Upanishads · Mahā 4.103
॥
Devanāgarī
अतः पौरुषमाश्रित्य चित्तमाक्रम्य चेतसा विशोकं पदमालम्ब्य निरातङ्कः स्थिरो भव
Transliteration (IAST)
ataḥ pauruṣamāśritya cittamākramya cetasā viśokaṃ padamālambya nirātaṅkaḥ sthiro bhava
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अतः पौरुषम् आश्रित्यataḥ pauruṣam āśrityatherefore, resorting to manliness; hence, leaning upon valour
चित्तम् आक्रम्य चेतसाcittam ākramya cetasāhaving overpowered the mind by consciousness; having subdued consciousness by the understanding
विशोकम् पदम् आलम्ब्यviśokam padam ālambyaleaning on the griefless state; taking hold of the sorrowless condition
निरातङ्कः स्थिरः भवnirātaṅkaḥ sthiraḥ bhavabe fearless and firm; be a stranger to dread and unshakable
Translation
“Therefore, resorting to manliness, overpowering the mind by consciousness and leaning on the griefless state, be fearless and firm.”
Version
c80a6e8ae79e · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The verse sums up the train of commands and introduces the word that explains what the mind is overpowered by: cetasā.
The mind (citta) is overpowered by consciousness (cetas). That is, not by another mind, but by what is greater than it.
This agrees with 4.91, where the citta was “swallowed” by the state of consciousness. The lesser is taken by the greater.
Viśoka — “griefless”. The word returns to 4.24, where the fruit of knowledge was named vīta-śoka.
Note the verb ālambya — “leaning on, taking hold of”. In a verse full of martial words a handhold suddenly appears: one holds to the griefless state as to a railing.
And last: nirātaṅka, “without dread”. Not merely “without fear”: ātaṅka is the stupor, the freeze. He who holds the railing does not go rigid.