Upanishads · Mahā 5.125
॥
Devanāgarī
अहङ्कारो विनिर्णेता कलङ्की बुद्धिरुच्यते बुद्धिः संकल्पिताकारा प्रयाति मननास्पदम्
Transliteration (IAST)
ahaṅkāro vinirṇetā kalaṅkī buddhirucyate buddhiḥ saṃkalpitākārā prayāti mananāspadam
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अहङ्कारः विनिर्णेताahaṅkāraḥ vinirṇetāselfhood is the determiner; self-sense is that which decides
कलङ्की बुद्धिः उच्यतेkalaṅkī buddhiḥ ucyatestained, it is called reason; besmirched, it is named understanding
बुद्धिः सङ्कल्पित-आकाराbuddhiḥ saṅkalpita-ākārāreason, having taken the shape of design; understanding, having assumed the form of intent
प्रयाति मनन-आस्पदम्prayāti manana-āspadampasses into the abode of musing; moves into the dwelling of reflection
Translation
“Selfhood is the determiner; stained, it is called reason; and reason, having taken the shape of design, passes into the abode of musing.”
Version
c704115015d9 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The second and third steps of the descent: reason and mind.
Note how they are defined — through corruption.
Buddhi is the same ahaṅkāra, only kalaṅkī — “stained”. The word kalaṅka, “stain”, occurred already in 2.77.
And manas is the same buddhi, only saṅkalpita-ākārā — “having taken the shape of design”.
That is, at each step nothing new appears. Only a new soiling appears.
This is what makes the descent reversible. One need not take the building apart brick by brick: it is enough to remove the stains.
Recall 5.83: the gem of the mind is not to be replaced but washed.