उपनिषद् · Varāha 2.74
॥
देवनागरी
बोधचन्द्रमसि पूर्णविग्रहे मोहराहुमुषितात्मतेजसि । स्नानदानयजनादिकाः क्रिया मोचनावधि वृथैव तिष्ठते
लिप्यंतरण (IAST)
bodhacandramasi pūrṇavigrahe moharāhumuṣitātmatejasi | snānadānayajanādikāḥ kriyā mocanāvadhi vṛthaiva tiṣṭhate
शब्दशः अर्थ
संस्कृतIASTअर्थ
बोध-चन्द्रमसि पूर्ण-विग्रहेbodha-candramasi pūrṇa-vigrahewhen the moon of realization, full in form
मोह-राहु-मुषित-आत्म-तेजसिmoha-rāhu-muṣita-ātma-tejasihas its own radiance stolen by Rahu of delusion
स्नान-दान-यजन-आदिकाः क्रियाःsnāna-dāna-yajana-ādikāḥ kriyāḥbathing, giving, sacrificing, and other acts
मोचन-अवधि वृथा एव तिष्ठतेmocana-avadhi vṛthā eva tiṣṭhateremain fruitless up to the point of liberation
अनुवाद
"When the moon of realization, full in form, has its own radiance stolen by Rahu of delusion, — bathing, giving, sacrificing, and other acts remain fruitless up to the point of liberation."
संस्करण
697740c39a43 · प्रकाशित 12 अग॰ 2026, 5:00:00 am UTC
उपलब्ध भाषाएँRUENश्लोक बदलें इन कुंजियों से
The comparison with an eclipse is given: the moon is whole, but its light is stolen by Rahu; and of Rahu, discussed when reading the Jabala-darshana (4.46). This comparison is good and deserves noting, for it is more precise than many. During an eclipse the moon does not diminish: it is full, and in an hour will appear whole. What is stolen is not the moon, but its visibility.
That is, delusion does not spoil knowledge, but screens it; and of the difference between soiled and covered, discussed when reading verse twelve. Let us add what is said of deeds: snana-dana-yajana-adikah kriyah vritha eva tishthate, "bathing, giving, sacrificing remain fruitless." This position is sharp, and it deserves examining in what sense to accept it.
If one takes it to mean these deeds are useless in themselves, we shall not agree: giving helps the recipient regardless of the giver's state. If one takes it to mean they do not lead one out, the Vaishnava side agrees with this too; and of the fact that fulfilling every duty without leading to devotion is shrama eva hi kevalam, "nothing but vain labor," discussed when reading the Yajnavalkya (p2). Let us add what softens this for it, and deserves knowing. Deeds are not vain if surrendered; and the whole difference is not in the deeds, but in whom they are intended for. This verse, apparently, means deeds performed for the sake of fruit — and read this way, it is correct.