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श्री
ह्रीं
क्लीं
गं
ऐं
क्रीं
हूं
सौं
दुं
ॐ तत् सत्
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः

Aligning Consciousness

Ch 4Verse 28
Adhyāya 4 Shloka 28

द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे | स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च यतय: संशितव्रता: || २८ ||

dravya-yajñās tapo-yajñā yoga-yajñās tathāpare | svādhyāya-jñāna-yajñāś ca yatayaḥ saṃśita-vratāḥ || 28 ||

"Having accepted strict vows, some become enlightened by sacrificing their possessions, and others by performing severe austerities, by practicing the yoga of eightfold mysticism, or by studying the Vedas to advance in transcendental knowledge."

Historical Context

The Direct Meaning

Krishna expands the menu of sacrifices to cover every possible human aptitude. He lists four distinct paths practiced by disciplined seekers who hold strict vows (yatayaḥ saṃśita-vratāḥ): 1. Dravya-yajñāḥ: The sacrifice of material wealth and possessions. 2. Tapo-yajñāḥ: The sacrifice of severe physical and mental austerities. 3. Yoga-yajñāḥ: The sacrifice of mystical practice (like Ashtanga). 4. Svādhyāya-jñāna-yajñāś ca: The sacrifice of rigorous self-study and the pursuit of transcendental knowledge.

Translated from the original Sanskrit text

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