Upanishads · Mahā 5.56
॥
Devanāgarī
एकं ब्रह्म चिदाकाशं सर्वात्मकमखण्डितम् इति भावय यत्नेन चेतश्चाञ्चल्यशान्तये
Transliteration (IAST)
ekaṃ brahma cidākāśaṃ sarvātmakamakhaṇḍitam iti bhāvaya yatnena cetaścāñcalyaśāntaye
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
एकम् ब्रह्म चित्-आकाशम्ekam brahma cit-ākāśamthe one Brahman, the space of consciousness; the single Brahman, the expanse of awareness
सर्व-आत्मकम् अखण्डितम्sarva-ātmakam akhaṇḍitamall-embracing, uncleft; containing everything, undivided
इति भावय यत्नेनiti bhāvaya yatnenaso contemplate with diligence; thus nurture the thought with care
चेतः-चाञ्चल्य-शान्तयेcetaḥ-cāñcalya-śāntayefor the quieting of the mind's restlessness; for the calming of the wavering of consciousness
Translation
“‘The one Brahman, the space of consciousness, all-embracing and uncleft’ — so contemplate diligently, for the quieting of the mind's restlessness.”
Version
a5ed544ca76c · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The verse gives an exercise, and the exercise is to hold one thought in the mind.
Note the aim: cetaś-cāñcalya-śāntaye — “for the quieting of the mind's restlessness”.
That is, the contemplation of oneness is proposed not as a truth to be assimilated, but as a remedy for unrest.
This agrees with 4.123: the firm design “all is Brahman” frees. Design against design.
The word bhāvaya — “nurture the thought”, from bhāvanā (4.15, 4.91). Not a single act of work.
And yatnena — “diligently”. The book does not pretend this is easy.
Akhaṇḍita — “uncleft”. The same word stood in 2.75 of Śuka's samādhi: “unbroken”. Wholeness is what must displace the fragmentary.