Chapter 6, Verse 4
Dhyana Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
yadā—when; hi—certainly; na—not; indriya-artheṣhu—for sense-objects; na—not; karmasu—to actions; anuṣhajjate—is attachment; sarva-saṅkalpa—all desires for the fruits of actions; sanyāsī—renouncer; yoga-ārūḍhaḥ—elevated in the science of Yog; tadā—at that time; uchyate—is said
English translation
When a person is not attached to the sense-objects or to actions, having renounced all thoughts, then they are said to have attained Yoga.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 6.4
Commentary
Yogarudha he who is enthroned or established in Yoga. When a Yogi; by keeping the mind quite steady; by withdrawing it from the objects of the senses; has attachment neither for sensual objects such as sound; nor for the actions (Karmas; Cf. notes to V.13); knowing that they are of no use to him when he has renounced all thoughts which generate various sorts of desires for the objects of this world and of the next; then he is said to have become a Yogarudha. Do not think of senseobjects. The desires will die by themselves. How can you free yourself from thinking of the objects Think of God or the Self. Then you can avoid thinking of the objects. Then you can free yourself from thinking of the objects of the senses. Renunciation of thoughts implies that all desires and all actions should be renounced; because all desires are born of thoughts. You think first and then act (strive) afterwards to possess the objects of your desire for enjoyment. Whatever a man desires; that he willsAnd whatever he wills; that he does. -- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad; 4.4.5Renunciation of all actions necessarily follows from the renunciation of all desires. O desire I know where thy root lies. Thou art born of Sankalpa (thought). I will not think of thee and thou shalt cease to exist along with the root. -- Mahabharata; Santi Parva; 177.25Indeed desire is born of thought (Sankalpa); and of thought; Yajnas are born. -- Manu Smriti; II.2
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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