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 ||
ଯାଜ୍ଞବଲ୍କ୍ୟ କହିଲେ—ହେ ନୃପଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ମନୀଷୀମାନେ କହନ୍ତି, ବେଦରେ ଯୋଗ ଦୁଇ ପ୍ରକାର—ସ୍ଥୂଳ ଓ ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମ। ସ୍ଥୂଳ ଯୋଗ ଅଣିମା ଆଦି ଅଷ୍ଟସିଦ୍ଧି ଦେଇଥାଏ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ; କିନ୍ତୁ ସୂକ୍ଷ୍ମ ଯୋଗ ହିଁ ପ୍ରକୃତ ଅଷ୍ଟାଙ୍ଗ—ଯମ, ନିୟମ, ଆସନ, ପ୍ରାଣାୟାମ, ପ୍ରତ୍ୟାହାର, ଧାରଣା, ଧ୍ୟାନ ଓ ସମାଧି—ଏହି ଆଠ ଅଙ୍ଗରେ ଯୁକ୍ତ; ଅନ୍ୟ କିଛି ନୁହେଁ।
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.