Upanishads · Mahā 5.129
॥
Devanāgarī
स्वयं कल्पित तन्मात्राजालभ्यन्तरवर्ति च परां विवशतामेति शृङ्खलाबद्धसिंहवत्
Transliteration (IAST)
svayaṃ kalpita tanmātrājālabhyantaravarti ca parāṃ vivaśatāmeti śṛṅkhalābaddhasiṃhavat
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
स्वयम् कल्पित-तन्मात्राsvayam kalpita-tanmātrāof the subtle elements devised by itself; of the first-elements contrived by its own act
जाल-अभ्यन्तर-वर्ति चjāla-abhyantara-varti caand dwelling inside that net; and abiding within those toils
पराम् विवशताम् एतिparām vivaśatām etiit comes to utter helplessness; it arrives at complete unfreedom
शृङ्खला-बद्ध-सिंह-वत्śṛṅkhalā-baddha-siṃha-vatlike a lion bound with a chain; just as a lion fettered by a chain
Translation
“And, dwelling inside the net of subtle elements devised by itself, it comes to utter helplessness — like a lion bound with a chain.”
Version
76781f19c11b · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The image of the chained lion repeats 5.87, but with an addition: this chain is its own.
The net is woven of the tanmātras — the “subtle elements”, and they are svayaṃ kalpita, “devised by itself”.
The lion is not only fettered — he himself forged the chain.
Note the word vivaśatā — “helplessness, want of power over oneself”. It occurred already in 3.34, of the man possessed by lust, and in 4.130.
This is the exact description of our situation: not impotence, but want of command. There is much strength; it cannot be disposed of.
And again, as in 5.128, the blame is shifted onto no one.
Together the two verses give a picture rare in its honesty: we are bound, bound fast, and we bound ourselves.