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← Chapter 6: The Yoga of Meditation

Verse 6.3

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते। योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ārurukṣor muner yogaṁ karma kāraṇam ucyate yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate

Word-by-Word Meanings

ārurukṣoḥ-one who aspires to climb
muneḥ-of the sage
karma-action
kāraṇam-the means
yogārūḍhasya-one who has attained yoga
śamaḥ-cessation of activity/tranquility

Translation

For one who is a neophyte in yoga, action is said to be the means; for one who has already attained yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.

Commentary

This verse outlines the progressive path: karma yoga is the ladder for the aspirant, while for the adept who has reached the summit, inner stillness (śama) becomes the practice. It acknowledges different stages require different approaches.

Themes

yogakarmamoksha