Verse 6.46

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 6.46:

तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः ।
कर्मिभ्यश् चाधिको योगी तस्माद् योगी भवार्जुन ॥ ४६ ॥

tapasvibhyo'dhiko yogī jñānibhyo'pi mato'dhikaḥ |
karmibhyaś cādhiko yogī tasmād yogī bhavārjuna || 46 ||

tapasvibhyaḥ–than the ascetics; adhikaḥ–greater; yogī–the paramātma-yogī; jñānibhyaḥ–than the impersonalists, or brahmavādīs; api–even; mataḥ–is considered; adhikaḥ–greater; karmibhyaḥ–than the fruitive workers;ca–and; adhikaḥ–greater; yogī–the yogī; tasmāt–therefore; yogī–a yogī; bhava–be; arjuna–O Arjuna.

The yogī, who worships Paramātmā, is considered superior to the ascetic, superior to the worshipper of the impersonal aspect of the Supreme, and superior to the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, be a yogī.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

“Among karma, jñāna and yoga, which is superior?” In answer to this, Śrī Bhagavān says that a jñānī (one who worships brahma) is superior to a tapasvī (ascetic), or one who is devoted to performing severe austerities such as cāndrāyaṇa-vrata. And superior to a jñānī is a yogī, a worshipper of Paramātmā. “This is My opinion.”

If a yogī is superior to a jñānī, what can be said about his superiority to a fruitive worker (karmī)?

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

It is a general conception that a fruitive worker (karmī), one who cultivates knowledge (a jñānī), an ascetic (a tapasvī), one who follows the eightfold yoga process (a yogī) and devotee of the Supreme Lord (a bhakta) are all equal. In this present verse, Śrī Bhagavān is giving His firm opinion that they are not equal; rather, there is a gradation of superiority. A niṣkāma-karma-yogī is superior to one who performs severe austerities to fulfil his material desires, and a jñānī is superior to a niṣkāma-karma-yogī. An aṣṭāṅga-yogī is superior to a jñānī, and a bhakti-yogī is superior to all, as is described in the next verse.