Upanishads · Yogakuṇḍalinī 3.21
॥
Devanāgarī
शब्दैरुच्चावचैर्नीचैर्भाषितोऽपि न लिप्यते । विश्वश्च तैजसश्चैव प्राज्ञश्चेति च ते त्रयः
Transliteration (IAST)
śabdairuccāvacairnīcairbhāṣito'pi na lipyate | viśvaśca taijasaścaiva prājñaśceti ca te trayaḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
शब्दैः उच्च-अवचैः नीचैःśabdaiḥ ucca-avacaiḥ nīcaiḥby words high and low and various
भाषितः अपि न लिप्यतेbhāṣitaḥ api na lipyatebeing reviled, is not stained
विश्वः च तैजसः च एवviśvaḥ ca taijasaḥ ca evaVishva and Taijasa, indeed
प्राज्ञः च इतिprājñaḥ ca itiand Prajna, thus
च ते त्रयःca te trayaḥand these three
Translation
"Being reviled by words high, various, and low, he is not stained. Vishva, Taijasa, and Prajna — these three…**
Version
2d2194ed1580 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The first half of the line deserves note: the one who has attained na lipyate, "is not stained," however he is spoken of. Lip means "to smear, to stick, to soil"; and of one who is not stained by words it is said that nothing clings to him. Worth noting is that the measure of attainment set here is not a miracle and not a vision, but one's relation to abuse. This test is simple and available to anyone: look at what happens to you when you are spoken ill of.
This measure recurs constantly in these books; it was discussed when reading Katharudra (4), where it was said: "let one not rejoice when praised, and let one not curse others when reproached." The Vaishnava side sets this same measure, and sets it above many others. Chaitanya's Shikshashtaka demands one be "more humble than a blade of grass, more patient than a tree, not seeking honor for oneself"; and this is not humility for its own sake, but a simple condition: one who has no claim to honor is not touched by abuse, for it has nothing to catch hold of.
It is worth adding that in the second half of the line the charting of three states begins — vishva, taijasa, prajna: waking, dreaming, and deep sleep. This scheme is in the Mandukya, and it was discussed when reading the corresponding passages; here it is given in passing.