Upanishads · Mahā 4.92
॥
Devanāgarī
परं पौरुषमाश्रित्य नीत्वा चित्तमचित्तताम् ध्यानतो हृदयाकाशे चिति चिच्चक्रधारया
Transliteration (IAST)
paraṃ pauruṣamāśritya nītvā cittamacittatām dhyānato hṛdayākāśe citi ciccakradhārayā
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
परम् पौरुषम् आश्रित्यparam pauruṣam āśrityaresorting to the highest valour; leaning upon supreme manliness
नीत्वा चित्तम् अचित्तताम्nītvā cittam acittatāmhaving brought the mind to mindlessness; having turned consciousness into unconsciousness
ध्यानतः हृदय-आकाशेdhyānataḥ hṛdaya-ākāśeby meditation in the space of the heart; through concentration in the heart's expanse
चिति चित्-चक्र-धारयाciti cit-cakra-dhārayāin awareness — with the blade of the wheel of consciousness; in the understanding, with the edge of the disc of awareness
Translation
“Resorting to the highest valour, bringing the mind to mindlessness by meditation in the space of the heart — in consciousness, with the blade of the wheel of consciousness…”
Version
fed98513542c · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The verse begins an order that the next will finish, and therefore they must be read together.
The imagery is martial, as in 4.90, but the weapon is different: cit-cakra — “the disc of consciousness”.
The cakra is the throwing disc, the weapon of Viṣṇu. Here it is forged of consciousness, and with it one is to act in the hṛdaya-ākāśa, “the space of the heart”.
Note that the action takes place neither outside nor in the head, but in the heart. That very hṛd-ākāśa spoken of in 2.48, where by the first adhyāya the flame burns (1.10).
And one thing more: param pauruṣam — “the highest valour”. For the second time within a few verses the book names a man's resolve outright (cf. 4.89).
This balances all that has been said of mercy. Mercy is granted; valour is required.