In Bhagavad Gita 6.3, Krishna says that for the sage who wishes to ascend to yoga, action is the means; for one who has ascended, stillness is the means.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं
कर्म कारणमुच्यते
योगारूढस्य तस्यैव
शमः कारणमुच्यते ॥ ६-३ ॥
ārurukṣormuneryogaṃ
karma kāraṇamucyate
yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva
śamaḥ kāraṇamucyate
English transliteration aarurukshormuneryogam
karma kaaranamuchyate
yogaaroodhasya tasyaiva
shamah kaaranamuchyate ॥ 6.3 ॥
Translation / Meaning
For the sage who wishes to climb to yoga, action is said to be the means. For the same sage when he has attained yoga, serenity is said to be the means.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| आरुरुक्षोः ārurukṣoḥ | of one wishing to ascend |
| मुनेः muneḥ | of the sage |
| योगम् yogam | to yoga |
| कर्म karma | action |
| कारणम् kāraṇam | the means |
| उच्यते ucyate | is said |
| योगारूढस्य yogārūḍhasya | of one who has ascended to yoga yoga (yoga) + ārūḍhasya (ascended) |
| तस्य tasya | of him |
| एव eva | indeed |
| शमः śamaḥ | serenity, stillness |
| कारणम् kāraṇam | the means |
| उच्यते ucyate | is said |
Word-wise Chanting
- ā–ru–ru–kṣor–mu–ner–yo–gaṃ 8 syllables aa-ru-ru-kshor-mu-ner-yo-gam
- kar–ma kā–ra–ṇa–muc–ya–te | 8 syllables kar-ma kaa-ra-na-much-ya-te
- yo–gā–rū–ḍhas–ya tas–yai–va 8 syllables yo-gaa-roo-dhas-ya tas-yai-va
- śa–maḥ kā–ra–ṇa–muc–ya–te || 6-3 8 syllables sha-mah kaa-ra-na-much-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 6 Verse 3
Context
Krishna describes the stages of the yogic path (6.3–6.4).
Meaning
The path has two stages. The ārurukṣu, the one who wants to climb, uses karma, selfless action, to purify the mind. The yogārūḍha, one who has reached the summit, uses śama, inner tranquillity, as the means of remaining established. Action prepares; stillness sustains.
This verse helps us understand where we are. Most of us are climbers: our main practice is acting rightly. As the mind becomes pure, meditation and stillness naturally deepen. Each stage has its appropriate discipline.
In Practice
Reflect on your current stage: is your main need now more right action or more stillness? Give extra attention to that today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.