Shloka 3

अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः | Akṣara-Brahma-Yoga

The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman

Devanagari script

आररक्षोर्मुनेयोंगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते । योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शम: कारणमुच्यते

Transliteration

ārurukṣor muner yogaṁ karma kāraṇam ucyate | yogārūḍhasya tasyaiva śamaḥ kāraṇam ucyate ||

Translation

Para sa mapagnilay na naghahangad umakyat sa yoga, ang disiplinadong pagkilos na walang pagnanasa sa bunga ang itinatakdang paraan. Ngunit para rin sa taong iyon, kapag siya’y matatag na sa yoga, ang panloob na katahimikan—ang paghinto ng magulong pagnanais at pagpaplano—ang itinatakdang daan tungo sa kagalingan at katatagan.

Word by Word

• आरुरुक्षोः: of one wishing to ascend (to yoga)
• आरुरुक्षोः: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आरुरुक्षु (√रुह्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मुनेः: of the sage / contemplative person
• मुनेः: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कर्म: action (work)
• कर्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• कारणम्: cause / means
• कारणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is said / is called
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive

• योगारूढस्य: of one who has ascended to yoga (established in yoga)
• योगारूढस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योगारूढ (योग + आरूढ)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• तस्य: of him / of that (person)
• तस्य: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• एव: indeed / alone
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• शमः: calmness / cessation (tranquility)
• शमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कारणम्: cause / means
• कारणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is said / is called
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• muni (the sage/seeker)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.