Shloka 7
नारद–शुक संवादः (Nārada–Śuka Dialogue): Tyāga, Saṃyama, and Vyakta–Avyakta Viveka
वेदेषु चाष्टगुणिनं योगमाहुर्मनीषिण: । सूक्ष्ममष्टगुणं प्राहुनेंतरं नृपसत्तम
vedeṣu cāṣṭaguṇinaṃ yogam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ | sūkṣmam aṣṭaguṇaṃ prāhur na itaraṃ nṛpasattama ||
Yājñavalkya dit : «Ô le meilleur des rois, les sages déclarent que les Veda parlent du yoga selon deux modes : l’un “octuple” au sens grossier, l’autre “octuple” au sens subtil. Le yoga grossier est dit procurer les huit accomplissements extraordinaires, tels aṇimā et les autres ; mais le yoga subtil seul est véritablement à huit membres : yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna et samādhi. Nul autre ne mérite à proprement parler le nom de yoga octuple.»
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes two ‘eightfold’ yogas: a gross form associated with attaining the eight siddhis (like aṇimā), and a subtle form identified as the true eight-limbed discipline (yama through samādhi). It implicitly prioritizes inner ethical-meditative transformation over the pursuit of powers.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Yājñavalkya addresses a king and clarifies competing notions of ‘eightfold yoga,’ steering the listener away from power-oriented practice and toward the classical inward path of restraint, discipline, meditation, and absorption.