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Upanishads · Muktikā 2.42
॥
Devanāgarī
हस्तं हस्तेन सम्पीड्य दन्तैर्दन्तान्विचूर्ण्य च । अङ्गान्यङ्गैः समाक्रम्य जयेदादौ स्वकं मनः
Transliteration (IAST)
hastaṃ hastena sampīḍya dantairdantānvicūrṇya ca | aṅgānyaṅgaiḥ samākramya jayedādau svakaṃ manaḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
हस्तं हस्तेन सम्पीड्यhastaṃ hastena sampīḍyahand pressing hand
दन्तैः दन्तान् विचूर्ण्य चdantaiḥ dantān vicūrṇya caand teeth grinding teeth
अङ्गानि अङ्गैः समाक्रम्यaṅgāni aṅgaiḥ samākramyalimbs overpowering limbs
जयेत् आदौ स्वकं मनःjayet ādau svakaṃ manaḥlet him first conquer his own mind
Translation
«Pressing hand with hand, teeth grinding teeth, overpowering limb with limb — let him first conquer his own mind».
Version
1d5e1748bd4e · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here is a verse that must be examined with care, for it describes what is about to be rejected right after. A forceful effort is described: clench the fists, grit the teeth, press down the body — and so subdue the mind. Worth noting that this is exactly the haṭha, «force», spoken of at Varāha (4.39): the very name haṭha-yoga means «yoga by force».
And four verses on (2.46) the book will say of such people that, having a lamp, they seek darkness with kohl. That is, this verse is given as a description of a widespread technique, not as advice; and the book itself will refute it. This construction, I think, is worth noting: first set out what everyone does, then show why it does not work.
Add what the Vaishnava side says of such effort. Its argument has been cited more than once and is Gītā 2.59: for one who fasts, objects withdraw, but the taste remains; and gritted teeth hold only as long as the jaw lasts. Add what is honest in the verse itself: it says ādau, «first».
That is, even on this reading it is only the first means, not the only one; and the verses that follow will name the rest.