Shloka 3

ध्यानयोगः — Dhyāna-Yoga

Discipline of Meditation and Mental Restraint

Devanagari script

इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत भीष्मपर्वके श्रीमद्भगवद्‌्गीतापरवके अन्तर्गत ब्रह्मविद्या एवं योगशास्त्ररूप श्रीमद्भगवद्‌गीतोपनिषद्‌, श्रीकृष्णाजुनसंवादमें कर्मयोग नामक तीसरा अध्याय पूरा हुआ,स एवायं मया तेड्द्य योग: प्रोक्त: पुरातन: । भक्तोडसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं होतदुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

sa evāyaṁ mayā te ’dya yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ | bhakto ’si me sakhā ceti rahasyaṁ hy etad uttamam ||

Translation

This very ancient discipline of yoga has now been taught by me to you today. Because you are my devoted follower and also my friend, I have disclosed to you this supreme secret—an ethical and spiritual teaching meant to guide action with inner clarity and loyalty to dharma even amid the pressures of war.

Word by Word

• {'saḥ eva ayam': 'this very (same) teaching', 'mayā': 'by me', 'te': 'to you', 'adya': 'today, now', 'yogaḥ': 'yoga

• disciplined path of spiritual integration (here, the teaching of right action and inner steadiness)', 'proktaḥ': 'taught, declared', 'purātanaḥ': 'ancient, primordial', 'bhaktaḥ': 'devotee

• one devoted in faith and loyalty', 'asi': 'you are', 'me': 'of mine, to me', 'sakhā': 'friend, companion', 'ceti': 'and thus

• ‘and’ (as the reason stated)', 'rahasyam': 'secret, esoteric truth', 'hi': 'indeed, surely', 'etat': 'this', 'uttamam': 'supreme, highest'}

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The teaching is that the ancient path of yoga—right action grounded in inner discipline and spiritual insight—is entrusted to Arjuna because he is both devoted (bhakta) and a trusted friend (sakhā). The verse highlights that spiritual knowledge is transmitted through a relationship of faith, loyalty, and intimacy, making the teaching a ‘supreme secret’ in the sense of being profound and responsibly shared.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the midst of the Mahābhārata war setting, Kṛṣṇa explains why he reveals this deep doctrine to Arjuna: Arjuna’s devotion and friendship qualify him to receive it. The verse frames the Gītā’s instruction as an ancient tradition being renewed in the present crisis, guiding Arjuna’s moral struggle about action and duty.