The Bhagavad Gita unfolds on the battlefield of कुरुक्षेत्र, where the fate of two great families, the पाण्डवाः and the कौरवाः, hangs in the balance. In the heart of this epic, श्रीकृष्ण and अर्जुन pause amid the chaos, their conversation rising above the clash of weapons.
In the previous chapter, श्रीकृष्ण revealed the path of ज्ञान-योग-the योग of knowledge. He described the nature of the self, the importance of seeing the divine in all beings, and the value of selfless action. अर्जुन 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. श्रीकृष्ण will share the essence of भक्ति-योग-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.
ॐ श्री परमात्मने नमः
अथ अष्टमोऽध्यायः
अक्षरपरब्रह्मयोगः
Translation (भावार्थ):
Om. Salutations to the Supreme Self. Now begins the eighth chapter, titled 'The Yoga of the Imperishable Supreme Reality.'
अर्जुन उवाच
किं तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम ।
अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तम् अधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥1॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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?
अधियज्ञः कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन ।
प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभिः ॥2॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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?
श्री भगवानुवाच
अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते ।
भूतभावोद्भवकरः विसर्गः कर्मसञ्ज्ञितः ॥3॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अधिभूतं क्षरो भावः पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतम् ।
अधियज्ञोऽहमेवात्र देहे देहभृतां वर ॥4॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम् ।
यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥5॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Whoever, at the moment of death, leaves the body while thinking only of Me, truly reaches My state. There is no uncertainty about this.
यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम् ।
तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः ॥6॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च ।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिः मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम् ॥7॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना ।
परमं पुरुषं दिव्यं याति पार्थानुचिन्तयन् ॥8॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
कविं पुराणमनुशासितारम् अणोरणीयांसमनुस्मरेद्यः ।
सर्वस्य धातारमचिन्त्यरूपं आदित्यवर्णं तमसः परस्तात् ॥9॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
प्रयाणकाले मनसाऽचलेन भक्त्या युक्तो योगबलेन चैव ।
भ्रुवोर्मध्ये प्राणमावेश्य सम्यक् स तं परं पुरुषमुपैति दिव्यम् ॥10॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः ।
यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं सङ्ग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ॥11॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च ।
मूर्ध्न्याधायात्मनः प्राणम् आस्थितो योगधारणाम् ॥12॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन् ।
यः प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम् ॥13॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अनन्यचेताः सततं यो मां स्मरति नित्यशः ।
तस्याहं सुलभः पार्थ नित्ययुक्तस्य योगिनः ॥14॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
मामुपेत्य पुनर्जन्म दुःखालयमशाश्वतम् ।
नाप्नुवन्ति महात्मानः संसिद्धिं परमां गताः ॥15॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
आब्रह्मभुवनाल्लोकाः पुनरावर्तिनोऽर्जुन ।
मामुपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ॥16॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तम् अहर्यद्ब्रह्मणो विदुः ।
रात्रिं युगसहस्रान्तां तेऽहोरात्रविदो जनाः ॥17॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अव्यक्ताद्व्यक्तयः सर्वाः प्रभवन्त्यहरागमे ।
रात्र्यागमे प्रलीयन्ते तत्रैवाव्यक्तसञ्ज्ञके ॥18॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
भूतग्रामः स एवायं भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते ।
रात्र्यागमेऽवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे ॥19॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
परस्तस्मात्तु भावोऽन्यः अव्यक्तोऽव्यक्तात्सनातनः ।
यः स सर्वेषु भूतेषु नश्यत्सु न विनश्यति ॥20॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Yet beyond that unmanifest is another unmanifested, eternal reality. Even when all living beings are destroyed, this higher existence does not perish.
अव्यक्तोऽक्षर इत्युक्तः तमाहुः परमां गतिम् ।
यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥21॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
पुरुषः स परः पार्थ भक्त्या लभ्यस्त्वनन्यया ।
यस्यान्तः स्थानि भूतानि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ॥22॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
यत्र काले त्वनावृत्तिम् आवृत्तिं चैव योगिनः ।
प्रयाता यान्ति तं कालं वक्ष्यामि भरतर्षभ ॥23॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
अग्निर्ज्योतिरहः शुक्लः षण्मासा उत्तरायणम् ।
तत्र प्रयाता गच्छन्ति ब्रह्म ब्रह्मविदो जनाः ॥24॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
धूमो रात्रिस्तथा कृष्णः षण्मासा दक्षिणायनम् ।
तत्र चान्द्रमसं ज्योतिः योगी प्राप्य निवर्तते ॥25॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते ।
एकया यात्यनावृत्तिम् अन्ययाऽऽवर्तते पुनः ॥26॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
नैते सृती पार्थ जानन् योगी मुह्यति कश्चन ।
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु योगयुक्तो भवार्जुन ॥27॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
O Arjuna, no yogi who understands these two paths is ever confused. Therefore, always remain dedicated to yoga at all times.
वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपस्सु चैव दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम् ।
अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा योगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम् ॥28॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
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.
॥ ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासु उपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां
योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे अक्षरपरब्रह्मयोगो नाम अष्टमोऽध्यायः ॥8
Translation (भावार्थ):
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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