Upanishads · Mahā 5.159
॥
Devanāgarī
चिन्तामभ्येत्य भगवांस्त्रिकालामलदर्शनः एतस्मिन्परमाकाशे चिन्मात्रैकात्मरूपिणी
Transliteration (IAST)
cintāmabhyetya bhagavāṃstrikālāmaladarśanaḥ etasminparamākāśe cinmātraikātmarūpiṇī
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
चिन्ताम् अभ्येत्य भगवान्cintām abhyetya bhagavānfalling into thought, the lord; entering into reflection, the venerable one
त्रि-काल-अमल-दर्शनःtri-kāla-amala-darśanaḥwhose stainless sight spans the three times; whose immaculate vision covers the three times
एतस्मिन् परम-आकाशेetasmin parama-ākāśein this supreme expanse; within the said highest space
चित्-मात्र-एक-आत्म-रूपिणीcit-mātra-eka-ātma-rūpiṇīwhose form is the single self of pure consciousness; displaying the shape of the one self of mere awareness
Translation
“…the lord, whose stainless sight spans the three times, fell into thought: in this supreme expanse, whose form is the single self of pure consciousness…”
Version
5cfaa96a47e3 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Brahmā falls to pondering, and his question will come in the next verse.
Note the attribute: tri-kāla-amala-darśana — “with stainless sight of the three times”. He sees past, present and future.
And still he needs to ponder.
This is no contradiction. To see the three times is not the same as to understand whence everything is.
Recall Śuka of the second chapter: he knew everything and had no peace.
Here the world's first being finds itself in the same position: the sight is complete, the question remains.
Parama-ākāśa — “the supreme expanse”, and it is cin-mātra-eka-ātma-rūpin — “having the form of the single consciousness”. Brahmā looks into that from which he himself came forth.