं वेद ॥ ३.१६.७ ॥
In plain words
Knowing this, Mahidāsa Aitareya used to say, "Why dost thou afflict me thus? I shall not die of it." And he lived a hundred and sixteen years. He who knows this lives a hundred and sixteen years.
The commentators
Chāndogyopaniṣadbhāṣyam
निश्चिता हि विद्या फलायेत्येतद्दर्शयन् उदाहरति—
एतत् यज्ञदर्शन ह स्म वै किल तद्विद्वानाह महिदासो ना मत , इतराया अपत्यम् ऐतरेय । कि कस्मान् म मम एतत् उपतपनम् उपतपसि म त्य ह रोग, योऽह यज्ञ अनेन त्व त्कृतनोपतापेन न प्रेष्यामि न मरिष्यामि, अतो वृथा तव श्रम इत्यथ । इत्यवमाह स्म—इति पूर्वेण सबन्ध । स एवनि श्चय सन् षोडश वर्षशतमजीवत् । अन्योऽप्येवनिश्चय षोडश वर्षशत प्रजीवति, य एव यथोक्त यज्ञसपादन वेद जानाति, स इत्यर्थ ॥
In plain words
To show that true knowledge unfailingly yields its result, the text cites an illustrative story.
This vision of the sacrifice was declared by Mahidasa, the son of Itara, known as Aitareya. Addressing his fever, he said: 'Why and wherefore do you afflict me with this burning pain? Since I am the sacrifice, through this pain you inflict I shall not depart, I shall not die; therefore your labor is in vain.' This is the meaning. Thus it is connected with what precedes. With this very conviction he lived for a hundred and sixteen years. Any other person too who knows and understands the sacrifice as described lives for a full hundred and sixteen years.
Close to the Sanskrit
For knowledge is certain regarding its fruit, showing this, the text cites an example.
This sacrifice-vision indeed Mahidasa named, the son of Itara, Aitareya, declared. What, for what reason, do you afflict this burning pain upon me in me? And disease, since I am the sacrifice, by this torment made by you, I shall not depart, I shall not die, hence vain is your effort—thus meaning. Thus spoke—thus is the connection with the former. He being of such certainty lived a hundred and sixteen years. Another also with such certainty lives a hundred and sixteen years, who thus knows and understands the aforementioned performance of the sacrifice, that is the meaning.