Upaniṣads · Mahā 4.88
॥
Devanāgarī
स्वायत्तमेकान्तहितं स्वेप्सितत्यागवेदनम् यस्य दुष्करतां यातं धिक्तं पुरुषकीटकम्
Transliteración (IAST)
svāyattamekāntahitaṃ svepsitatyāgavedanam yasya duṣkaratāṃ yātaṃ dhiktaṃ puruṣakīṭakam
Palabra por palabra
SánscritoIASTSignificado
स्व-आयत्तम् एक-अन्त-हितम्sva-āyattam eka-anta-hitamone's own, wholly beneficial; in one's own power, unconditionally salutary
स्व-ईप्सित-त्याग-वेदनम्sva-īpsita-tyāga-vedanamthe knowing of the giving-up of the desired; the understanding of leaving the longed-for
यस्य दुष्करताम् यातम्yasya duṣkaratām yātamfor whom it has become hard to do; for whom it has grown impracticable
धिक् तम् पुरुष-कीटकम्dhik tam puruṣa-kīṭakamshame on that man-worm; fie upon that worm in human shape
Traducción
“He for whom this has become impracticable — this knowledge of giving up the desired, which is in his own power and wholly for his good — shame on that man-worm.”
Versión
0529798eb178 · publicado 29 jul 2026, 6:29:20 UTC
Disponible enRUENPasa de verso en verso con
An abusive verse, and the abuse in it is calculated.
The argument is built on two definitions.
First: sva-āyatta — “in one's own power”. Anyone can give up the desired; for this one needs neither health, nor means, nor permission, nor luck.
Second: eka-anta-hita — “unconditionally beneficial”. No reservations, no possible harm.
And here is a thing wholly in your power and wholly to your good — and it proves impracticable.
Hence puruṣa-kīṭaka — “a man-worm”, with the abusive dhik, “fie”.
It is worth understanding why the teacher rails. Not from contempt: before him is a pupil who has just pronounced fifty-seven verses of revulsion from the world. The abuse is addressed not to the weak, but to one who can and delays.
This is an ancient manner of teaching — to sting where persuasion does not take.