Cessation of Sensory Pursuit
Uparati ('cessation,' 'withdrawal,' 'stopping') is the third of the ṣaṭ-sampat. It refers to the natural cessation of the soul's pursuit of sensory enjoyment — the point at which the mind no longer actively seeks pleasures from external objects. This is distinct from dama (restraining the senses) — uparati is the fruit of dama carried to a deeper level, where the pursuit itself has ceased rather than merely being restrained.
Three Interpretations
Different Vedāntic schools interpret uparati somewhat differently: (1) as the practice of observing one's own dharmic duties and not interfering with others' duties; (2) as withdrawal of the senses from their objects following the discipline of dama; (3) as the mind's natural rest in the self rather than turning outward. All three share the core meaning of a certain inner stopping — the hustle of sensory seeking subsides.
Uparati and Bhakti
In the context of bhakti (devotion), uparati is achieved not primarily through willpower but through the positive replacement of lower pleasures with the higher joy of devotional experience. When the Āzhvārs describe the Lord's sweetness as exceeding all other pleasures combined, they are describing a state of natural uparati — not absence of joy but the displacement of lesser joys by the supreme joy of the Lord's presence.
Uparati in Daily Life
For the Sri Vaishnava practicing kaiṅkarya-centered living, uparati manifests as: choosing simpler food, entertainment, and social life; not pursuing status or pleasure beyond one's natural dharmic position; reserving energy for the Lord's service. This is not world-denial but world-simplification in service of a greater engagement.