Upanishads · Mahā 5.34
॥
Devanāgarī
भूमिषट्कचिराभ्यासाद्भेदस्यानुपलम्बनात् यत्स्वभावैकनिष्ठत्वं सा ज्ञेया तुर्यगा गतिः
Transliteration (IAST)
bhūmiṣaṭkacirābhyāsādbhedasyānupalambanāt yatsvabhāvaikaniṣṭhatvaṃ sā jñeyā turyagā gatiḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
भूमि-षट्क-चिर-अभ्यासात्bhūmi-ṣaṭka-cira-abhyāsātfrom long practice in the six stages; from protracted application in the six steps
भेदस्य अनुपलम्भनात्bhedasya anupalambhanātfrom the non-perceiving of difference; since distinction is no longer apprehended
यत् स्वभाव-एक-निष्ठत्वम्yat svabhāva-eka-niṣṭhatvamthat single fidelity to one's own nature; the said undivided standing in the proper essence
सा ज्ञेया तुर्य-गा गतिःsā jñeyā turya-gā gatiḥis to be known as the course leading to turya; must be understood as the way going into the fourth
Translation
“From long practice in the six stages, when difference is no longer perceived, the single fidelity to one's own nature — know it as the course that leads into the fourth.”
Version
55ac42926819 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The seventh and last stage.
It is defined through two things.
The first: bhedasya anupalambhana — “the non-perceiving of difference”. Not “the denial of difference”, but precisely its ceasing to be noticed.
The second: svabhāva-eka-niṣṭhatva — “undivided standing in one's own nature”. The word niṣṭhā, already met in 4.82, means fidelity, devotion.
Note that even the last stage is called gati — “a way, a course” — and turya-gā — “going into the fourth”.
That is, the seventh stage is not turya but the road into it. This confirms what was said in 5.23: freedom is above the whole ladder.
The ladder ends where that begins which ladders do not reach.