Upaniṣads · Mahā 4.3
॥
Devanāgarī
एकं वा सर्वयत्नेन सर्वमुत्सृज्य संश्रयेत् एकस्मिन्वशगे यान्ति चत्वारोऽपि वशं गताः
Transliteración (IAST)
ekaṃ vā sarvayatnena sarvamutsṛjya saṃśrayet ekasminvaśage yānti catvāro'pi vaśaṃ gatāḥ
Palabra por palabra
SánscritoIASTSignificado
एकम् वा सर्व-यत्नेनekam vā sarva-yatnenaor to one, with every effort; or else to one, exerting all one's strength
सर्वम् उत्सृज्य संश्रयेत्sarvam utsṛjya saṃśrayetleaving all, let him hold fast; having cast off the rest, let him keep
एकस्मिन् वशगे यान्तिekasmin vaśage yāntiwhen one is won over, there come; with the winning of one, there appear
चत्वारः अपि वशम् गताःcatvāraḥ api vaśam gatāḥall four, won over likewise; the four as well, all subdued
Traducción
“Or let him, leaving all else, hold with all his strength to one: when one is won over, all four turn out to be won.”
Versión
fc85e4e6af74 · publicado 29 jul 2026, 6:29:20 UTC
Disponible enRUENPasa de verso en verso con
The rule that makes the previous verse applicable.
Four is many; a man who takes on everything at once usually takes on nothing. Ṛbhu removes this difficulty: take one.
Why it works is seen if one tries. Begin with the company of the righteous — and contentment will come of itself, for beside them one stops counting one's own. Begin with contentment — and the mind will grow still, for anxiety feeds on lack. Begin with calm — and inquiry becomes possible, for muddy water does not reflect.
The four are linked as the parts of one health are linked.
Note the words sarva-yatnena — “with every effort”, and sarvam utsṛjya — “leaving all”. The demand is not for variety but for concentration: do one thing, but do it in earnest.
This is perhaps the most practical counsel in the whole book.