For the sage who desires to ascend to yoga, action is said to be the means; for one who has already ascended to yoga, stillness (śama) is said to be the means.

Krishna presents a graduated path. The aspirant (ārurukṣu) needs action as preparation — purifying the body-mind and developing vairāgya (detachment).

The yogārūḍha is one who has ascended, who is established in practice. For them, the means is śama — mental calm, quietude. Traditional commentary notes that this quietude is not inactivity, but meditative stability where action continues without disturbance.