Upanishads · Mahā 5.88
॥
Devanāgarī
परमं पौरुषं यत्नमास्थादाय सृद्यमम् यथाशास्त्रमनुद्वेगमाचरन्को न सिद्धिभाक्
Transliteration (IAST)
paramaṃ pauruṣaṃ yatnamāsthādāya sṛdyamam yathāśāstramanudvegamācaranko na siddhibhāk
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
परमम् पौरुषम् यत्नम्paramam pauruṣam yatnamthe highest manly effort; the supreme valorous endeavour
आस्था-दाय सु-दुर्दमम्āsthā-dāya su-durdamamhaving applied, hard to tame; having brought to bear, most difficult to subdue
यथा-शास्त्रम् अनुद्वेगम्yathā-śāstram anudvegamaccording to scripture, without agitation; conformably to the writing, without perturbation
आचरन् कः न सिद्धि-भाक्ācaran kaḥ na siddhi-bhākwho, so acting, shall not partake of success; who, conducting himself so, will not share in attainment
Translation
“Having applied the highest manly effort, hard to tame, acting according to scripture and without agitation — who shall not partake of success?”
Version
3dee5f6fec87 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The answer to the previous verse, and it is heartening.
The lion is bound by a chain; but a chain can be taken off.
Three conditions are named, and all three are essential.
Paramaṃ pauruṣaṃ yatnam — “the highest manly effort”. Again pauruṣa (4.89, 4.92, 4.103): the book never tires of recalling that one's own resolve is required.
Yathā-śāstram — “according to scripture”. Not at random and not by one's own lights.
Anudvegam — “without agitation”. The word udvega means “anxiety, excitement, haste”.
The last is especially precious. The effort required is the highest — and withal calm. A rare combination, and the truest: he who hurries will soon be spent.
The question at the end is rhetorical, and in it one hears encouragement: whoever acts so will arrive.