Upanishads · Mahā 6.25
॥
Devanāgarī
येषां निमेषणामेषौ जगतः प्रलयोदयौ तादृशाः पुरुषा यान्ति मादृशां गणनैव का
Transliteration (IAST)
yeṣāṃ nimeṣaṇāmeṣau jagataḥ pralayodayau tādṛśāḥ puruṣā yānti mādṛśāṃ gaṇanaiva kā
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
येषाम् निमेषणा उन्मेषौyeṣām nimeṣaṇā unmeṣauwhose closing and opening of the eyelids; the shutting and unshutting of whose eyes
जगतः प्रलय-उदयौjagataḥ pralaya-udayauare the dissolution and the rising of the world; are the collapse and the dawning of the world
तादृशाः पुरुषाः यान्तिtādṛśāḥ puruṣāḥ yāntieven such men pass away; even men of that stature depart
मादृशाम् गणना एव काmādṛśām gaṇanā eva kāwhat count is there of such as I; what reckoning can there be of my sort
Translation
“Even such men pass away whose closing and opening of the eyelids are the dissolution and the rising of the world; what count is there of such as I?”
Version
3a95a3b8335a · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The argument from the great: if they depart, what of us.
Note the image: nimeṣa and unmeṣa — “the closing and opening of the eyelids”. He blinks — the world perishes; he opens his eyes — the world arises.
This is of Brahmā and his like.
Recall 3.50–3.52, where the perishing gods were listed.
The word gaṇanā — “count, enumeration”. Not “what am I worth”, but “what count of me”: I shall not even be entered in the list.
The verse is spoken in the first person and sounds humble, not desperate.
That is the right tone for one who has just asked to what he should resort (6.24). Refuge is not sought out of pride.