Now hear the practice

eṣā te’abhihitā sāṅkhye buddhiryoge tvimāṃ śṛṇubuddhyā yukto yayā pārtha karmabandhaṃ prahāsyasi

I have told you this wisdom as knowledge. Now hear it as yoga, the practice that frees you from the bonds of action.

What it means

Krishna marks a turn. So far he's explained the truth about the Self, called Sankhya, understanding. Now he'll teach yoga, the practice. Here yoga isn't postures. It's a steady way of acting with clear understanding, buddhi. With it, he says, actions stop tying you in knots.

The story

Krishna is a good teacher. First the why, now the how. Arjuna can hear that the Self is eternal and still not know what to do with his hands. The next verses give him a way of working that brings freedom instead of fear.

In your life

Imagine someone who reads every book about running but has never laced up. Knowledge needs practice. Pick one thing you understand and practise it today, even badly. That's yoga.