BHAGAVAD-GITA 6:3

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 6:3

 

aruruksor muner yogam

karma karanam ucyate

yogarudhasya tasyaiva

samah karanam ucyate

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

aruruksoh--who has just begun yoga; muneh--of the sage; yogam--the

eightfold yoga system; karma--work; karanam--the means; ucyate--is

said to be; yoga--eightfold yoga; arudhasya--of one who has attained;

tasya--his; eva--certainly; samah--cessation of all material

activities; karanam--the means; ucyate--is said to be.

 

TRANSLATION

 

For one who is a neophyte in the eightfold yoga system, work is said

to be the means; and for one who is already elevated in yoga,

cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.

 

PURPORT

 

The process of linking oneself with the Supreme is called yoga. It may

be compared to a ladder for attaining the topmost spiritual

realization. This ladder begins from the lowest material condition of

the living entity and rises up to perfect self-realization in pure

spiritual life. According to various elevations, different parts of

the ladder are known by different names. But all in all, the complete

ladder is called yoga and may be divided into three parts, namely

jnana-yoga, dhyana-yoga and bhakti-yoga. The beginning of the ladder

is called the yogaruruksu stage, and the highest rung is called

yogarudha.

 

Concerning the eightfold yoga system, attempts in the beginning to

enter into meditation through regulative principles of life and

practice of different sitting postures (which are more or less bodily

exercises) are considered fruitive material activities. All such

activities lead to achieving perfect mental equilibrium to control the

senses. When one is accomplished in the practice of meditation, he

ceases all disturbing mental activities.

 

A Krsna conscious person, however, is situated from the beginning on

the platform of meditation because he always thinks of Krsna. And,

being constantly engaged in the service of Krsna, he is considered to

have ceased all material activities.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.