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Chapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga · 47 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 6 · Dhyāna-yoga
6.26.4

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 6.3

Renunciation in the midst of action

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते ।

योगारूढस्यतस्यैव शम: कारणमुच्यते ॥ ३ ॥

ārurukṣor muner yogaṁ

karma kāraṇam ucyate

yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva

śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate

Translation

For one who is a neophyte in the eightfold yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who is already elevated in yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Stages of Yoga

  1. 1For beginners in eightfold yoga, work is the means of progress; for advanced practitioners, stopping all material activities is the means.
  2. 2Prabhupāda compares yoga to a ladder leading to perfect spiritual realization. One who always thinks of Kṛṣṇa and serves Him is already beyond material activities.
  3. 3Keep thinking of Kṛṣṇa and serving Him to remain on the platform of meditation.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 6, Dhyāna-yoga: renunciation in the midst of action.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Act dutifully without attachment to fruits.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 6.3 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?

Practice

Do one task today purely because it is right.

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Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 6.1Renunciation in the midst of actionBG 6.2Renunciation in the midst of actionBG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomesBG 3.21Leadership by example

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 6.3 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.