Upanishads · Mahā 4.16
॥
Devanāgarī
निदाघ शृणु सत्त्वस्था जाता भुवि महागुणाः ते नित्यमेवाभ्युदिता मुदिताः स्व इवेन्दवः
Transliteration (IAST)
nidāgha śṛṇu sattvasthā jātā bhuvi mahāguṇāḥ te nityamevābhyuditā muditāḥ sva ivendavaḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
निदाघ शृणु सत्त्व-स्थाःnidāgha śṛṇu sattva-sthāḥNidāgha, hear: established in sattva; Nidāgha, listen: abiding in goodness
जाताः भुवि महा-गुणाःjātāḥ bhuvi mahā-guṇāḥthere are born on earth those great in virtues; on earth are born the great in qualities
ते नित्यम् एव अभ्युदिताःte nityam eva abhyuditāḥthey are ever in ascent; they are perpetually rising
मुदिताः स्वे इव इन्दवःmuditāḥ sve iva indavaḥjoyful, like moons in their own sky; exultant, like moons in their own height
Translation
“Hear, Nidāgha: on earth are born those great in virtues, established in goodness; they are ever in ascent and joyful — like moons in their own sky.”
Version
b05a59ee57fc · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The description begins of those spoken of in the fourth gatekeeper: the sādhus, the righteous.
It will take several verses and is written with love — a rare case where the book speaks not of states but of people.
The image of the moon is chosen not for beauty. The moon shines not with its own light and does not scorch; one can look at it. And it does not wane from shining.
The word abhyudita means both “risen” and “prospering”. They are always in ascent — that is, they know no season of decline.
And muditāḥ, “joyful”. The same word stood of Śuka amid the palace temptations (2.27). The righteous man is known by joy, not by sternness.
Note sve iva indavaḥ — “like moons in their own sky”. They are in their own place; they need not be fitted in anywhere.