Upanishads · Mahā 2.71
॥
Devanāgarī
तेन स्वयं त्वया ज्ञातं ज्ञेयं यस्य महात्मनः भोगेभ्यो ह्यरतिर्जाता दृश्याद्वा सकलादिह
Transliteration (IAST)
tena svayaṃ tvayā jñātaṃ jñeyaṃ yasya mahātmanaḥ bhogebhyo hyaratirjātā dṛśyādvā sakalādiha
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तेन स्वयम् त्वया ज्ञातम्tena svayam tvayā jñātamtherefore by thyself was known; for that reason grasped by thee thyself
ज्ञेयम् यस्य महात्मनःjñeyam yasya mahātmanaḥthe knowable — by thee, great of soul; the cognizable — thou lofty in spirit
भोगेभ्यः हि अरतिः जाताbhogebhyaḥ hi aratiḥ jātāfor distaste for enjoyments was born; since disinclination toward pleasures arose
दृश्यात् वा सकलात् इहdṛśyāt vā sakalāt ihaor for all the visible here; or toward all the seen in this world
Translation
“Therefore the knowable was known by thyself — by thee, great of soul, in whom was born distaste for enjoyments and for all the visible here.”
Version
4d6cd794d766 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Janaka explains to Śuka why he was able to know on his own.
The cause is named: arati — “distaste, want of relish” for enjoyments and for the visible.
The order here is the reverse of the usual. We think: first understand, then you will turn away. The verse says: he turned away — therefore he understood.
This does not abolish reason, but puts it in its place. Pure reasoning is open to him who wants nothing from the object. While you want, the reasoning will be bent toward the wanted — and unnoticed by yourself.
Recall verse 2.13: Śuka had exactly this — distaste for enjoyments without trust. Janaka credits him the merit, but also shows wherein that merit was one-sided: distaste alone carried him to knowledge and did not carry him to peace.