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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.46
तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिक: ।
कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन ॥ ४६ ॥
tapasvibhyo ’dhiko yogī
jñānibhyo ’pi mato ’dhikaḥ
karmibhyaś cādhiko yogī
tasmād yogī bhavārjuna
A yogī is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogī.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
A yogī is greater than those who practice austerity, pursue knowledge, or work for rewards. Arjuna is told to be a yogī in all circumstances.
Yoga links our consciousness with the Supreme Lord. Bhakti-yoga, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, is the highest perfection of all yoga.
In all circumstances, develop your devotional relationship with the Supreme Lord through bhakti-yoga.
Yogi is better than all others who endeavor perfection (Ascetic, empiricist, fruitive worker)
Yoga is defined as linking consciousness to the Supreme Absolute Truth
Yoga is named differently according to different methods adopted
If linking process is predominantly fruitive acts – called Karma yoga
If linking process is predominantly empirical – called Jnana yoga
If linking process is predominantly devotional – called Bhakti yoga
Bhakti-yoga is the ultimate perfection of yoga — anything short of that is imperfect
Ascetics without self knowledge – imperfect
Empiric knowledge without surrender – imperfect
Karma-yoga without Krishna Consciousness – waste of time
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 6.46 & 6.47 — Thus Text 6.46 reveals the progressive rungs on the yoga ladder by clearly glorifying yogis above karmis, jnanis and tapasvis. Krishna now gives his final statement about the yogi of the highest caliber.
Yogis are greater than empiricists, fruitive workers and ascetics.
Of all yogis, those who with full faith always think of Krishna and render transcendental loving service to Him, are the highest of all
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: bhakti, śaraṇāgati.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 6.46 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to bhakti & surrender?
Offer one act today with devotion.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.