Upanishads · Chāndogya 7,18.1
॥
Devanāgarī
यदा वै मनुते अथ विजानाति न अमत्वा विजानाति मत्वा एव विजानाति मतिः तु एव विजिज्ञासितव्या इति मतिं भगवः विजिज्ञासे इति
Transliteration (IAST)
yadā vai manute atha vijānāti na amatvā vijānāti matvā eva vijānāti matiḥ tu eva vijijñāsitavyā iti matiṃ bhagavaḥ vijijñāse iti
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यदाyadāwhen; at the moment when
वैvaiverily; indeed
मनुतेmanutehe thinks (from √man); he considers; conceives
अथathathereupon; then
विजानातिvijānātihe comes to know; one distinguishes
नnanot; no
अमत्वाamatvāwithout having thought (a + matvā); without reflection; unthinkingly
विजानातिvijānātihe comes to know; one distinguishes
मत्वाmatvāhaving thought (from √man); having pondered; having considered
एवevaindeed; surely
विजानातिvijānātihe comes to know; one distinguishes
मतिःmatiḥreflection (mati — thoughtfulness); thoughtfulness; consideration
तुtubut; surely
एवevaindeed; surely
विजिज्ञासितव्याvijijñāsitavyāshe must be known; she must be investigated
इतिitithus; how
मतिंmatiṃthought; the pondering
भगवःbhagavaḥvenerable one; sir
विजिज्ञासेvijijñāseI wish to know; I would investigate
इतिitithus; how
Translation
"When a man thinks, then he comprehends; without thinking, he does not comprehend: only one who has thought comprehends. But thought must be sought to be comprehended." — "I seek to comprehend thought, sir."
Version
68938060c49d · published Jul 26, 2026, 11:46:46 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The second condition: mati, reflection. Comprehension is not given to a gaper — it is the fruit of thinking a thing over: without reflection there is no understanding. Sanatkumāra separates understanding from being informed: one may know by heart and never once have thought it through.
The chain runs deeper with inexorable logic: behind every excellence is its condition. So the teacher gradually shows that the spiritual life is an organism and not a set of techniques: truth cannot be "taken" while bypassing reflection, as a fruit cannot be plucked without a branch.