Shloka 33
Yoga-kṛtya (योककृत्य) — Vyāsa on Sense-Restraint, Obstacles, and Brahman-Realization
अपृथग्धर्मिणो मर्त्या ऋक्सामानि यजूंषि च | काम्या इष्टी: पृथग् दृष्टया तपोभिस्तप एव च,सत्ययुगमें अद्दैत-धर्ममें निष्ठा रखनेवाले मनुष्य ऋग्वेद, सामवेद और यजुर्वेद तथा सकाम इष्टियोंको ज्ञानरूप तपस्यासे भिन्न देखकर उन सबको छोड़ केवल ज्ञानरूप तपस्यामें ही संलग्न होते हैं
apṛthagdharmiṇo martyā ṛk-sāmāni yajūṃṣi ca | kāmyā iṣṭīḥ pṛthag dṛṣṭyā tapobhis tapa eva ca ||
Vyāsa said: In the Satya Yuga, mortals established in the non-dual (advaita) understanding of dharma do not treat the Ṛg, Sāma, and Yajur Vedas, nor desire-driven sacrifices, as separate and independent ends. Seeing them as distinct from the austerity of knowledge, they set those ritual pursuits aside and devote themselves solely to that knowledge-austerity, which leads to liberation rather than worldly gain.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts desire-driven ritualism with knowledge-based austerity: those grounded in non-dual dharma recognize that Vedic recitations and result-seeking sacrifices are not the final goal, and they prioritize jñāna-tapas—disciplined insight aimed at liberation.
Vyāsa is describing an idealized Satya Yuga orientation: people devoted to advaita-dharma distinguish between ritual means (Vedic hymns and kāmya sacrifices) and the higher pursuit (knowledge-austerity), and they choose the latter as their primary practice.