Upanishads · Yogakuṇḍalinī 2.47
॥
Devanāgarī
यथा सुषुप्तिर्बालानां यथा भावस्तथा भवेत् । न सदा मथनं शस्तं मासे मासे समाचरेत्
Transliteration (IAST)
yathā suṣuptirbālānāṃ yathā bhāvastathā bhavet | na sadā mathanaṃ śastaṃ māse māse samācaret
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यथा सुषुप्तिः बालानांyathā suṣuptiḥ bālānāṃas is the deep sleep of children
यथा भावः तथा भवेत्yathā bhāvaḥ tathā bhavetas is the state, so let it be
न सदा मथनं शस्तंna sadā mathanaṃ śastaṃnot always is churning praiseworthy
मासे मासे समाचरेत्māse māse samācaretmonth by month shall he perform it
Translation
"As is the deep sleep of children — as is the state, so let it be. Not always is churning praiseworthy: month by month shall he perform it".
Version
bbba03ae079d · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
A simile is given, and it is among the most beautiful in this book: yatha sushuptir balanam, "as is the deep sleep of children." The state is described not through light, not through emptiness, and not through power, but through a child's sleep. This simile is precise and available to anyone. A sleeping child does not sleep by half and is not troubled: he sleeps wholly, without remainder, and his face at such a time is what an adult's never is.
That is, the sought-for is named not tension, but complete, trusting letting-go. The Vaishnava side is not indifferent to this image, and it is everywhere in her. An infant in arms, a sleeping child, a babe being carried — all these images mean for her one thing: sharanagati, the surrender of oneself, in which a man ceases to hold himself up, because he is held.
The Bhagavatam says of Prahlada that amid torments he was calm as a child; and this comparison recurs constantly in her books. It is worth adding the second half of the line: na sada mathanam shastam, "not always is churning praiseworthy," but month by month. Again a ceiling above, discussed when reading the first chapter (1.55): it is said not only "do," but also "not always."