Upanishads · Chāndogya 8,2.6
॥
Devanāgarī
अथ यदि गन्धमाल्यलोककामः भवति संकल्पात् एव अस्य गन्धमाल्ये समुत्तिष्ठतः तेन गन्धमाल्यलोकेन संपन्नः महीयते
Transliteration (IAST)
atha yadi gandhamālyalokakāmaḥ bhavati saṃkalpāt eva asya gandhamālye samuttiṣṭhataḥ tena gandhamālyalokena saṃpannaḥ mahīyate
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अथathathereupon; then
यदिyadiif; but if
गन्धमाल्यलोककामःgandhamālyalokakāmaḥdesiring the world of perfumes and garlands (gandha-mālya-loka-kāma); having wished for scents and garlands; longing for the world of perfumes and wreaths
भवतिbhavatirevered lady; madam
संकल्पात्saṃkalpātthan intention; from intention
एवevaindeed; surely
अस्यasyaof this; it
गन्धमाल्येgandhamālyeperfumes and garlands (gandha-mālya, dual); scents and wreaths; fragrances and garlands
समुत्तिष्ठतःsamuttiṣṭhataḥboth arise; the two rise up
तेनtenawith that; by means of this
गन्धमाल्यलोकेनgandhamālyalokenaby the world of perfumes and garlands; by the region of scents and wreaths
संपन्नःsaṃpannaḥharnessed; having attained
महीयतेmahīyateis glorified; is magnified
Translation
If he desires the world of perfumes and garlands, then by his mere resolve perfumes and garlands arise; united with that world, he is exalted.
Version
c7221cee4439 · published Jul 26, 2026, 11:49:49 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The sixth picture changes register: from persons to joys. Perfumes and garlands (gandha-mālya) are the classic pair of a Vedic festival, what a dear guest is welcomed with and a deity adorned with. And they too are among the true desires!
The Upaniṣad refuses a lenten eternity: beauty, fragrance, adornment are not temptations to be rooted out but a language of joy which has a true, inexhaustible form. Bhakti recognises its own here: garlands and incense are the eternal furnishings of service to the Lord; the sensuous is not abolished but consecrated — and in consecration becomes imperishable.