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Upanishads · Muktikā 1.46
॥
Devanāgarī
ज्ञानतोऽज्ञानतो वापि पठतां बन्धमोचकम् । राज्यं देयं धनं देयं याचतः कामपूरणम्
Transliteration (IAST)
jñānato'jñānato vāpi paṭhatāṃ bandhamocakam | rājyaṃ deyaṃ dhanaṃ deyaṃ yācataḥ kāmapūraṇam
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ज्ञानतः अ-ज्ञानतः वा अपिjñānataḥ a-jñānataḥ vā apiwhether knowingly or unknowingly
पठतां बन्ध-मोचकम्paṭhatāṃ bandha-mocakamfor those who read — releasing bonds
राज्यं देयं धनं देयंrājyaṃ deyaṃ dhanaṃ deyaṃa kingdom to give, wealth to give
याचतः काम-पूरणम्yācataḥ kāma-pūraṇamto one who asks — fulfillment of desire
Translation
«…for those who read — whether knowingly or unknowingly — it releases bonds. A kingdom to give, wealth to give, fulfillment of desire to one who asks…»
Version
58347ce67c27 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Worth noting that it says jñānato'jñānato vāpi, «whether knowingly or unknowingly». That is, the reading works even for one who does not understand what he reads. This position is basic in Vaishnava usage and has been cited more than once; let it be repeated briefly.
It is called nāmābhāsa, «the shadow of the name»: a name spoken without awareness, in jest, in abuse, or in delirium still works; and the story of Ajāmila is an example. The comparison usually given is this: fire burns even the one who touched it unknowingly; and medicine works on one who took it by mistake. This comparison, it must be granted, likens the effect to something material; but it explains why these books insist so on speaking aloud, rather than on understanding.
Add the reservation that must be made and that was made at every such place. The Bhāgavatam (6.2.10) says: whoever sins nāmno balāt, «on the strength of the name», has no purification. That is, working without understanding is a mercy to the unknowing, not a loophole for one who has calculated.
Add the second half of the verse, where a list begins of what may be given: a kingdom, wealth, fulfillment of desire to one who asks. It stands here deliberately before the next verse, where it will be said what may not be given; and the contrast will turn out strong.