Is sometimes used as an alternative to vairāgya, an objective inner distance (dispassion).

Because nirveda can also mean 'disgust', it generally has a slightly more negative connotation than vairāgya, which is used to relate to the world in a calm, balanced and above all neutral way.

But with nirveda correctly realizing (samyagdarśana) that worldly striving does not lead to happiness can be an enormous motivation to be a sincere seeker of freedom. This can be accompanied by some crisis and negativity, until Vedanta comes your way and the teacher tells you that the world is a divine () expression, and how this divine is equal to yourself (as its substrate pure consciousness). Often the one who realizes that happiness is not to be found in the world (but only in the self) is ready for a means of knowledge such as Vedānta. Which will then also come his or her path.

Vairāgya actually goes a lot further. Vairāgya has someone who, after viveka (distinguishing between what is always and therefore real, nitya and what is temporary and transient, and therefore relatively real, anitya) knows that the world with its dolls is not real, but an expression of brahman.

Nirveda can also mean 'not (nir) Vedic (veda)'. But that is not how it is used in Vedānta.

In Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.12 it is stated as follows:

parīkṣya lokān karmacitān brāhmaṇo nirvedaṃ āyāt...
“The wise investigate the world of actions, and attain nirveda…”

Nirveda is thus the awakening stage in which one realizes the unsatisfactoriness of worldly life. This leads to mumukṣutva – the desire for liberation, and then to jijñāsu, the search for knowledge. One sees the limitations of karma and seeks the imperishable.