Brahmavidya Upanishad: Verse 50
गृहस्थो ब्रह्मचारी च वानप्रस्थश्च भिक्षुकः । यत्र तत्र स्थितो ज्ञानी परमाक्षरवित्सदा ॥ विषयी विषयासक्तो याति देहान्तरे शुभम् । ज्ञानादेवास्य शास्त्रस्य सर्वावस्थोऽपि मानवः ॥४९-५०॥
गृहस्थः । ब्रह्मचारी । च । वानप्रस्थः । च । भिक्षुकः । यत्र । तत्र । स्थितः । ज्ञानी । परम-अक्षर-वित् । सदा ॥ विषयी । विषय-आसक्तः । याति । देह-अन्तरे । शुभम् । ज्ञानात् । एव । अस्य । शास्त्रस्य । सर्व-अवस्थः । अपि । मानवः ॥
gṛhastho brahmacārī ca vānaprasthaś ca bhikṣukaḥ | yatra tatra sthito jñānī paramākṣaravit sadā || viṣayī viṣayāsakto yāti dehāntare śubham | jñānād evāsya śāstrasya sarvāvastho 'pi mānavaḥ ||49–50||
कोई घर में रहता हो, कोई ब्रह्मचारी हो, जंगल में हो या फकीर हो। जो भी हो, जो इंसान परमात्मा को जानता है वही ग्यानी है। जो लोग दुनिया की चीज़ों में फंसे रहते हैं, वो दूसरी बॉडी में जाते हैं। लेकिन इस ग्यान से इंसान किसी भी हाल में अपना काम कर लेता है।
Whether a householder, a celibate student, a forest-dweller, or a mendicant—wherever he may be situated—the knower, the constant knower of the supreme Imperishable, (is such). The sense-enjoyer, attached to objects, goes into another body; by the knowledge of this teaching alone, a human being—even in any condition of life—(attains the goal).
- Same as Brahmavidya.49: vānaprasthaś ca → vānaprasthaḥ ca
- paramākṣaravit → parama-akṣara-vit
- jñānād evāsya → jñānāt eva asya
- sarvāvastho 'pi → sarva-avasthaḥ api
About this Verse
- Central concept
- Mokṣa through jñāna; nondependence on external āśrama; bondage through attachment
- The mahavakyas
- Reinforces that mahāvākya-knowledge is the liberating factor across life-stages, provided inner qualification is present.
- Veda
- Atharva
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh (śloka)
Yoga and practice
Directs practice toward dispassion and inner steadiness rather than identity with roles; supports pratyāhāra and dhyāna on the imperishable witness; encourages integrating contemplation with one’s current duties (karma-yoga as preparation).
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