न वै नूनं भगवन्तस्त एतदवेदिषुर्यद्ध्येतदवेदिष्यन्कथं मे नावक्ष्यन्निति भगवांस्त्वेव मे तद्ब्रवीत्विति तथा सोम्येति होवाच ॥ ६.१.७ ॥
In plain words
"Surely those honoured men did not know this; for if they had known it, how should they not have told it to me? But do thou, sir, tell it to me." "So be it, my dear," he said.
The commentators
Chāndogyopaniṣadbhāṣyam· Leaf 7.151· avatāraṇikā
इत्युक्तवति पितरि, आह इतरः--
In plain words
When his father had finished speaking, the son replied:
Close to the Sanskrit
When the father had spoken thus, the other said:
Chāndogyopaniṣadbhāṣyam· Leaf 7.152· bhāṣya
न वै नूनं भगवन्तः पूजावन्तः गुरवः मम ये, ते एतत् यद्भवदुक्तं वस्तु नावेदिषुः न विज्ञातवन्तः नूनम् । यत् यदि हि अवेदिष्यन् विदितवन्तः एतद्वस्तु, कथं मे गुणवते भक्तायानुगताय नावक्ष्यन् नोक्तवन्तः, तेनाहं मन्ये- न विदितवन्त इति । अवाच्यमपि गुरोर्न्यग्भावमवादीत् पुन- र्गुरुकुलं प्रति प्रेषणभयात् । अतो भगवांस्त्वेव मे मह्यं तद्वस्तु, येन सर्वज्ञत्वं ज्ञातेन मे स्यात्, तद्ब्रवीतु कथयतु ; इत्युक्तः पितोवाच- तथास्तु सोम्येति ॥
In plain words
Surely my revered preceptors did not know this truth that you speak of. Had they known it, how could they possibly have kept it from a devoted and obedient student like me? Therefore, I conclude they did not know it. Driven by the fear of being sent back away from home to the teacher's house once more, he spoke words that slightly disparaged his former gurus. 'Therefore,' he pleaded, 'you alone must teach me that reality, knowing which everything becomes known. Please explain it to me.' Thus addressed, the father replied, 'So be it, my dear.'
Close to the Sanskrit
Surely those revered, honorable teachers of mine did not know this reality which was spoken by you. If indeed they had known this entity, how would they not have told it to a qualified, devoted, and obedient student like me? Therefore I think they did not know it. Out of fear of being sent back again to the teacher's house, he uttered even an improper depreciation of his teachers. Therefore, may the revered one alone teach me that reality, by knowing which my omniscience may be brought about—let him explain it. Thus addressed, the father said, 'So be it, gentle one.'