Upanishads · Mahā 5.162
॥
Devanāgarī
लीलया कल्पयामास चित्राः संकल्पतः प्रजाः नानाचारसमारम्भा गन्धर्वनगरं यथा
Transliteration (IAST)
līlayā kalpayāmāsa citrāḥ saṃkalpataḥ prajāḥ nānācārasamārambhā gandharvanagaraṃ yathā
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
लीलया कल्पयामासlīlayā kalpayāmāsain play he fashioned forth; sporting, he devised
चित्राः सङ्कल्पतः प्रजाःcitrāḥ saṅkalpataḥ prajāḥmotley creatures, out of design; variegated beings, from intent
नाना-आचार-समारम्भाःnānā-ācāra-samārambhāḥwith manifold customs and undertakings; with divers usages and enterprises
गन्धर्व-नगरम् यथाgandharva-nagaram yathālike a city of the gandharvas; just as a phantom town of the gandharvas
Translation
“In play, out of design, he fashioned motley creatures with manifold customs and undertakings — like a city of the gandharvas.”
Version
aec2eed429e1 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The creation is accomplished, and accomplished līlayā — “in play”.
For the second time in this chapter the word līlā (cf. 5.145). It will sound a third time on the lips of the Vaiṣṇava tradition, for which it is the chief word about the Supreme's doings.
Note the image: gandharva-nagara — “a city of the gandharvas”, a mirage, a castle in the air. The same image was in 3.32 among the tokens of impermanence.
Here it is applied to the creation itself.
This is no demeaning of the world. A gandharva city is beautiful, whole and detailed; it is not durable — that is all.
Nānā-ācāra-samārambhāḥ — “with manifold customs and undertakings”. The creatures received not only shape but usages, crafts, orders.
The world was created together with its culture.