Question:medium
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.
The Yoga system is divided into two principal parts, Hatha and Raja Yoga. Hatha Yoga deals principally with the physiological part of man with a view to establish his health and train his will. The processes prescribed to arrive at this end are so difficult that only a few resolute souls go through all the stages of its practice. Many have failed and some have died in the attempt. It is therefore strongly denounced by all the philosophers. The most illustrious Shankaracharya has remarked in his treatise called Aparokshanubhuti that 'the system of Hatha Yoga was intended for those whose worldly desires are not pacified or uprooted.'
Which of the following options best reflects Shankaracharya's comments on Hatha Yoga?
Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.
The Yoga system is divided into two principal parts, Hatha and Raja Yoga. Hatha Yoga deals principally with the physiological part of man with a view to establish his health and train his will. The processes prescribed to arrive at this end are so difficult that only a few resolute souls go through all the stages of its practice. Many have failed and some have died in the attempt. It is therefore strongly denounced by all the philosophers. The most illustrious Shankaracharya has remarked in his treatise called Aparokshanubhuti that 'the system of Hatha Yoga was intended for those whose worldly desires are not pacified or uprooted.'
Which of the following options best reflects Shankaracharya's comments on Hatha Yoga?
The Yoga system is divided into two principal parts, Hatha and Raja Yoga. Hatha Yoga deals principally with the physiological part of man with a view to establish his health and train his will. The processes prescribed to arrive at this end are so difficult that only a few resolute souls go through all the stages of its practice. Many have failed and some have died in the attempt. It is therefore strongly denounced by all the philosophers. The most illustrious Shankaracharya has remarked in his treatise called Aparokshanubhuti that 'the system of Hatha Yoga was intended for those whose worldly desires are not pacified or uprooted.'
Which of the following options best reflects Shankaracharya's comments on Hatha Yoga?
Show Hint
Match the option to Shankaracharya's exact quoted line, not to the passage's general remarks about failure.
Updated On: Jul 10, 2026
- Hatha Yoga is for those whose worldly desires are not placated.
- Hatha Yoga has disastrous consequences for Yoga practitioners.
- Practiced under the guidance of experts, Hatha Yoga is better than Raja Yoga for some people.
- Raja Yoga gives better results and in a shorter time period for most people, and therefore it should be encouraged.
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question is about one specific line, Shankaracharya's own quoted comment on Hatha Yoga, not the passage's general remarks about difficulty or failure that come from the author, not from Shankaracharya.
Step 2: Key Approach:
Isolate the direct quote, the system of Hatha Yoga was intended for those whose worldly desires are not pacified or uprooted. Then find the option that means the same thing, in different words, and reject any option that pulls in facts from elsewhere in the passage instead.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Option B describes practitioners failing or dying, which the passage states earlier as a general fact about the difficulty of Hatha Yoga, separate from Shankaracharya's quoted line, so it does not reflect his comment specifically, even though it sounds plausible.
Option C introduces expert guidance and a comparison favouring Hatha Yoga over Raja Yoga, an idea absent from both the passage and the quote, and effectively invented for this option.
Option D claims Raja Yoga is faster and better for most people and should therefore be encouraged, again an opinion never voiced anywhere in the passage.
Option A says Hatha Yoga is for those whose worldly desires are not placated, and placated means the same as pacified in Shankaracharya's quote, so this option is a direct, close paraphrase of his actual words.
Step 4: Final Answer:
Option A best reflects Shankaracharya's comment, since it paraphrases his exact statement that Hatha Yoga suits those whose worldly desires remain unpacified, while the other options bring in ideas from elsewhere or invent new claims.
The question is about one specific line, Shankaracharya's own quoted comment on Hatha Yoga, not the passage's general remarks about difficulty or failure that come from the author, not from Shankaracharya.
Step 2: Key Approach:
Isolate the direct quote, the system of Hatha Yoga was intended for those whose worldly desires are not pacified or uprooted. Then find the option that means the same thing, in different words, and reject any option that pulls in facts from elsewhere in the passage instead.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Option B describes practitioners failing or dying, which the passage states earlier as a general fact about the difficulty of Hatha Yoga, separate from Shankaracharya's quoted line, so it does not reflect his comment specifically, even though it sounds plausible.
Option C introduces expert guidance and a comparison favouring Hatha Yoga over Raja Yoga, an idea absent from both the passage and the quote, and effectively invented for this option.
Option D claims Raja Yoga is faster and better for most people and should therefore be encouraged, again an opinion never voiced anywhere in the passage.
Option A says Hatha Yoga is for those whose worldly desires are not placated, and placated means the same as pacified in Shankaracharya's quote, so this option is a direct, close paraphrase of his actual words.
Step 4: Final Answer:
Option A best reflects Shankaracharya's comment, since it paraphrases his exact statement that Hatha Yoga suits those whose worldly desires remain unpacified, while the other options bring in ideas from elsewhere or invent new claims.
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Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
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