Upaniṣads · Varāha 3.26
॥
Devanāgarī
अनात्मविदमुक्तोऽपि सिद्धिजालानि वाञ्छति । द्रव्यमन्त्रक्रियाकालयुक्त्याप्नोति मुनीश्वर
Transliteración (IAST)
anātmavidamukto'pi siddhijālāni vāñchati | dravyamantrakriyākālayuktyāpnoti munīśvara
Palabra por palabra
SánscritoIASTSignificado
अन्-आत्म-वित् अ-मुक्तः अपिan-ātma-vit a-muktaḥ apinot knowing the self, and unfree
सिद्धि-जालानि वाञ्छतिsiddhi-jālāni vāñchatidesires the nets of perfections
द्रव्य-मन्त्र-क्रिया-काल-युक्त्याdravya-mantra-kriyā-kāla-yuktyāby substance, mantra, rite, time, and method
आप्नोति मुनि-ईश्वरāpnoti muni-īśvarahe attains, O lord of the silent sages
Traducción
"Not knowing the self, and unfree, he desires the nets of perfections; by substance, mantra, rite, time, and method he attains them, O lord of the silent sages."
Versión
be59ec352270 · publicado 12 ago 2026, 5:00:00 UTC
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Worth noting is the phrase siddhi-jala, "nets of perfections." Jala means "a net"; and perfections are called not a gift, but a trap. And the means by which they are obtained are listed: dravya (substance), mantra, kriya (rite), kala (time, that is, an auspicious hour), yukti (method).
This list is a list of a craft, and it shows the matter was conceived as a technique, not as grace. Worth noting is the chief point: it says that anatma-vit amukto'pi, "one who neither knows the self nor is free," attains them. That is, perfections testify to nothing: they are obtained by technique and fall to whoever attains them.
This remark is, in my view, the most valuable thing that can be said on this subject, and it saves one from many misunderstandings. The Vaishnava side stands on this too, discussed when reading the Jabala-darshana (6.20): perfections in themselves are no sign, for both Ravana and Hiranyakashipu possessed them. Let us add what it draws from this for discernment.
The mark is not capacity, but a change of character; and of its marks — tears, trembling, a diminishing pull toward everything else — discussed when reading the Jabala-darshana (5.11). Capacity is acquired by technique; character is not acquired by technique.