Who truly knows the greatness of rāja yoga?Knowledge, liberation, stability and achievement come only from the words of the guru.

This verse repeats (with slight variation) verse 10, emphasizing the centrality of the guru:

Māhātmya — greatness, glory.Rāja yoga is supreme but its real value escapes ordinary understanding.

Ko vā jānāti tattvataḥ — who truly knows him?The rhetorical question implies: very few.

The four fruits listed:

• Jñāna — experiential knowledge
• Mukti — liberation
• Sthiti — permanent establishment
• Siddhi — achievement, perfection

Guror vacana-mātrataḥ — only from the words of the guru.Mātra (alone, only) is emphatic: there is no other way.

The Bihar School interprets repetition as a pedagogical emphasis.In an oral tradition, important ideas are repeated.It may also indicate that the text is compiled from sources that contained similar verses.

Mallinson notes that the insistence on the guru is characteristic of all tantric traditions.Oral transmission and personal initiation are considered irreplaceable.

This verse serves as a reminder: studying texts is helpful, but without guidance from someone who has realized, the path remains dark.