Upanishads · Parabrahma 1.11
॥
Devanāgarī
अत्र जाग्रति । शुभाशुभातिरिक्तः शुभाशुभैरपि कर्मभिर्न लिप्यते
Transliteration (IAST)
atra jāgrati | śubhāśubhātiriktaḥ śubhāśubhairapi karmabhirna lipyate
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अत्र जाग्रतिatra jāgratihere they wake
शुभ-अ-शुभ-अतिरिक्तःśubha-a-śubha-atiriktaḥsurpassing good and bad
शुभ-अ-शुभैः अपि कर्मभिःśubha-a-śubhaiḥ api karmabhiḥand by good and bad deeds
न लिप्यतेna lipyateis not stained
Translation
Here they wake. Surpassing good and bad, he is not stained by good or bad deeds.
Version
4cd9b6bfe38e · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
A return to waking, and the same is said of it as of sleep: not stained. It is worth noting the word atirikta, "surpassing, remaining beyond," literally "in excess." Not "indifferent to good and bad," but one who is beyond both; and the difference between these two descriptions matters.
One who is indifferent stands between good and evil and does not distinguish them; one who surpasses stands above and distinguishes better than others, yet does not fall under their power. The first will not give his hand to a drowning man, for it is all the same to him; the second will give it, but will not count it his own merit. The Vaiṣṇava reading holds to the second, and the Gītā gives a measure for it in one verse: "having given up attachment to the fruit of action, always content, resting on nothing, he does nothing at all, even while doing deeds" (4.20). Note: while doing deeds; that is, he acts, and acts much, and is not stained because he does not appropriate.
Let us add that "not stained by good deeds" should be understood as discussed when reading the Adhyātma (2.39): a good deed binds not because it is good, but because a reward is expected for it. Remove the expectation, and the chain falls away, while the deed remains.