तपस्विभ्योऽधिको योगी ज्ञानिभ्योऽपि मतोऽधिकः | कर्मिभ्यश्चाधिको योगी तस्माद्योगी भवार्जुन || ४६ ||
tapasvibhyo 'dhiko yogī jñānibhyo 'pi mato 'dhikaḥ karmibhyaś cādhiko yogī tasmād yogī bhavārjuna
tapasvibhyaḥ—than the ascetics; adhikaḥ—greater; yogī—the yogī; jñānibhyaḥ—than the wise; api—also; mataḥ—considered; adhikaḥ—greater; karmibhyaḥ—than the fruitive workers; ca—also; adhikaḥ—greater; yogī—the yogī; tasmāt—therefore; yogī—a transcendentalist; bhava—just become; arjuna—O Arjuna.
“A yogi is greater than the ascetics, greater than the jnanis (philosophers), and greater than the karmis (ritualists). Therefore, O Arjuna, be a yogi.”
Krishna here places the yogi — one who is united with the Divine through the combined practice of knowledge, devotion, and selfless action — above all partial practitioners: above the mere ascetic who subdues the body but may neglect the mind, above the mere philosopher who cultivates knowledge but may neglect action and devotion, above the mere ritualist who performs outer acts without inner transformation. Yoga synthesises all paths. Therefore the direct instruction: 'Arjuna, become a yogi.'
Yoga in its fullest sense is not a fitness practice or a single spiritual technique. It is the complete integration of body, mind, and spirit in service of the highest good. Aspire to this wholeness rather than to any single component of the path.