पुङ्खानुपुङ्खविषयेक्षणतत्परोऽपि
ब्रह्मावलोकनधियं न जहाति योगी ।
सङ्गीतताललयवाद्यवंशगतापि
मौलिस्थकुम्भपरिरक्षणधीर्नटीव ॥
puṅkhānupuṅkha-viṣayekṣaṇa-tatparo’pi
brahmāvalokana-dhiyaṁ na jahāti yogī |
saṅgīta-tāla-laya-vādya-vaṁśa-gatāpi
maulistha-kumbha-parirakṣaṇa-dhīr naṭīva ||
(Varāha Upaniṣad: 2.82)
“Even while engaged in observing the objects of the senses, arrow after arrow, the yogī does not give up awareness of seeing Brahman, just as a dancer, even while engaged in [i.e. dancing in] accord with a composition of singing, rhythm, time, and instrumental music, does not give up her awareness of balancing the pot situated atop her head.”
Alternate version
पुङ्खानुपुङ्खविषयेक्षणतत्परोऽपि
धीरो न मुञ्चति मुकुन्दपदारविन्दम् ।
सङ्गीतताललयवाद्यवंशगतापि
मौलिस्थकुम्भपरिरक्षणधीर्नटीव ॥
puṅkhānupuṅkha-viṣayekṣaṇa-tatparo’pi
dhīro na muñcati mukunda-padāravindam |
saṅgīta-tāla-laya-vādya-vaṁśa-gatāpi
maulistha-kumbha-parirakṣaṇa-dhīr naṭīva ||
(Varāha Upaniṣad: 2.82)
“Even while engaged in observing the objects of the senses, arrow after arrow, a wise person does not give up the lotus feet of Mukunda, just as a dancer, even while engaged in [i.e. dancing in] accord with a composition of singing, rhythm, time, and instrumental music, does not give up her awareness of balancing the pot situated atop her head.”