Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga
The Yoga of the Imperishable Absolute
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Verse 8.1
arjuna uvāca
kiṁ tad brahma kim adhyātmaṁ kiṁ karma puruṣottama |
adhibhūtaṁ ca kiṁ proktam adhidaivaṁ kim ucyate ||1||
arjuna uvacha
kin tad brahma kim adhyatman kin karma purushottama |
adhibhutan cha kim proktam adhidaivan kim uchyate ||1||
Translation: Arjuna inquired: O my Lord, O Supreme Person, what is Brahman? What is the self? What are fruitive activities? What is this material manifestation? And what are the demigods? Please explain this to me.
Verse 8.2
adhiyajñaḥ kathaṁ ko ’tra dehe ’smin madhusūdana |
prayāṇa-kāle ca kathaṁ jñeyo ’si niyatātmabhiḥ ||2||
adhiyajnah kathan ko ’tra dehe ’smin madhusudana |
prayana-kale cha kathan jneyo ’si niyatatmabhih ||2||
Translation: Who is the lord of sacrifice, and how does He dwell in the body, O Madhusudana? And how can those who are engaged in devotional service know You at the time of death?
Verse 8.3
śrī-bhagavān uvāca
akṣaraṁ brahma paramaṁ svabhāvo ’dhyātmam ucyate |
bhūta-bhāvodbhava-karo visargaḥ karma-saṁjñitaḥ ||3||
shri-bhagavan uvacha
aksharam brahma paramam svabhavo ’dhyatmam uchyate |
bhuta-bhavodbhava-karo visargah karma-sanjnitah ||3||
Translation: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The indestructible, transcendental living entity is called Brahman, and his eternal nature is called adhyatma, the self. Action pertaining to the development of the material bodies of the living entities is called karma, or fruitive activities.
Verse 8.4
adhibhūtaṁ kṣaro bhāvaḥ puruṣaś cādhidaivatam |
adhiyajño ’ham evātra dehe deha-bhṛtāṁ vara ||4||
adhibhutan ksharo bhavah purushash chadhidaivatam |
adhiyajno ’ham evatra dehe deha-bhritam vara ||4||
Translation: O best of the embodied beings [Arjuna], the physical nature is known to be endlessly mutable. The universe is the cosmic form of the Supreme Lord, and I am that Lord, known as the adhiyajna, dwelling in the heart of every embodied being.
Verse 8.5
anta-kāle ca mām eva smaran muktvā kalevaram |
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ yāti nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ ||5||
anta-kale cha mam eva smaran muktva kalevaram |
yah prayati sa mad-bhavam yati nasty atra samshayah ||5||
Translation: And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body remembering Me alone at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.
Verse 8.6
yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajaty ante kalevaram |
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ ||6||
yam yam vapi smaran bhavan tyajaty ante kalevaram |
tan tam evaiti kaunteya sada tad-bhava-bhavitah ||6||
Translation: Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail.
Verse 8.7
tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu mām anusmara yudhya ca |
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir mām evaiṣyasy asaṁśayaḥ ||7||
tasmat sarveshu kaleshu mam anusmara yudhya cha |
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir mam evaishyasy asamshayah ||7||
Translation: Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krishna and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt.
Verse 8.8
abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena cetasā nānya-gāminā |
paramaṁ puruṣaṁ divyaṁ yāti pārthānu-cintayan ||8||
abhyasa-yoga-yuktena chetasa nanya-gamina |
paramam purushan divyam yati parthanu-chintayan ||8||
Translation: He who meditates on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his mind constantly engaged in remembering Me without being deviated, is sure to reach Me, O Partha.
Verse 8.9
kavim purāṇam anuśāsitāram
aṇor aṇīyāṁsam anusmared yaḥ |
sarvasya dhātāram acintya-rūpam
āditya-varṇaṁ tamasaḥ parastāt ||9||
kavim puranam anushasitaram
anor aniyamsam anusmared yah |
sarvasya dhataram achintya-rupam
aditya-varnan tamasah parastat ||9||
Translation: One should meditate upon the Supreme Person as the one who knows everything, as the oldest, who is the controller, who is smaller than the smallest, who is the maintainer of everything, who is beyond all material conception, who is inconceivably formless, and who is always a person. He is luminous like the sun and is transcendental, beyond this material nature.
Verse 8.10
prayāṇa-kāle manasācalena
bhaktyā yukto yoga-balena caiva |
bhruvor madhye prāṇam āveśya samyak
sa taṁ paraṁ puruṣam upaiti divyam ||10||
prayana-kale manasachalena
bhaktya yukto yoga-balena chaiva |
bhruvor madhye pranam aveshya samyak
sa tam param purusham upaiti divyam ||10||
Translation: One who, at the time of death, fixes his life air between the eyebrows and by the strength of yoga, with an unswerving mind, engages himself in remembering the Supreme Lord, will certainly attain to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Verse 8.11
yad akṣaraṁ veda-vido vadanti
viśanti yad yatayo vīta-rāgāḥ |
yad icchanto brahmacaryaṁ caranti
tat te padaṁ saṅgraheṇa pravakṣye ||11||
yad aksharam veda-vido vadanti
vishanti yad yatayo vita-ragah |
yad ichchhanto brahmacharyan charanti
tat te padam sangrahena pravakshye ||11||
Translation: Persons who know the Vedas, who utter OM, and who are great sages in the renounced order enter into Brahman. Desiring such perfection, one practices celibacy. I shall now briefly explain to you that process by which one may attain salvation.
Verse 8.12
sarva-dvārāṇi saṁyamya mano hṛdi nirudhya ca |
mūrdhny ādhāyātmanaḥ prāṇam āsthito yoga-dhāraṇām ||12||
sarva-dvarani samyamya mano hridi nirudhya cha |
murdhny adhayatmanah pranam asthito yoga-dharanam ||12||
Translation: The yogic situation is that of detachment from all sensual engagements. Closing all the doors of the senses and fixing the mind on the heart and the life air at the top of the head, one establishes himself in yoga.
Verse 8.13
om ity ekākṣaraṁ brahma vyāharan mām anusmaran |
yaḥ prayāti tyajan dehaṁ sa yāti paramāṁ gatim ||13||
om ity ekaksharam brahma vyaharan mam anusmaran |
yah prayati tyajan deham sa yati paraman gatim ||13||
Translation: After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred syllable OM, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the spiritual planets.
Verse 8.14
ananya-cetāḥ satataṁ yo māṁ smarati nityaśaḥ |
tasyāhaṁ sulabhaḥ pārtha nitya-yuktasya yoginaḥ ||14||
ananya-chetah satatam yo mam smarati nityashah |
tasyaham sulabhah partha nitya-yuktasya yoginah ||14||
Translation: For one who remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Pritha, because of his constant engagement in devotional service.
Verse 8.15
mām upetya punar-janma duḥkhālayam aśāśvatam |
nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ ||15||
mam upetya punar-janma duhkhalayam ashashvatam |
napnuvanti mahatmanah samsiddhim paraman gatah ||15||
Translation: After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.
Verse 8.16
ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ punar-āvartino ’rjuna |
mām upetya tu kaunteya punar-janma na vidyate ||16||
a-brahma-bhuvanal lokah punar-avartino ’rjuna |
mam upetya tu kaunteya punar-janma na vidyate ||16||
Translation: From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.
Verse 8.17
sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ |
rātriṁ yuga-sahasrāntāṁ te ’horātra-vido janāḥ ||17||
sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmano viduh |
ratrim yuga-sahasrantan te ’horatra-vido janah ||17||
Translation: By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together form the duration of Brahma’s one day. And such also is the duration of his night.
Verse 8.18
avyaktād vyaktayaḥ sarvāḥ prabhavanty ahar-āgame |
rātry-āgame pralīyante tatraivāvyakta-saṁjñake ||18||
avyaktad vyaktayah sarvah prabhavanty ahar-agame |
ratry-agame praliyante tatraivavyakta-sanjnake ||18||
Translation: When Brahma’s day is manifest, this multitude of living entities comes into being, and at the arrival of Brahma’s night they are all annihilated automatically.
Verse 8.19
bhūta-grāmaḥ sa evāyaṁ bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate |
rātry-āgame ’vaśaḥ pārtha prabhavaty ahar-āgame ||19||
bhuta-gramah sa evayam bhutva bhutva praliyate |
ratry-agame ’vashah partha prabhavaty ahar-agame ||19||
Translation: Again and again the day comes, and this host of beings is active; and again the night falls, O Partha, and they are helplessly dissolved.
Verse 8.20
paras tasmāt tu bhāvo ’nyo ’vyakto ’vyaktāt sanātanaḥ |
yaḥ sa sarveṣu bhūteṣu naśyatsu na vinaśyati ||20||
paras tasmat tu bhavo ’nyo ’vyakto ’vyaktat sanatanah |
yah sa sarveshu bhuteshu nashyatsu na vinashyati ||20||
Translation: Yet there is another unmanifest nature, which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as it is.
Verse 8.21
avyakto ’kṣara ity uktas tam āhuḥ paramāṁ gatim |
yaṁ prāpya na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama ||21||
avyakto ’kshara ity uktas tam ahuh paraman gatim |
yam prapya na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama ||21||
Translation: That which the Vedantists describe as unmanifest and infallible, that which is known as the supreme destination, that place from which, having attained it, one never returns—that is My supreme abode.
Verse 8.22
puruṣaḥ sa paraḥ pārtha bhaktyā labhyas tv ananyayā |
yasyāntaḥ-sthāni bhūtāni yena sarvam idaṁ tatam ||22||
purushah sa parah partha bhaktya labhyas tv ananyaya |
yasyantah-sthani bhutani yena sarvam idan tatam ||22||
Translation: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, greater than all, is attainable by unswerving devotion. Although He is in His abode, He is all-pervading, and everything is situated within Him.
Verse 8.23
yatra kāle tv anāvṛttim āvṛttiṁ caiva yoginaḥ |
prayātā yānti taṁ kālaṁ vakṣyāmi bharatarṣabha ||23||
yatra kale tv anavrittim avrittin chaiva yoginah |
prayata yanti tan kalam vakshyami bharatarshabha ||23||
Translation: O best of the Bharatas, I shall now explain to you the different times at which, passing away from this world, the yogis do or do not come back.
Verse 8.24
agnir jyotir ahaḥ śuklaḥ ṣaṇ-māsā uttarāyaṇam |
tatra prayātā gacchanti brahma brahma-vido janāḥ ||24||
agnir jyotir ahah shuklah shan-masa uttarayanam |
tatra prayata gachchhanti brahma brahma-vido janah ||24||
Translation: Those who know the Supreme Brahman pass away from the world during the influence of the auspicious moment, in the light of the day, during the bright fortnight of the moon and the six months when the sun travels in the north.
Verse 8.25
dhūmo rātris tathā kṛṣṇaḥ ṣaṇ-māsā dakṣiṇāyanam |
tatra cāndramasaṁ jyotir yogī prāpya nivartate ||25||
dhumo ratris tatha krishnah shan-masa dakshinayanam |
tatra chandramasan jyotir yogi prapya nivartate ||25||
Translation: The mystic who passes away from this world during the smoke, the night, the dark fortnight of the moon, or the six months when the sun passes to the south reaches the moon planet, but comes back again.
Verse 8.26
śukla-kṛṣṇe gatī hy ete jagataḥ śāśvate mate |
ekayā yāty anāvṛttim anyayāvartate punaḥ ||26||
shukla-krishne gati hy ete jagatah shashvate mate |
ekaya yaty anavrittim anyayavartate punah ||26||
Translation: According to Vedic opinion, there are two ways of passing from this world—one in light and one in darkness. When one passes in light, he does not come back; but when one passes in darkness, he returns.
Verse 8.27
naite sṛtī pārtha jānan yogī muhyati kaścana |
tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu yoga-yukto bhavārjuna ||27||
naite sriti partha janan yogi muhyati kashchana |
tasmat sarveshu kaleshu yoga-yukto bhavarjuna ||27||
Translation: The devotees who know these two paths, O Arjuna, are never bewildered. Therefore be always fixed in devotion.
Verse 8.28
vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva
dāneṣu yat puṇya-phalaṁ pradiṣṭam |
atyeti tat sarvam idaṁ viditvā
yogī paraṁ sthānam upaiti cādyam ||28||
vedeshu yajneshu tapahsu chaiva
daneshu yat punya-phalam pradishtam |
atyeti tat sarvam idam viditva
yogi param sthanam upaiti chadyam ||28||
Translation: A person who accepts the path of devotional service is not bereft of the results derived from studying the Vedas, performing austere sacrifices, giving charity or pursuing philosophical and fruitive activities. At the end he reaches the supreme eternal abode.