Chapter 6 · Verse 46

Path of Meditation

तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः। कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन
tapasvibhyo ’dhiko yogī jñānibhyo ’pi mato ’dhikaḥ karmibhyaśh chādhiko yogī tasmād yogī bhavārjuna

Word Meanings

tapasvibhyaḥ — than the ascetics; adhikaḥ — superior; yogī — a yogi; jñānibhyaḥ — than the persons of learning; api — even; mataḥ — considered; adhikaḥ — superior; karmibhyaḥ — than the ritualistic performers; cha — and; adhikaḥ — superior; yogī — a yogi; tasmāt — therefore; yogī — a yogi; bhava — just become; arjuna — Arjun

Translation

The yogi is superior to the ascetic, superior even to the learned, and superior to the performer of rituals; therefore, O Arjuna, be a yogi.

Commentary

तपस्विभ्यः than ascetics? अधिकः superior? योगी the Yogi? ज्ञानिभ्यः than the wise? अपि even? मतः thought? अधिकः superior? कर्मिभ्यः than the men of action? च and? अधिकः superior? योगी the Yogi? तस्मात् therefore? योगी a Yogi? भव be? अर्जुन O Arjuna.Commentary 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)