Shloka 53
Saṃhāra-krama (The Sequence of Cosmic Dissolution) — Yājñavalkya’s Discourse
योगमार्ग तथा55साद्य यः वक्रिद् व्रजते द्विज: । क्षेमेणोपरमेन्मार्गाद् बहुदोषो हि स स्मृतः
yogamārgaṃ tathā sādya yaḥ kaścid vrajate dvijaḥ | kṣemeṇoparamet mārgād bahudoṣo hi sa smṛtaḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Tendo abraçado o caminho do Yoga, apenas algum raro ‘duas-vezes-nascido’ consegue avançar por ele; e, ainda assim, pode retirar-se desse caminho em segurança. Pois este caminho é lembrado como um que está cheio de muitas falhas—muitas durezas e perigos.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The yogic path is exceptionally demanding and perilous in practice; only a rare, well-qualified person can follow it successfully. The verse cautions against casual or premature adoption of Yoga without preparedness, emphasizing discernment and steadiness.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction to Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīṣma continues a didactic discussion on dharma and spiritual disciplines, warning that the yogic route—though exalted—is difficult to traverse and is traditionally described as beset with many obstacles.