Self-Control - 06 - 03

The Shloka

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आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते ।

योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते ॥

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Ārurukṣormuner yogaṁ karma kāraṇamucyate ।

Yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇamucyate ॥

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Meaning / Summary

This shloka highlights the evolutionary nature of spiritual practice. It teaches that the path to spiritual realization is not static; it changes as an individual progresses. Initially, active engagement in duties (Karma Yoga) without attachment purifies the mind and prepares one for higher states. Once the mind is purified and one has attained a steady state in Yoga, the focus shifts from external action to internal stillness and mental control (Jnana Yoga or Dhyana Yoga). This verse validates both paths (action and inaction) as appropriate at different stages, preventing rigid adherence to one method when another becomes more beneficial.

For the sage who desires to ascend to Yoga, action is said to be the means. For that very same person, when he has attained Yoga, tranquility is said to be the means.

The shloka explains two stages in a yogi’s journey: for an aspirant seeking to achieve Yoga, performing selfless action (karma) is the essential means. However, for the same individual once they have established themselves in Yoga, cessation from intense external actions and cultivating inner tranquility (shama) becomes the primary means for further spiritual progress.

Sentence - 1

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आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते ।

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Meaning

For the sage who wishes to ascend to Yoga (or attain the state of meditation), action (karma) is said to be the means.

Meaning of Words

आरुरुक्षोः	Ārurukṣoḥ
Of one who desires to ascend or climb; aspiring to attain. This term refers to an individual who is striving or aspiring to reach a higher state. In the context of Yoga, it means someone who is at the initial stages of spiritual practice and wishes to elevate their consciousness to the state of Yoga (union with the Divine).
मुनेः	Muneḥ
Of the sage; of the contemplative one. A ‘muni’ is typically a sage, a seer, or a contemplative person who practices silence and deep meditation. Here, it refers to an individual who is embarking on the spiritual path and seeking self-realization or inner peace.
योगं	Yogaṁ
Yoga; the spiritual discipline or state of union. Yoga, in this context, refers to the profound spiritual state of union with the Supreme Self, or the disciplined practice leading to that state. It’s the goal of spiritual endeavor, characterized by tranquility, self-control, and absorption in the divine.
कर्म	Karma
Action; work; duty. Karma denotes action, particularly action performed without attachment to its results. For a spiritual aspirant (ārurukṣu), performing one’s prescribed duties and actions in the world, without being bound by desire for their fruits, is considered a crucial step to purify the mind and prepare for higher states of Yoga.
कारणम्	Kāraṇam
The cause; the means; the instrument. This signifies that action is the effective method or the necessary step for someone who is at the beginning of their spiritual journey and aiming to achieve Yoga. It’s the ‘how-to’ for the aspirant.
उच्यते	Ucyate
Is said; is declared; is stated. This indicates that it is a widely accepted principle or a teaching conveyed through scriptures or by spiritual masters.

Sentence - 2

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योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते ॥

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Meaning

For that very same person, when he has attained Yoga (is established in meditation), tranquility (cessation of action) is said to be the means.

Meaning of Words

योगारूढस्य	Yogārūḍhasya
Of one who has ascended to Yoga; one who has attained the state of Yoga. This term describes an individual who has successfully reached and established themselves in the state of Yoga. They have transcended the initial struggles and their mind is now stable, composed, and absorbed in spiritual consciousness.
तस्यैव	Tasyaiva
Of that very one; of him alone. This emphasizes that the transition is for the same individual. It highlights that the path changes for the same person once they reach a different stage of spiritual development.
शमः	Śamaḥ
Tranquility; cessation (of action); calmness; repose. Shama refers to the withdrawal of the senses from external objects, the control of the mind, and the subsequent inner peace and tranquility. For an accomplished Yogi, intense external action is no longer the primary means; instead, maintaining inner stillness and quietude becomes paramount for deeper spiritual realization.

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