This verse establishes a crucial methodological premise for the yogic path, drawing directly from the Upaniṣadic understanding of moksha – liberation – as fundamentally linked to the direct experience of the ātman. The phrase “those who have crossed,” or para-ga, signifies those who have attained a profound realization, a crossing over of the illusory realm of multiplicity into the unity of being. Yājñavalkya thus frames the initial stage of practice as a rigorous process of vichara, discrimination, directed specifically at the ātman. This isn’t merely intellectual contemplation, but a sustained, disciplined examination of one’s own nature, seeking to dismantle the constructed self and arrive at a direct apprehension of the underlying reality. The emphasis on vichara echoes the foundational role of inquiry within the Patañjali Yoga Sutras, where it is identified as the initial limb of yoga, a critical step in transforming the restless mind. Ultimately, the practice of contemplating the ātman through discrimination lays the groundwork for subsequent stages, including the control of the prāṇas and the cultivation of samādhi, aligning the practitioner with the true nature of existence.