Upanishads · Mahā 4.33
॥
Devanāgarī
तपस्विषु बहुज्ञेषु याजकेषु नृपेषु च बलवत्सु गुणाढ्येषु शमवानेव राजते
Transliteration (IAST)
tapasviṣu bahujñeṣu yājakeṣu nṛpeṣu ca balavatsu guṇāḍhyeṣu śamavāneva rājate
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तपस्विषु बहु-ज्ञेषुtapasviṣu bahu-jñeṣuamong ascetics, among the much-knowing; amid the practisers of austerity and the widely learned
याजकेषु नृपेषु चyājakeṣu nṛpeṣu caamong sacrificers and kings; amid the offerers of sacrifice and sovereigns
बलवत्सु गुण-आढ्येषुbalavatsu guṇa-āḍhyeṣuamong the strong and those rich in virtues; amid the mighty and those abounding in qualities
शमवान् एव राजतेśamavān eva rājateonly the possessor of calm shines; solely he who is endowed with peace is resplendent
Translation
“Among ascetics and the much-knowing, among sacrificers and kings, among the strong and those rich in virtues — only he who possesses calm shines.”
Version
ce31d5ae1168 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
A list of the virtues most prized in society — and all are set below one.
Austerity. Learning. Sacrifices. Kingship. Strength. Wealth of qualities.
Six kinds of greatness, each won by labour and each conferring honour.
And it is said: śamavān eva rājate — “only the possessor of calm shines”.
The verb rājate, “shines, reigns”, is of the same root as rājan, “king”. The wordplay is deliberate: among kings it is not the king who reigns.
Note why this is so. All the virtues listed need comparison to exist: learning shows against the unlearned, strength against the weak. Calm alone needs no background.
Hence it is visible in any gathering of people, as the moon is visible amid any lights.