Upanishads · Mahā 5.112
॥
Devanāgarī
न लक्ष्यते स्वभावोऽस्या वीक्ष्यमाणैव नश्यति नास्त्येषा परमार्थेनेत्येवं भावनयेद्धया
Transliteration (IAST)
na lakṣyate svabhāvo'syā vīkṣyamāṇaiva naśyati nāstyeṣā paramārthenetyevaṃ bhāvanayeddhayā
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
न लक्ष्यते स्वभावः अस्याःna lakṣyate svabhāvaḥ asyāḥits nature is not discerned; the essence of it is not apprehended
वीक्ष्यमाणा एव नश्यतिvīkṣyamāṇā eva naśyatiit perishes at the very examining; it dies as soon as it is scrutinized
न अस्ति एषा परम-अर्थेनna asti eṣā parama-arthena“by the ultimate truth it is not”; “by the final reckoning it does not exist”
इति एवम् भावनया इद्धयाiti evam bhāvanayā iddhayāthus — with kindled contemplation; so — through ignited musing
Translation
“Its nature is not discerned: it perishes at the very examining. ‘By the ultimate truth it is not’ — thus, with kindled contemplation…”
Version
ce3be3ecec67 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The verse gives the remedy against delusion, and the remedy is one: to look at it.
Vīkṣyamāṇā eva naśyati — “it perishes as soon as one begins to examine it”.
This repeats 4.114 and explains why one need not fight it.
Note the first line: na lakṣyate svabhāvo'syāḥ — “its nature is not apprehended”. Not because it is deeply hidden, but because it is not. To seek its nature is like seeking the composition of a shadow.
The word iddhā — “kindled, incandescent” — with bhāvanā repeats 4.15. The contemplation must be brought to a glow, or it will burn nothing.
The thought will be finished in the next verse.