Upanishads · Mahā 5.156
॥
Devanāgarī
ऊर्ध्वं शिरःपिण्डमयमधः पादमयं तथा पार्श्वयोर्हस्तसंस्थानं मध्ये चोदरधर्मिणम्
Transliteration (IAST)
ūrdhvaṃ śiraḥpiṇḍamayamadhaḥ pādamayaṃ tathā pārśvayorhastasaṃsthānaṃ madhye codaradharmiṇam
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ऊर्ध्वम् शिरः-पिण्ड-मयम्ūrdhvam śiraḥ-piṇḍa-mayamabove — consisting of a head; at the top, made up of the head
अधः पाद-मयम् तथाadhaḥ pāda-mayam tathābelow — of feet likewise; at the bottom, of the feet
पार्श्वयोः हस्त-संस्थानम्pārśvayoḥ hasta-saṃsthānamat the sides, the placing of hands; on the flanks, the disposition of the arms
मध्ये च उदर-धर्मिणम्madhye ca udara-dharmiṇamand in the middle, having the nature of a belly; and in the midst, possessing the property of the abdomen
Translation
“Above — the head, below — the feet, at the sides the hands are placed, and in the middle — the belly.”
Version
c08d7a5a8985 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The verse is unexpectedly simple: the ordinary human body, listed part by part.
After so many lines on vibration, contemplation and subtle elements — head, legs, arms, belly.
Note that this is the aim of the whole description. The book has led the reader from pure consciousness down to this familiar thing, and wanted him to recognize himself at the road's end.
Recall 5.92, where the third, worldly selfhood is defined as “consisting of hands, feet and the rest”.
Here it is shown where that selfhood came from.
Between consciousness and these very hands there is no gulf — there is a series of condensations, each of which happened of itself and by its own will.