Upanishads · Mantrikā 2
॥
Devanāgarī
भूतसंमोहने काले भिन्ने तमसि वैखरे । अन्तः पश्यन्ति सत्त्वस्था निर्गुणं गुणगह्वरे
Transliteration (IAST)
bhūtasaṃmohane kāle bhinne tamasi vaikhare | antaḥ paśyanti sattvasthā nirguṇaṃ guṇagahvare
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
भूतसंमोहने कालेbhūtasaṃmohane kālein the season of the beings' bewilderment; at the time of the creatures' delusion
भिन्ने तमसि वैखरेbhinne tamasi vaikharewhen the gross darkness is cleft; when the dense murk is severed
अन्तः पश्यन्ति सत्त्वस्थाःantaḥ paśyanti sattvasthāḥwithin do those abiding in clarity see; inward gaze those established in sattva
निर्गुणम् गुणगह्वरेnirguṇam guṇagahvarethe qualityless — in the thicket of qualities; the guṇa-less — in the wilds of the guṇas
Translation
In the season of the beings' bewilderment, when the gross darkness is cleft, those abiding in clarity see within — the qualityless in the very thicket of qualities.
Version
21fa86e0165e · published Jul 29, 2026, 3:00:17 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The answer to the riddle of the first verse: where, after all, one does see.
First the time is named: bhūta-saṃmohane kāle — “in the season of the beings' bewilderment”. That is, precisely when all the rest are blinded.
Then the condition: bhinne tamasi — “when the darkness is cleft”. The word vaikhara denotes the gross, the material; what is cleft, then, is the gross darkness, the kind that films the eyes.
And finally the place: antaḥ, “within”.
Three indications, and all three contrary to ordinary expectation. Men search outside — one must turn inward. They search in a clear season — the seeing happens in the season of universal bewilderment. The searchers search — the seers are sattvasthāḥ, “those abiding in clarity”.
The last two words deserve special weighing: nirguṇaṃ guṇa-gahvare — “the qualityless in the thicket of qualities”.
Gahvara is “wilds, chasm, thicket”. It is not said that one must first leave the guṇas; it is said that He is seen right in their thick.
This is what distinguishes such books from teachings that require the ground to be cleared first. Here one looks into the very thicket.