Shloka 3
अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः | Akṣara-Brahma-Yoga
The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman
आररक्षोर्मुनेयोंगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते । योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शम: कारणमुच्यते,योगमें आरूढ होनेकी इच्छावाले मननशील पुरुष-के लिये योगकी प्राप्तिमें निष्कामभावसे कर्म करना ही हेतु कहा जाता है: और योगारूढ हो जानेपर उस योगारूढ पुरुषका जो सर्वसंकल्पोंका अभाव है* वही कल्याणमें हेतु कहा जाता है
ārurukṣor muner yogaṁ karma kāraṇam ucyate | yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate ||
Arjuna said: For the reflective seeker who wishes to ascend to yoga, disciplined action is declared to be the means. But for the same person, once established in yoga, inner quietude—cessation of restless willing and planning—is declared to be the means to well-being and stability.
अर्जुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes two stages: for one aspiring to reach yoga, selfless disciplined action is the practical means; for one already established in yoga, the key means is śama—inner stillness and the dropping of restless intentions and mental projections.
In the Gītā dialogue within Bhīṣma Parva, Arjuna is questioning and clarifying the path of yoga: he frames how a seeker progresses—from active discipline (karma) to settled contemplative stability (śama) once yoga is attained.