sa taṁ yogāya yu jyasva yogārūḍho hy asaṅgraham.
“One should strive to attain yoga, for a yogī is not attached.”
Structure
saḥ taṁ yogāya yu jyasva yogārūḍhaḥ hi asaṅgraham
saḥ (he) yogārūḍhaḥ (having climbed the yogic path) hi (for) asaṅgraham (non-attachment) yogāya (for the purpose of yoga) taṁ (that) yu jyasva (you should strive for)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| saḥ | saḥ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | he |
| taṁ | taṁ | pronoun | accusative · singular · masculine | that one |
| yogāya | yogāya | compound | karmadhāraya · "yoga-āya" | for the purpose of yoga |
| yu jyasva | yuṅjasva | verb | √yuṅ · optative · second | you should join or apply yourself |
| yogārūḍhaḥ | yogārūḍhaḥ | compound | bahuvrīhi · "yoga-ārūḍhaḥ" | one who has mounted or attained yoga |
| hi | hi | indeclinable | — | for / indeed |
| asaṅgraham | asaṅgraham | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | non-attachment |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, Shankara explains that this verse emphasizes the importance of cultivating a state of detachment through yoga. By striving to attain yoga, one transcends attachment to worldly objects and achieves a state of unity with the ultimate reality, Brahman. Shankara's reasoning on this verse is rooted in the non-dual (advaita) philosophy, where the distinction between the individual self (jīva) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) is ultimately an illusion. The phrase 'yogārūḍho hy asaṅgraham' (one who has attained yoga is not attached) suggests that the yogī has realized this unity and is therefore unattached to worldly phenomena. This realization is a direct consequence of understanding the brahman-ātman identity, where the individual self is ultimately one with the universal self.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets this verse as emphasizing the need for devotion (bhakti) to attain a state of detachment. The phrase 'sa taṁ yogāya yu jyasva' (one should strive to attain yoga) is seen as a call to devote oneself to the path of yoga, with the ultimate goal of realizing one's relationship with the divine (Īśvara). For Rāmānujācārya, the yogī's detachment (asaṅgraham) is not a rejection of the world, but rather a detachment from worldly attachments that allows for a deeper devotion to God. This verse highlights the importance of cultivating a devotional attitude (bhāva) towards the divine, which ultimately leads to liberation. The relationship between the jīva and Īśvara is one of loving dependence, where the individual self finds its fulfillment in devotion to the divine.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures and writings, often emphasized the practical and universal application of this verse. He saw the attainment of yoga as a means to achieve a state of inner freedom and detachment, which is essential for living a life of purpose and meaning. Vivekānanda interpreted the phrase 'yogārūḍho hy asaṅgraham' as a call to cultivate a sense of inner detachment, not as a rejection of the world, but as a means to engage with the world in a more meaningful and compassionate way. In his speech 'The Message of the Upaniṣads,' Vivekānanda highlights the importance of realizing one's true nature, which is beyond worldly attachments and limitations. This verse, for Vivekānanda, points to the universal human aspiration for freedom and self-realization, which can be achieved through the practice of yoga and the cultivation of a deeper sense of awareness and understanding.