Upanishads · Mahā 5.38
॥
Devanāgarī
पार्श्वस्थबोधिताः सन्तः पूर्वाचरक्रमागतम् आचारमाचरत्येव सुप्तबुद्धवदुत्थिताः
Transliteration (IAST)
pārśvasthabodhitāḥ santaḥ pūrvācarakramāgatam ācāramācaratyeva suptabuddhavadutthitāḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
पार्श्व-स्थ-बोधिताः सन्तःpārśva-stha-bodhitāḥ santaḥbeing roused by those standing beside them; being prompted by those close at hand
पूर्व-आचार-क्रम-आगतम्pūrva-ācāra-krama-āgatamcome down from the former order of conduct; descended from their earlier custom
आचारम् आचरति एवācāram ācarati evathey do perform the observance; the usage they duly follow
सुप्त-बुद्ध-वत् उत्थिताःsupta-buddha-vat utthitāḥlike men risen from sleep; just like those awakened out of slumber
Translation
“Roused by those beside them, they perform the observance that has come down from their former order — like men risen from sleep.”
Version
5bf3d1b9695a · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The verse answers the question that inevitably arises: if a man chooses nothing, how does he live among people?
The answer: by his former order.
Ācāra — “conduct, custom”; pūrva-ācāra-krama-āgata — “come down in succession from the earlier usage”. That is, he does what he has always done: prays at his hour, eats as is customary, deals with people as is proper.
This is an important trait, and the Vaiṣṇava tradition values it. The liberated man neither casts off the order for show, nor clings to it. The order has stayed with him, as one's gait stays.
The detail pārśva-stha-bodhitāḥ — “roused by those standing beside” — continues 5.33: he must be called.
And the comparison: supta-buddha-vat, “like one wakened”. A sleeper who is called gets up and does the usual, without pondering why.