yaṁ sannyāsam iti prāhur yogaṁ taṁ viddhi pāṇḍava na hy asannyasta-saṅkalpo yogī bhavati kaścana
"Know that what they call renunciation is the same as yoga, O Pandava. No one becomes a yogi without giving up selfish intentions."
What This Means:
Renunciation and yoga are essentially the same thing. Both require letting go of selfish desires and personal agendas. You can't be a yogi while clinging to self-centered motives.
Going Deeper:
Sankalpa (intention/resolve) drives action. When sankalpa is selfish, it binds us. The yogi doesn't stop having intentions—they stop having self-centered ones. This is the common ground between the path of renunciation and the path of action.
How To Apply This:
Examine your motivations. Before any action, ask: 'Is this for my ego's benefit or for genuine good?' The practice of yoga begins with this honest self-inquiry into our underlying intentions.
Key Sanskrit Terms: