श्वेतकेतुर्हारुणेयः पञ्चालानां समितिमेयाय तं ह प्रवाहणो जैवलिरुवाच कुमारानु त्वाशिषत्पितेत्यनु हि भगव इति ॥ ५.३.१ ॥
In plain words
Śvetaketu Āruṇeya came to the assembly of the Pañcālas. Pravāhaṇa Jaivali said to him, "Boy, has thy father taught thee?" "He has, sir."
The commentators
Chāndogyopaniṣadbhāṣyam
ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्ताः संसारगतयो वक्तव्याः वैराग्यहेतो- र्मुमुक्षूणाम् इत्यत आख्यायिका आरभ्यते—
श्वेतकेतुर्नामतः, ह इति ऐतिह्यार्थः, अरुणस्यापत्यमा- रुणिः तस्यापत्यमारुणेयः पञ्चालानां जनपदानां समितिं सभाम् एयाय आजगाम । तमागतवन्तं ह प्रवाहणो नामतः जीवलस्यापत्यं जैवलिः उवाच उक्तवान्—हे कुमार अनु त्वा त्वाम् अशिषत् अन्वशिषत् पिता ? किमनुशिष्टस्त्वं पित्रेत्यर्थः । इत्युक्तः स आह—अनु हि अनुशिष्टोऽस्मि भगव इति सूच- यन्नाह ॥
In plain words
To awaken deep dispassion in those who seek liberation, the various realms of wandering existence—stretching from Brahma all the way down to a blade of grass—must be fully explained. Therefore, this story is introduced—
Śvetaketu by name—'ha' indicates traditional legend. He was the great-grandson of Aruṇa, hence Āruṇeya. He approached the assembly of the Pañcāla country. King Pravāhaṇa, the descendant of Jīvala (Jaivali), spoke to him as he arrived: 'O youth, did your father instruct you?'—meaning, has your father given you education? Thus addressed, he replied, 'Indeed, revered sir, I have been instructed,' thus indicating his position.
Close to the Sanskrit
The states of transmigration, ending with a clump of grass and beginning with Brahma, are to be described for the sake of detachment of those desiring liberation; therefore this narrative is begun—
Śvetaketu by name—'ha' has the sense of ancient tradition—Āruṇi is the offspring of Aruṇa, Āruṇeya is his offspring; he went to the assembly, the court, of the Pañcāla country districts. Pravāhaṇa, by name the offspring of Jīvala, Jaivali, said to him who had arrived—'O youth, did your father instruct you?' meaning, were you instructed by your father? Thus addressed, he said—'Indeed I am instructed, revered sir'—thus indicating.