Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 2

English Translation

That which they call monasticism, know that to be Yoa, O Pandava, For, nobody who has not given up expectations can be a yogi.

Detailed Commentary

।।6.2।। Commentary -- 'That which is called Sannyasa, know that to be Yoga, O Pandava' -- The Lord had stated at the beginning of the fifth chapter that both Sannyasa (Sankhya Yoga) and Yoga (Karma Yoga) independently lead to liberation (5.2), and that their fruit is also one and the same (5.5). That is, Sannyasa and Yoga are one. Here, the Lord says, just as a Sannyasi renounces everything, so too does a Karma Yogi renounce everything. In the ninth verse of the eighteenth chapter, the Lord has stated that action performed as a duty, renouncing attachment and the fruits thereof, is 'Sattvic Tyaga' (renunciation in the mode of goodness), by which a person becomes a Tyagi, or a Yogi. Similarly, a Sannyasi also renounces the ego of doership (Kartrutva). Therefore, both are renouncers (Tyagi). The essence is that there is no distinction between a Yogi and a Sannyasi. For this very reason, the Lord has stated in the third verse of the fifth chapter that a Yogi who renounces attachment and aversion (Raga-Dvesha) is indeed a Sannyasi. 'One cannot become a Yogi without having renounced Sankalpa' -- Among the thoughts that arise in the mind, when the mind attaches itself to any one of them, that becomes a 'Sankalpa' (resolve/desire). Without renouncing Sankalpa, a person does not become any kind of Yogi; they remain a Bhogi (enjoyer). Because the connection with the Supreme Self (Paramatma) is called 'Yoga', and one whose intelligence (Buddhi) finds importance and happiness only in material objects will remain a Bhogi; they cannot be a Yogi. They become a Yogi when their intelligence no longer finds importance and happiness in impermanent (asat) objects, and only then do they renounce Sankalpas and experience their eternal relationship with the Lord. Here, the term 'kashchana' (any) can be taken to mean that without renouncing Sankalpa, a person does not become any kind of Yogi, be it a Karma Yogi, Jnana Yogi, Bhakti Yogi, Hatha Yogi, Laya Yogi, etc. The reason is that their connection is with inert (Jada) matter; therefore, how can they be a Yogi? They will simply be an enjoyer (Bhogi). Such enjoyers are not just human beings; animals and birds are also enjoyers because they too have not renounced Sankalpa. The purport is that as long as there remains even a slight connection with impermanent (asat) objects, a person cannot become any kind of Yogi. Maintaining a connection with impermanent objects, even if one practices extensively, attains Samadhi, or retreats into caves, they will still not be called a Yogi according to the principles of the Gita. While the paths (Sadhana) of Sannyasa and Yoga are distinct, in the renunciation of Sankalpa, both paths are one. Connection -- The means to attain the Yoga that was praised in the previous verse is explained in the following verse.