Upanishads · Mahā 5.71
॥
Devanāgarī
परिज्ञायोपभुक्तो हि भोगो भवति तुष्टये विज्ञाय सेवितश्चोरो मैत्रीमेति न चोरताम्
Transliteration (IAST)
parijñāyopabhukto hi bhogo bhavati tuṣṭaye vijñāya sevitaścoro maitrīmeti na coratām
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
परिज्ञाय उपभुक्तः हिparijñāya upabhuktaḥ hifor what is enjoyed with full knowledge; since what is partaken of in complete awareness
भोगः भवति तुष्टयेbhogaḥ bhavati tuṣṭayethat enjoyment makes for contentment; such pleasure serves satisfaction
विज्ञाय सेवितः चोरःvijñāya sevitaḥ coraḥa thief recognized and entertained; a robber found out and treated kindly
मैत्रीम् एति न चोरताम्maitrīm eti na coratāmcomes to friendship, not to thieving; turns to amity and not to robbery
Translation
“An enjoyment partaken of with knowledge makes for contentment; a thief recognized and made welcome turns friend, not robber.”
Version
a43fa33b7f73 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
A verse on how the knower deals with delights, and its image is superb.
A thief who has been recognized and received as a guest ceases to be a thief.
Why? Because thieving is a taking in secret. He who is open and welcomed takes no longer by stealth, and no one is on guard against him.
So with enjoyment: while it comes unnoticed, it robs; recognized and received calmly, it gives contentment and departs.
Note the words parijñāya and vijñāya — both mean “having recognized”. The whole matter is to see who has come.
This is an important correction to the whole third chapter with its revulsion. To fight a delight is to concede its power. To recognize it is to take its power away.