Upanishads · Mahā 5.174
॥
Devanāgarī
यदि ते नेन्द्रियार्थश्रीः स्पन्दते हृदि वै द्विज तदा विज्ञातविज्ञेया समुत्तीर्णो भवार्णवात्
Transliteration (IAST)
yadi te nendriyārthaśrīḥ spandate hṛdi vai dvija tadā vijñātavijñeyā samuttīrṇo bhavārṇavāt
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यदि ते न इन्द्रिय-अर्थ-श्रीःyadi te na indriya-artha-śrīḥif in thee the splendour of sense-objects; should for thee the pomp of the sensory
स्पन्दते हृदि वै द्विजspandate hṛdi vai dvijadoes not quiver in the heart, O twice-born; not tremble in the heart, O twice-born
तदा विज्ञात-विज्ञेयःtadā vijñāta-vijñeyaḥthen thou hast known the knowable; then the knowable stands known by thee
समुत्तीर्णः भव-अर्णवात्samuttīrṇaḥ bhava-arṇavātand crossed over the ocean of becoming; and thou hast passed over the sea of existence
Translation
“If the splendour of sense-objects does not quiver in thy heart, O twice-born — then thou hast known the knowable and crossed the ocean of becoming.”
Version
9b82da0a5926 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The verse gives a test, and it is the only one in the whole chapter a man can carry out on himself.
Not “how much dost thou know”, nor “how long dost thou sit in concentration”. Simply: does the heart quiver at the sight of the desired.
Note the verb spandate — “quivers, trembles”. That very spanda of which 4.99 said that it is the mind's own nature.
If it does not tremble — the mind has grown still.
And the conclusion: vijñāta-vijñeyaḥ — “having known the knowable”, samuttīrṇaḥ — “having crossed over”.
Everything at once, by a single sign.
This is honest and convenient. One can test oneself tomorrow, and no learning will help one lie here.