Upanishads · Mahā 6.51
॥
Devanāgarī
इदमस्तु ममेत्यन्तमिच्छां प्रार्थनयान्विताम् तां तीक्ष्णां शृङ्खलां विद्धि दुःखजन्मभयप्रदाम्
Transliteration (IAST)
idamastu mametyantamicchāṃ prārthanayānvitām tāṃ tīkṣṇāṃ śṛṅkhalāṃ viddhi duḥkhajanmabhayapradām
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
इदम् अस्तु मम इति अन्तम्idam astu mama iti antam“let this be mine” — to the end; “may this become mine” — to the limit
इच्छाम् प्रार्थनया अन्विताम्icchām prārthanayā anvitāma desire attended by entreaty; a wanting accompanied by petition
ताम् तीक्ष्णाम् शृङ्खलाम् विद्धिtām tīkṣṇām śṛṅkhalām viddhiknow it as a sharp chain; understand it as a keen fetter
दुःख-जन्म-भय-प्रदाम्duḥkha-janma-bhaya-pradāmgiving suffering, birth and fear; bestowing pain, birth and dread
Translation
“The desire ‘let this be mine’, attended by entreaty — know it as a sharp chain that gives suffering, birth and fear.”
Version
a97a166e42e7 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here is named what distinguishes the bound craving from the free: prārthanā — “entreaty, petition”.
Note this word. It belongs to the usage of prayer: so is called a request addressed to the gods.
That is, the chain is not desire as such, but desire that begs: “let this be mine”.
A fine distinction, and very important for one who prays. Prayer for the granting of something in the world is, by this verse, a chain — and a sharp one.
The Vaiṣṇava tradition says the same and says it plainly: to ask Him for worldly goods is to ask a king for potsherds.
Three fruits are named: suffering, birth, fear.
The last is especially true: he who has a “mine” has something to lose.