Upanishads · Varāha 2.42
॥
Devanāgarī
यस्मिन्काले स्वमात्मानं योगी जानाति केवलम् । तस्मात्कालात्समारभ्य जीवन्मुक्तो भयेदसौ
Transliteration (IAST)
yasminkāle svamātmānaṃ yogī jānāti kevalam | tasmātkālātsamārabhya jīvanmukto bhayedasau
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
यस्मिन् काले स्वम् आत्मानंyasmin kāle svam ātmānaṃat what time his own self
योगी जानाति केवलम्yogī jānāti kevalamthe yogi knows alone
तस्मात् कालात् समारभ्यtasmāt kālāt samārabhyafrom that time onward
जीवन्-मुक्तः भवेत् असौjīvan-muktaḥ bhavet asaulet him be liberated while living
Translation
"At whatever time the yogi knows his own self alone, — from that time onward, he is liberated while living."
Version
d5bbfee119fd · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Worth noting is the phrase tasmat kalat samarabhya, "from that time onward." That is, liberation is marked by a day: from such-and-such an hour, a person is free. This phrase echoes what we read in the Yajnavalkya (p4): yad ahar eva virajet tad ahar eva pravrajet, "on whatever day he becomes dispassionate, on that very day let him depart."
In both cases, what is named decisive is a day, not a period of practice. This consideration deserves holding onto, for it lifts one of the chief burdens of every path. If a period decides, one must count the years and measure the distance; and one who measures distance grows despondent.
If a day decides, it can be today; and everything before it is preparation, not merit. The Vaishnava side holds to the second, and states the same through the notion of kripa: grace is not measured out by diligence, and comes when it comes. Let us add what it qualifies here, and what keeps one from relying on chance.
One who waits for the day must be in place when it comes. Hence daily practice is not cancelled: not because it purchases the day, but because it keeps a person where the day will find him. The comparison given is simple: the fisherman does not produce the fish, but the net must be in the water.