Upanishads · Mahā 5.173
॥
Devanāgarī
यस्य चेच्छा तथानिच्छा ज्ञस्य कर्मणि तिष्ठतः न तस्य लिप्यते प्रज्ञा पद्मपत्रमिवाम्बुभिः
Transliteration (IAST)
yasya cecchā tathānicchā jñasya karmaṇi tiṣṭhataḥ na tasya lipyate prajñā padmapatramivāmbubhiḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यस्य च इच्छा तथा अनिच्छाyasya ca icchā tathā anicchāin whom there is desire and likewise non-desire; he who has both wanting and not-wanting
ज्ञस्य कर्मणि तिष्ठतःjñasya karmaṇi tiṣṭhataḥthe knower who stands in his work; the understanding one abiding in action
न तस्य लिप्यते प्रज्ञाna tasya lipyate prajñāhis insight is not stained; his wisdom is not soiled
पद्म-पत्रम् इव अम्बुभिःpadma-patram iva ambubhiḥas a lotus leaf by the waters; just as the lotus leaf by water
Translation
“The knower who stands in his work has both desire and non-desire — and his insight is not stained, as a lotus leaf is not wetted by the waters.”
Version
caeb001e1012 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The image of the lotus leaf is the most famous in Indian letters, and the Bhagavad-gītā uses it in the same words.
The leaf lies in the water and does not get wet. The water rolls off.
Note, however, that the verse has said more than usual: the knower has both desire and non-desire.
That is, he is not desireless. He wants and does not want, like everyone.
What is not stained is prajñā — “insight”. It stays clear amid any wantings.
This is an important correction to the whole chapter with its demand to leave desires. What is left is not the capacity to want but the sticking.
Recall 5.3: in the knower attraction and aversion “do not stray from their own nature”.
The karma-yoga of the Gītā stands exactly on this.