Upanishads · Mahā 6.54
॥
Devanāgarī
जायते निश्चयः साधो पुरुषस्य चतुर्विधः
Transliteration (IAST)
jāyate niścayaḥ sādho puruṣasya caturvidhaḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
जायते निश्चयः साधोjāyate niścayaḥ sādhothere arises a conviction, O good one; a settled resolve is born, O worthy one
पुरुषस्य चतुः-विधःpuruṣasya catuḥ-vidhaḥin a man, of four kinds; in a person, of four sorts
Translation
“In a man, O good one, there arises a conviction of four kinds.”
Version
bd4ebb92e1b7 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The opening of an analysis that will take five verses: the four kinds of niścaya — “firm conviction, settledness”.
This is the third such analysis in the book. There were the three selfhoods (5.89–5.96), the two cravings (6.50); now the four convictions.
The device is one and the same: what seemed single and evil proves composite, and the greater part of it good.
Note the address sādho — “O good one”. The teacher calls the pupil so for the first time.
The word niścaya has occurred before (2.2, 4.126): “settledness”, the end of wavering.
The question, then, is not whether to hold firm convictions, but which.