Upanishads · Mahā 2.60
॥
Devanāgarī
न किंचन द्वेष्टि तथा न किंचिदपि काङ्क्षति भुङ्क्ते यः प्रकृतान्भोगान्स जीवन्मुक्त उच्यते
Transliteration (IAST)
na kiṃcana dveṣṭi tathā na kiṃcidapi kāṅkṣati bhuṅkte yaḥ prakṛtānbhogānsa jīvanmukta ucyate
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
न किंचन द्वेष्टि तथाna kiṃcana dveṣṭi tathāhates nothing whatever, and likewise; is revolted by nothing, just as
न किंचित् अपि काङ्क्षतिna kiṃcit api kāṅkṣatineither craves anything at all; neither does he solicit anything
भुङ्क्ते यः प्रकृतान् भोगान्bhuṅkte yaḥ prakṛtān bhogānwho enjoys the enjoyments that come of themselves; who partakes of what has offered itself unsought
सः जीवन्मुक्तः उच्यतेsaḥ jīvanmuktaḥ ucyatehe is called liberated while living; he is named free while yet alive
Translation
“Who is revolted by nothing and solicits nothing, but partakes of what has offered itself unsought — he is called liberated while living.”
Version
539de843bd51 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The nineteenth mark introduces a word important to the rules of the renunciant's life: prakṛta — “come about of itself”, what has arrived without your seeking.
In the books on asceticism this is a whole notion: yadṛcchā-lābha, “what has turned up”. Not to beg, not to hoard, not to reject what is served.
Note the verse's construction: two negations and one affirmation. He is not revolted — that is, he makes no virtue out of refusal. He does not solicit — does not pull things toward himself. And meanwhile he eats.
This is the third verse in a row on food and partaking (2.54, 2.55, 2.60), and together they fold into a rule: accept what is served, neither choosing nor refusing for show.
Strictly speaking, this is the wanderer's whole rule of life — in a single line.