Bhagavad Gita 6.46तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः।कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन ॥
tapasvibhyo ’dhiko yogī jñānibhyo ’pi mato
’dhikaḥ karmibhyaśh chādhiko yogī tasmād yogī bhavārjuna
Sanskrit recitation
When the mind will not stay · 6.33–6.47 · Teaching
Translation
The yogi is thought to be superior to the ascetics, even superior to those who have knowledge obtained through the study of scriptures; he is also superior to men of action; therefore, be thou a yogi, O Arjuna.
Hindi translation
(सकामभाववाले) तपस्वियोंसे भी योगी श्रेष्ठ है, ज्ञानियोंसे भी योगी श्रेष्ठ है और कर्मियोंसे भी योगी श्रेष्ठ है -- ऐसा मेरा मत है। अतः हे अर्जुन ! तू योगी हो जा।
Meaning
Tapasvi One who observes the austerities of speech, mind and body prescribed in chapter XVII. 14, 15 and 16.Jnani One who has a knowledge of the scriptures (an indirect knowledge or theoretical knowledge of the Self).Karmi He who performs the Vedic rituals.To all these the Yogi is superior, for he has the direct knowledge of the Self through intuition or direct cognition through Nirvikalpa Samadhi. (Cf.V.2XII.12XIII.24)
After Swami Sivananda
When the mind will not stay· 6.33–6.47→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 6.33Arjuna said, "O Krishna, I do not see how this Yoga of equanimity, which you have taught…
- 6.34The mind is indeed restless, turbulent, strong, and unyielding, O Krishna; I consider it…
- 6.35The Blessed Lord said, "Undoubtedly, O mighty-armed Arjuna, the mind is difficult to…
- 6.36I think Yoga is hard to be attained by one with an uncontrolled self, but the…
- 6.37Arjuna said, "He who is unable to control himself, even though he has faith, and whose…
- 6.38Fallen from both, does he not perish like a rent cloud, supportless, O mighty-armed one,…
- 6.39O Krishna, please completely dispel this doubt of mine, for it is not possible for anyone…
- 6.40The Blessed Lord said, "O Arjuna, neither in this world nor in the next will there be…
- 6.41Having attained to the worlds of the righteous and having dwelt there for everlasting…
- 6.42Or he is born in a family of even the wisest of yogis; verily, such a birth is very…
- 6.43Then he comes into contact with the knowledge acquired in his former body and strives even…
- 6.44By that same former practice, he is borne on in spite of himself. Even he who merely…
- 6.45But the Yogi who strives assiduously, purified of sins and perfected gradually over many…
6.46The yogi is thought to be superior to the ascetics, even superior to those who have…
- 6.47And among all the Yogis, he who, full of faith and with his inner self merged in Me,…
Word-by-word→
- api
- even
- cha
- and
- bhava
- just become
- yogī
- a yogi
- arjuna
- Arjun
- mataḥ
- considered
- tasmāt
- therefore
- adhikaḥ
- superior
- karmibhyaḥ
- than the ritualistic performers
- jñānibhyaḥ
- than the persons of learning
- tapasvibhyaḥ
- than the ascetics
Related verses
- 6.20When the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, attains quietude, and when one sees the…
- 12.9If you are unable to fix your mind steadily on Me, then seek to reach Me through the yoga…
- 8.12Having closed all the gates, confined the mind in the heart, and fixed the life-breath in…
- 18.42Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness, and uprightness, as well as…