Upanishads · Mahā 5.97
॥
Devanāgarī
भोगेच्छामात्रको बन्धस्तत्त्यागो मोक्ष उच्यते मनसोऽभ्युदयो नाशो मनोनाशो महोदयः
Transliteration (IAST)
bhogecchāmātrako bandhastattyāgo mokṣa ucyate manaso'bhyudayo nāśo manonāśo mahodayaḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
भोग-इच्छा-मात्रकः बन्धःbhoga-icchā-mātrakaḥ bandhaḥbondage is merely the desire for enjoyment; the fetters are nothing but the craving for delights
तत्-त्यागः मोक्षः उच्यतेtat-tyāgaḥ mokṣaḥ ucyateits abandonment is called freedom; its relinquishment is named deliverance
मनसः अभ्युदयः नाशःmanasaḥ abhyudayaḥ nāśaḥthe rising of the mind is ruin; the flourishing of consciousness is perdition
मनः-नाशः महा-उदयःmanaḥ-nāśaḥ mahā-udayaḥthe ruin of the mind is the great rising; the perishing of consciousness is the great flourishing
Translation
“Bondage is merely the desire for enjoyment, and its abandonment is called freedom; the rising of the mind is ruin, and the ruin of the mind is the great rising.”
Version
5f19bf1019e9 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Two definitions, and the second is built on inverted words.
Abhyudaya means “rising, prospering, advancement” — the usual word for worldly welfare. And it is said: the rising of the mind is nāśa, ruin.
While the ruin of the mind is mahā-udaya, “the great rising”.
The wordplay is exact and biting. All that the world calls ascent is a fall, and the reverse.
The first half returns to 3.48, where Nidāgha named bhoga-icchā the root of family life, and to 4.127, where the teacher set it in its right place.
Note the word mātraka — “merely”. Bondage is “merely” the desire for enjoyment. Nothing else holds us: neither fate, nor deeds, nor other people.