Bhagavad Gita BG 6.3
Chapter 6, Verse 3 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते । योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते ॥
arurukshormuneryogam karma karanam ucyate yogarudhasya tasyaiva shamah karanam ucyate
Meaning
For the sage seeking to ascend to yoga, action is said to be the means. For the one who has already ascended to yoga, stillness (shama) is said to be the means.
Understanding
A key pedagogical verse — two stages, two means. Arurukshu (one wishing to climb/ascend): for the seeker just beginning, karma (action — here, disciplined, detached action) is the karanam (means, cause). Yogarudha (one who has ascended to yoga, established in it): for the mature practitioner, shama (cessation of mental activity, inner stillness) is the means for deepening further. Action builds purity; purity enables stillness; stillness reveals the Self.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| आरुरुक्षोः | arurukshoh | of one wishing to ascend, a beginner |
| कारणम् | karanam | cause, means, instrument |
| योगारूढस्य | yogarudhasya | of one who has ascended to yoga, established |
| शमः | shamah | cessation, inner stillness, quietude of mind |
| मुनेः | muneḥ | of a sage / for a sage (seeking yoga) |
| योगम् | yogam | yoga / the practice of yoga |
| उच्यते | ucyate | is said / is declared |
| तस्य | tasya | his / for him (who has attained yoga) |
| एव | eva | alone / only (for the one already established) |