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 ||
阎若婆迦说道：“至上之王啊，智者宣称：吠陀所说之瑜伽有二途——一为‘八种’之粗相，一为‘八种’之细相。粗相之瑜伽，据说能得八大神通成就，如阿尼玛（aṇimā）等；而细相之瑜伽，唯此方是真正的八支瑜伽：制戒（yama）、持律（niyama）、坐法（āsana）、调息（prāṇāyāma）、摄根（pratyāhāra）、执持（dhāraṇā）、禅观（dhyāna）与三摩地（samādhi）。除此之外，不当称为八支瑜伽。”
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.