Gita : Ch-6. Slo-2.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter-6. ( Dhyana-yogam )


Slokam -2. ( What is called renunciation is the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the Supreme, for no one can become a yogī unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification.)



yam   sannyasamiti    prahuah    yogam    tam    viddhi    pandava,



na   hyasannyastasankalpah   yogi    bhavati    kascana.



yam  =  what;

sannyasam   iti   prahuh  =  renunciation     thus    they    say;

tam    yogam     viddhi  =  that    linking     with     the    Supreme     you    must    know;

hi  =  Why   because;

asannyasta    sankalpa  =  without   giving    up,  sankalpam-s  (  self  - plans/imaginations/thoughts/keeping in mind );

kascana     yogi    na     bhavati  =  nobody   becomes    yogi.


Lord Krishna is declaring that what is known as sannyasa or renunciation and what is known as yoga or the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciouness are all leading to atma tattva or realisation of the soul and are only different forms of karma yoga or prescribed Vedic activities. No one can perform yoga who is infatuated by delusion. The words asannyasta-sankalpo means without renouncing the desire for rewards Without renunciation is not possible to be free from delusion for the error is there of mistaking the physical body as the atma or soul. One who by the power of self introspection gleans knowledge by meditation of the atma within the etheric heart of their physical body is freed from this delusion. No one who has failed to shake off the binding fetters of hankering for rewards and desire for sense pleasures is under the sway of delusion is never regarded as performing karma yoga nor considered a real renunciate.


Exactly what is a sannyasa or renunciation in abnegation and what is a yogi or one who is perfecting the science of the individual consciousness to attain the ultimate consciousness? To answer this Lord Krishna establishes that karma yoga or the performance of prescribed Vedic activities when matured into egoless actions is the same as renunciation. The Narayana Purana and other Vedic scriptures have extolled the virtues of sannyasa with statements like: Sannyasa alone excels everything and Sannyasa is to be yoga itself. But the question may be raised that if sannyasa is merely the renunciation of the rewards of action which is found also in the mature stages of karma yoga by not hankering for rewards then why should sannyasa be so glorified? It is because with sannyasa one renounces the desire for rewards for action as well as the action itself, whereas in karma yoga one renounces only the desire for reward of the action. As no one can be a renunciate or yogi without first relinquishing the desire to enjoy the rewards of action there is a common factor with both and so either can be considered a renunciate or a yogi by the cessation of craving for results and rewards. According to Pantajali all mental fluctuations become dormant as there is no reason to strive for obtaining anything.


The discussion of the previous verse is augmented here by the statement yogam tam viddhi meaning know that yoga or the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness, which means performing karma yoga or prescribed Vedic activities selflessly without any sense of ego for rewards is the same as sannyasa or renunciation in abnegation. In the Vedic scriptures are seen passages like: Thus go beyond even sannyasa by performing all actions in this manner. This is designated as true renunciation. Why? Because one may not be considered doing yoga without the cessation of desires for reward.


Renunciation is also included within the developed stages of karma yoga or prescribed Vedic activities for as Lord Krishna states if desires and cravings are not abandoned then how is equanumity of actions possible? This is the underlying meaning of this slokam.

An advanced special attribute of karma yoga is verily the attribute of renunciation of the rewards of action. This is the vyakkanam.


To be continued   ....