Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 7
योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)
आत्मप्रयत्नसापेक्षा विशिष्टा या मनोगतिः । तस्या ब्रह्मणि संयोगो योग इत्यभिधीते ॥ ७ ॥
ātmaprayatnasāpekṣā viśiṣṭā yā manogatiḥ | tasyā brahmaṇi saṃyogo yoga ityabhidhīte || 7 ||
സ്വപ്രയത്നത്തെ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്ന മനസ്സിന്റെ പ്രത്യേക ഗതി—അത് ബ്രഹ്മനോടുള്ള സംയോഗം തന്നെയാണ് ‘യോഗം’ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It defines yoga as a purposeful, self-effort-based refinement of the mind whose culmination is union with Brahman—presenting liberation (moksha) as an inner integration rather than mere external practice.
While the verse uses Brahman-language, it supports bhakti in practice by stressing focused, intentional mind-direction (mano-gati). Devotion becomes yogic when the mind is steadily joined to the Supreme through disciplined remembrance and surrender.
No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana or Jyotisha) is taught here; the practical takeaway is yogic psychology—training the mind through ātma-prayatna (personal effort) toward single-pointed spiritual union.