Upanishads · Mahā 5.79
॥
Devanāgarī
भृत्योऽभिमतकर्तृत्वान्मन्त्री सर्वार्थकारणात् सामन्तश्चेन्द्रियाक्रान्तेर्मनो मन्ये विवेकिनः
Transliteration (IAST)
bhṛtyo'bhimatakartṛtvānmantrī sarvārthakāraṇāt sāmantaścendriyākrāntermano manye vivekinaḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
भृत्यः अभिमत-कर्तृत्वात्bhṛtyaḥ abhimata-kartṛtvāta servant, for doing what is wished; a servitor, since it performs the desired
मन्त्री सर्व-अर्थ-कारणात्mantrī sarva-artha-kāraṇāta minister, for being the cause of all affairs; a counsellor, since it is the source of all undertakings
सामन्तः च इन्द्रिय-आक्रन्तेःsāmantaḥ ca indriya-ākranteḥand a general, for overcoming the senses; and a march-lord, since it subdues the senses
मनः मन्ये विवेकिनःmanaḥ manye vivekinaḥsuch, I deem, is the mind of the discerning; such, I think, is consciousness in one who discriminates
Translation
“A servant, for it does what is wished; a minister, for it is the cause of all affairs; a general, for it overcomes the senses — such, I deem, is the mind of the discerning man.”
Version
fc317468cdb5 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
A series begins that will overturn all that has been said of the mind.
Till now it was the enemy, the noose, the patient, the ghoul. Here it is servant, minister and general.
The difference is in one word: vivekinaḥ — “of the discerning”.
For the discerning man the mind proves no enemy but a member of the household — and the most useful one.
Note the offices. Bhṛtya — the servant who executes. Mantrī — the counsellor with whom one thinks. Sāmanta — the vassal commander who wars with the senses.
This is the direct continuation of 4.86: the mind is the Lord's power; self-willed, it leads to the round; curbed, to peace.
And further: manye — “I deem”. The teacher speaks for himself, as in 4.67.