Upanishads · Jābāladarśana 6.31
॥
Devanāgarī
नेत्ररोगा विनश्यन्ति तथा श्रोत्रनिरोधनात् । तथा वायुं समारोप्य धारयेच्छिरसि स्थितम्
Transliteration (IAST)
netrarogā vinaśyanti tathā śrotranirodhanāt | tathā vāyuṃ samāropya dhārayecchirasi sthitam
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
नेत्र-रोगाः विनश्यन्तिnetra-rogāḥ vinaśyantidiseases of the eyes perish
तथा श्रोत्र-निरोधनात्tathā śrotra-nirodhanātand likewise from retention in the ears
तथा वायुं समारोप्यtathā vāyuṃ samāropyalikewise, having raised the wind
धारयेत् शिरसि स्थितम्dhārayet śirasi sthitamlet him hold it standing in the head
Translation
"Diseases of the eyes perish, and likewise from retention in the ears; likewise, having raised the wind, let him hold it standing in the head."
Version
d5025380ef8a · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The chart reaches the eyes, the ears, and the head; the measure of the promises has already been discussed. Worth noting is that the list proceeds from bottom to top: toe, navel, tongue, brows, eyes, ears, head. This order is no accident and corresponds to the whole structure of the yogic teaching, in which one ascends from the base to the crown.
It is worth saying something about the very image of ascent, for it determines a great deal in these books. The highest is placed above: in the crown, in the brahma-aperture; and the path is described as a climb. Correspondingly, a fall is described as a descent, and the lower worlds are placed beneath the earth.
This image is common to all traditions and, apparently, springs from simple bodily experience: the head is above, the feet below; one looks up when bowing, down when kneeling. The Vaishnava side uses this image too, but has also its reverse, discussed when reading the Bhasma-jabala (2.39): its highest is described as lowest in position. He who is above all herds cows, serves guests, washes feet, drives a chariot. And hence its books constantly repeat that He is easier to find below than above; and its famous rule — trinad api sunichena, "humbler than a blade of grass" — directly bids one go in the direction opposite to the summit.
The two images do not contradict each other, if one remembers what each is applied to. One ascends by effort; one descends by disposition; and what is attained by the first is received by the second.