The Bhagavad Gita unfolds on the battlefield of kurukṣētra, where the fate of two great families, the pāṇḍavāḥ and the kauravāḥ, hangs in the balance. In the heart of this epic, śrīkṛṣṇa and arjuna pause amid the chaos, their conversation rising above the clash of weapons.
In the previous chapter, śrīkṛṣṇa revealed the path of jñāna-yōga-the yōga of knowledge. He described the nature of the self, the importance of seeing the divine in all beings, and the value of selfless action. arjuna listened intently, but his mind was still restless. The battlefield around him was a constant reminder of mortality and the unknown.
Looking ahead, Chapter 9 will open the doors to the most secret and sacred wisdom. śrīkṛṣṇa will share the essence of bhakti-yōga-the path of loving devotion. But before that, in Chapter 8, he lays the foundation by answering the timeless questions about what endures, what passes away, and how to find peace in the midst of uncertainty.
ōṃ śrī paramātmanē namaḥ
atha aṣṭamō'dhyāyaḥ ।
akṣaraparabrahmayōgaḥ
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Om. Salutations to the Supreme Self. Now begins the eighth chapter, titled 'The Yoga of the Imperishable Supreme Reality.'
arjuna uvācha
kiṃ tadbrahma kimadhyātmaṃ kiṃ karma puruṣōttama ।
adhibhūtaṃ cha kiṃ prōktamadhidaivaṃ kimuchyatē ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Arjuna asked: O Supreme Person, what is Brahman? What is the individual self? What is action? What is considered the material aspect, and what is called the divine aspect?
adhiyajñaḥ kathaṃ kō'tra dēhē'sminmadhusūdana ।
prayāṇakālē cha kathaṃ jñēyō'si niyatātmabhiḥ ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Krishna, who is the presiding force of sacrifice within this body, and how does it operate? At the moment of death, how can those with disciplined minds come to know you?
śrībhagavānuvācha
akṣaraṃ brahma paramaṃ svabhāvō'dhyātmamuchyatē ।
bhūtabhāvōdbhavakarō visargaḥ karmasañjñitaḥ ॥ 3 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
The Blessed Lord said: The imperishable is the supreme Brahman. The essential nature that dwells within each being is called the individual self. The act that leads to the creation and emergence of living beings is known as action.
adhibhūtaṃ kṣarō bhāvaḥ puruṣaśchādhidaivatam ।
adhiyajñō'hamēvātra dēhē dēhabhṛtāṃ vara ॥ 4 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
The realm of material existence is called the perishable, while the cosmic person is the presiding divinity. O best among those with bodies, I alone am the Lord of sacrifice present here within this body.
antakālē cha māmēva smaranmuktvā kalēvaram ।
yaḥ prayāti sa madbhāvaṃ yāti nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ ॥ 5 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Whoever, at the moment of death, leaves the body while thinking only of Me, truly reaches My state. There is no uncertainty about this.
yaṃ yaṃ vāpi smaranbhāvaṃ tyajatyantē kalēvaram ।
taṃ tamēvaiti kauntēya sadā tadbhāvabhāvitaḥ ॥ 6 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Arjuna, whatever state of being a person remembers at the moment of leaving the body, that alone he attains, having been consistently shaped by that thought throughout life.
tasmātsarvēṣu kālēṣu māmanusmara yudhya cha ।
mayyarpitamanōbuddhirmāmēvaiṣyasyasaṃśayam ॥ 7 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Therefore, always keep your mind on Me and perform your duty of fighting. With your mind and intellect dedicated to Me, you will certainly come to Me, without any doubt.
abhyāsayōgayuktēna chētasā nānyagāminā ।
paramaṃ puruṣaṃ divyaṃ yāti pārthānuchintayan ॥ 8 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Arjuna, whoever meditates on the Supreme Divine Person with a mind disciplined by steady practice, not distracted by anything else, reaches that highest state.
kaviṃ purāṇamanuśāsitāramaṇōraṇīyaṃsamanusmarēdyaḥ।
sarvasya dhātāramachintyarūpamādityavarṇaṃ tamasaḥ parastāt ॥ 9 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Whoever meditates on the all-knowing, eternal ruler, subtler than the subtlest, the supporter of everything, whose form cannot be conceived, who shines like the sun and is beyond all darkness, attains the Supreme.
prayāṇakālē manasāchalēna bhaktyā yuktō yōgabalēna chaiva।
bhruvōrmadhyē prāṇamāvēśya samyaksa taṃ paraṃ puruṣamupaiti divyam ॥ 10 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
At the moment of death, one who, with unwavering mind and devotion, harnesses the power of yoga to fix the life-breath between the eyebrows, fully focused, attains that supreme, divine Person.
yadakṣaraṃ vēdavidō vadanti viśanti yadyatayō vītarāgāḥ।
yadichChantō brahmacharyaṃ charanti tattē padaṃ saṅgrahēṇa pravakṣyē ॥ 11 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
I will now explain to you, in summary, that imperishable goal which is described by those who know the Vedas, which is attained by disciplined seekers free from attachment, and for which people practice self-control and celibacy.
sarvadvārāṇi saṃyamya manō hṛdi nirudhya cha ।
mūrdhnyādhāyātmanaḥ prāṇamāsthitō yōgadhāraṇām ॥ 12 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Having restrained all the body's gateways, confining the mind within the heart, and establishing the vital breath at the crown of the head, one remains steady in the practice of yoga.
ōmityēkākṣaraṃ brahma vyāharanmāmanusmaran ।
yaḥ prayāti tyajandēhaṃ sa yāti paramāṃ gatim ॥ 13 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Whoever, at the time of leaving the body, utters the single syllable Om, which stands for the Absolute, and keeps Me in mind, that person reaches the highest state.
ananyachētāḥ satataṃ yō māṃ smarati nityaśaḥ ।
tasyāhaṃ sulabhaḥ pārtha nityayuktasya yōginaḥ ॥ 14 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Arjuna, for the yogi who is always united with Me, whose mind is undistracted and who remembers Me constantly, I am easy to attain.
māmupētya punarjanma duḥkhālayamaśāśvatam ।
nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ saṃsiddhiṃ paramāṃ gatāḥ ॥ 15 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Those noble souls who have reached Me do not return to the cycle of rebirth, which is a temporary and sorrowful existence. Having attained the highest perfection, they are freed from this impermanent world of suffering.
ābrahmabhuvanāllōkāḥ punarāvartinō'rjuna ।
māmupētya tu kauntēya punarjanma na vidyatē ॥ 16 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Arjuna, all worlds, even up to the highest realm of Brahma, are places where beings must return again and again. But once someone reaches Me, O son of Kunti, there is no more rebirth for them.
sahasrayugaparyantamaharyadbrahmaṇō viduḥ ।
rātriṃ yugasahasrāntāṃ tē'hōrātravidō janāḥ ॥ 17 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Those who understand the true nature of day and night know that a single day of Brahma, the Creator, lasts for a thousand ages, and his night is of the same length. These people are aware of the vast cosmic cycles that define time at the highest level.
avyaktādvyaktayaḥ sarvāḥ prabhavantyaharāgamē ।
rātryāgamē pralīyantē tatraivāvyaktasañjñakē ॥ 18 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
At the arrival of the cosmic day, all manifested beings emerge from the unmanifest source. When the cosmic night falls, they dissolve back into that same unmanifest reality.
bhūtagrāmaḥ sa ēvāyaṃ bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyatē ।
rātryāgamē'vaśaḥ pārtha prabhavatyaharāgamē ॥ 19 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Arjuna, the same multitude of beings is born again and again, only to dissolve helplessly at the arrival of night. When day returns, they emerge once more, following this endless cycle without any control of their own.
parastasmāttu bhāvō'nyō'vyaktō'vyaktātsanātanaḥ ।
yaḥ sa sarvēṣu bhūtēṣu naśyatsu na vinaśyati ॥ 20 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Yet beyond that unmanifest is another unmanifested, eternal reality. Even when all living beings are destroyed, this higher existence does not perish.
avyaktō'kṣara ityuktastamāhuḥ paramāṃ gatim ।
yaṃ prāpya na nivartantē taddhāma paramaṃ mama ॥ 21 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
That which is called the Unmanifest and the Imperishable is described as the highest goal. Those who reach this supreme state do not return to the cycle of birth and death. This is my ultimate abode.
puruṣaḥ sa paraḥ pārtha bhaktyā labhyastvananyayā ।
yasyāntaḥsthāni bhūtāni yēna sarvamidaṃ tatam ॥ 22 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Arjuna, that Supreme Person, in whom all beings reside and by whom this entire universe is pervaded, can truly be reached only through unwavering, one-pointed devotion.
yatra kālē tvanāvṛttimāvṛttiṃ chaiva yōginaḥ ।
prayātā yānti taṃ kālaṃ vakṣyāmi bharatarṣabha ॥ 23 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Arjuna, best among the Bharatas, I will now explain the times by departing at which yogis either do not return to this world or do return.
agnirjōtirahaḥ śuklaḥ ṣaṇmāsā uttarāyaṇam ।
tatra prayātā gachChanti brahma brahmavidō janāḥ ॥ 24 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
Those who know Brahman and depart from this world during the time of fire, light, daytime, the bright fortnight, and the six months when the sun moves northward, follow this path and reach Brahman.
dhūmō rātristathā kṛṣṇaḥ ṣaṇmāsā dakṣiṇāyanam ।
tatra chāndramasaṃ jyōtiryōgī prāpya nivartatē ॥ 25 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
A yogi who departs during smoke, night, the dark fortnight, or the six months when the sun moves south, reaches the lunar realm and, after enjoying its rewards, returns to earthly life.
śuklakṛṣṇē gatī hyētē jagataḥ śāśvatē matē ।
ēkayā yātyanāvṛttimanyayāvartatē punaḥ ॥ 26 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
These two paths, the bright and the dark, are recognized as eternal courses in the world. By following the bright path, one does not return, while by the dark path, one returns again.
naitē sṛtī pārtha jānanyōgī muhyati kaśchana ।
tasmātsarvēṣu kālēṣu yōgayuktō bhavārjuna ॥ 27 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
O Arjuna, no yogi who understands these two paths is ever confused. Therefore, always remain dedicated to yoga at all times.
vēdēṣu yajñēṣu tapaḥsu chaiva dānēṣu yatpuṇyaphalaṃ pradiṣṭam।
atyēti tatsarvamidaṃ viditvāyōgī paraṃ sthānamupaiti chādyam ॥ 28 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
The yogi who truly understands this teaching rises above all the rewards promised for studying the Vedas, performing sacrifices, practicing austerities, and giving charity. Instead, he attains the supreme, original state that is beyond these worldly merits.
ōṃ tatsaditi śrīmadbhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyāṃ yōgaśāstrē
śrīkṛṣṇārjunasaṃvādē akṣarabrahmayōgō nāmāṣṭamō'dhyāyaḥ ॥8 ॥
Translation (bhāvārtha):
OM. Thus ends the eighth chapter, called 'The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman,' in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, which is the scripture of knowledge of Brahman and the discipline of yoga, presented as a dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna.
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