Upanishads · Jābāladarśana 2.5
॥
Devanāgarī
यदृच्छालाभतो नित्यं प्रीतिर्या जायते नृणाम् । तत्सन्तोषं विदुः प्राज्ञाः परिज्ञानैकतत्पराः
Transliteration (IAST)
yadṛcchālābhato nityaṃ prītiryā jāyate nṛṇām | tatsantoṣaṃ viduḥ prājñāḥ parijñānaikatatparāḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यदृच्छा-लाभतः नित्यंyadṛcchā-lābhataḥ nityaṃfrom what comes of itself, always
प्रीतिः या जायते नृणाम्prītiḥ yā jāyate nṛṇāmwhat joy is born in people
तत् सन्तोषं विदुः प्राज्ञाःtat santoṣaṃ viduḥ prājñāḥthat the wise know as contentment
परिज्ञान-एक-तत्पराःparijñāna-eka-tatparāḥintent solely on full knowledge
Translation
"The joy that is always born in people from what comes of itself, — that the wise, intent solely on full knowledge, know as contentment."
Version
daaae8b4faa7 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
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Santosha, "contentment," is defined through yadriccha-labha, "gain by chance," that is, from what comes of itself. The word yadriccha means "spontaneously, by chance, as it happens"; it is used where there is neither calculation nor pursuit. This definition deserves examination, for it is more precise than the ordinary understanding of contentment.
Contentment is usually understood as acquiescence in little: I have little, and I do not complain. Here something else is meant: joy from the unforeseen. There is a difference, and not a small one. Acquiescence in little is an effort of will and always contains a grain of bitterness. Joy from the unhoped-for requires no effort at all: it comes of itself, as what one rejoices in comes.
Here is the whole secret, if it is put plainly: one rejoices not at quantity, but at unexpectedness. What is obtained by calculation does not gladden, however great it be, for it is owed; but a trifle that has fallen for no reason at all gladdens. The Vaishnava side denotes the same thing with the word prasada, which means both "grace" and "what is distributed after an offering." The two meanings are joined not by chance: prasad is what is given, not what is taken by reckoning; and hence it is received without asking how much.
The Gita speaks of the same in describing the steadfast: yadriccha-labha-santushto, "content with what comes of itself, free of duality, without envy, even in success and failure — he, even while bound by acts, is not bound" (4.22). The expression there matches exactly what is said here, word for word; and this, it should be noted, is one of those instances where a book on yoga and the Gita speak in a single voice without any strain.