Upanishads · Jābāladarśana 6.24
॥
Devanāgarī
सर्वरोगनिवृत्तिः स्यान्नाभिमध्ये तु धारणात् । शरीरलघुता विप्र पादाङ्गुष्ठनिरोधनात्
Transliteration (IAST)
sarvaroganivṛttiḥ syānnābhimadhye tu dhāraṇāt | śarīralaghutā vipra pādāṅguṣṭhanirodhanāt
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
सर्व-रोग-निवृत्तिः स्यात्sarva-roga-nivṛttiḥ syātcessation of all diseases let it be
नाभि-मध्ये तु धारणात्nābhi-madhye tu dhāraṇātfrom holding, however, in the middle of the navel
शरीर-लघुता विप्रśarīra-laghutā vipralightness of the body, O vipra
पाद-अङ्गुष्ठ-निरोधनात्pāda-aṅguṣṭha-nirodhanātfrom retention at the big toe
Translation
"Let the cessation of all diseases be from holding in the middle of the navel; lightness of the body, O vipra, from retention at the big toe."
Version
94ba2d99f059 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The chart begins: navel — against disease, toe — lightness. The measure of such promises was discussed in the preceding line; here it is worth examining the very structure of the chart, for it is curious. The place of concentration is chosen by resemblance to the effect. The navel is the body's center and is tied to digestion — hence health. The toe is the lowest and lightest point — hence lightness.
Behind this stands the same bandhu, "connection by resemblance," discussed when reading the fourth khanda; and, as said there, correspondence by resemblance proves nothing, though it aids memory. It is worth noting, however, what truth lies behind it. Attention directed at a place truly does change the sensation of that place; and a person concentrated on the belly soon notices in it what he had not noticed before. This is not a cure, but not nothing either: the relation to the body changes.
The Vaishnava side speaks of this rarely, and when it does, stresses something else. Its books bid one remember whose body this is: "body, home, sons, wealth — all this is Yours" is its usual formula of surrender (sharanagati). With this relation, care for the body is not cancelled, but its ground changes. Not "my body, and I must preserve it," but "entrusted, and must be kept in order"; and anyone who has kept another's property knows that this is both stricter and easier.