Kaa te kaantaa kaste putra? Sansaaro-yamateeva vichitra.

Kasya tvam ka? kuta aayaata? Tattvam chintaya tadiah bhraatah.

Meaning

Kaate = who is your; 

kaantaa = wife; 

kaste = who is your; 

putra = son;

Sansaara = world / family; 

ayam = this; 

atiiva = very much; 

vichitra = strange / mysterious;

Kasya = whose; 

tvam = you;

 kah = who; 

kutah = from where;

 aayaatah = have come;

Tattvam = truth / nature; 

chintaya = think well / ponder;

 tadiha = that here;

 bhraatah = O’ brother.

A brilliant verse by Sankara to steer the seeker on the path of rational wisdom, he asks the opening questions about our closest relations. Who is your wife? Who is your son? Strange are the ways of this world; who are YOU and where have YOU come from? Brother, pause and think about the truth of your exact identity.