Sunday, 3 May 2020

Srimad BhagavadGita Chapter - 8

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अथ अष्टमो[1]ऽध्यायः
अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः
Chapter 8
Akṣara-brahma-yogaḥ -Topic of Imperishable Brahman

(Seven question by Arjuna in 1st and 2nd śloka)
अर्जुन उवाच
किं तद्‌ ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम ।
अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥८.१॥
arjuna uvāca
kiṃ tad[2] brahma kim-adhyātmaṃ kiṃ karma puruṣottama |
adhibhūtaṃ ca kiṃ proktam-adhidaivaṃ kim-ucyate
||8.1||

puruṣottama[3]! tat brahma[4] kiṃ, adhyātmaṃ[5] [6]kim, karma[7] kiṃ, adhibhūtaṃ[8] kiṃ proktam, ca adhidaivaṃ[9] kim ucyate[10] |

Arjuna said:
O, Supreme Being (puruṣottama!)!
i) What (kim) is that (tat) Brahman (brahma)?
ii) What (kim) is centered on the self (adhyātmam)?
iii) What (kim) is karma (karma)?
iv) And (ca) what (kim) is spoken of (proktam) as centered on beings
     (adhibhūtaṃ)?
v) What (kim) is said to be (ucyate) centred on the gods (adhidaivam)? ||8.1||

अधियज्ञः कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन।
प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभिः॥८.२॥
adhiyajñaḥ kathaṃ ko’[11]tra dehe’[12]smin madhusūdana! |
prayāṇakāle ca kathaṃ jñeyo'[13]si niyatātmabhiḥ||8.2||

madhusūdana[14]!
vi) atra adhiyajñaḥ[15] kaḥ, asmin dehe kathaṃ |
vii) ca prayāṇakāle kathaṃ niyatātmabhiḥ[16] jñeyaḥ asi | [17]

O Slayer of demon Madhu! (madhusūdana!)!
Who (kaḥ) is that, which is centred on ritual (adhiyajñaḥ);
how (katham) is it here (atra) in this (asmin) body (dehe)?
And (ca) at the time of death (prayāṇakāle), how (katham) are (asi) you known (jñeyaḥ) by those, whose minds are steady (niyatātmabhiḥ)? ||8.2||

(Bhagavān's answers 3 questions - Brahma, Adhyātma and Karma)
श्रीभगवानुवाच
अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते
भूतभावोद्भवकरो विसर्गः कर्मसंज्ञितः॥८.३॥
śrībhagavān uvāca
akṣaraṃ brahma paramaṃ svabhāvo’dhyātmam-ucyate |
bhūtabhāvodbhavakaro[18] visargaḥ karmasañjñitaḥ
||8.3||

paramam akṣaraṃ brahma[19] [20]| svabhāvaḥ adhyātmam[21] ucyate | bhūta-bhāvodbhava-karaḥ visargaḥ karma-sañjñitaḥ[22] |

Śrī Bhagavān said:
i) The Limitless (paramam) and Changeless (akṣaram) is Brahman (brahma).
ii) Its manifestation (svabhāvaḥ) centred on the body (adhyātmam) is called (ucyate) the            jīva.
iii) What is known (sañjñitaḥ) as karma (karma-sañjñitaḥ) is an offering in the rituals                  (visargaḥ), which causes the genesis and existence of beings (bhūta-bhāvodbhava-              karaḥ). ||8.3||

(Bhagavān's answers next 3 questions - adhibhūta, adhidaiva and adhiyajña)
अधिभूतं क्षरो भावः पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतम्‌ ।
अधियज्ञोऽहमेवात्र देहे देहभृतां वर ॥८.४॥
adhibhūtaṃ kṣaro[23] bhāvaḥ puruṣaś[24]-cādhidaivatam |
adhiyajño[25]'ham-evātra dehe dehabhṛtāṃ vara!
||8.4||

kṣaraḥ[26] bhāvaḥ adhibhūtam | puruṣaḥ adhidaivatam | ca dehabhṛtāṃ vara[27]! atra dehe aham eva adhiyajñaḥ[28]|

O, The most exalted (vara!) among the embodied! (dehabhṛtāṃ)!
iv) What is centred on beings (adhi-bhūtam) is perishable (kṣaraḥ bhāvaḥ).
v) What is centred on devatās (adhi-daivatam) is Hiraṇyagarbha / Sūtrātmā /
    Prajāpati/  Brahmāji (puruṣaḥ).
vi) Here (atra) in this body (dehe), I (aham) alone (eva) am what is centred on
     ritual (adhiyajñaḥ). ||8.4||

(Bhagavān's answers the seventh question
- result of remembering Īśvara while leaving)
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम्‌ ।
यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः॥८.५॥
antakāle ca mām-eva smaran muktvā kalevaram |
yaḥ prayāti sa madbhāvaṃ yāti nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ
||8.5||

ca yaḥ antakāle mām eva smaran[29] kalevaraṃ muktvā[30] pra-yāti, saḥ[31] mad-bhāvaṃ yāti | atra saṃśayaḥ nāsti |

And (ca) at the time of death (antakāle), the one (yaḥ) who departs (prayāti) giving up (muktvā) the body (kalevaram), remembering (smaran) Me (mām) alone (eva), he (saḥ) easily attains (pra-yāti) My (mat) being (bhāvam). There (atra) is (asti) no (na) doubt (saṃśayaḥ) about this. ||8.5||

 (Various gatis (paths) based on constant thoughts)
यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम्‌ ।
तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः॥८.६॥
yaṃ yaṃ vāpi smaran bhāvaṃ tyajatyante kalevaram |
taṃ tam evaiti kaunteya! sadā tadbhāvabhāvitaḥ
||8.6||

kaunteya! ante yaṃ yaṃ[32] vā api bhāvaṃ smaran kalevaraṃ tyajati, sadā tad-bhāvabhāvitaḥ taṃ tam[33] eva eti [34] |

O, Son of Kunti (kaunteya!)! And () in fact (api), at the time of death (ante), remembering (smran) whatever (yaṃ yam) thing (bhāvam) one gives up (tyajati) the physical body (kalevaram), because of his constant (sadā) thought about it (tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ), one reaches (eti) that (taṃ tam) alone (eva). ||8.61||

(hence always think of Īśvara)
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च ।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम् ॥८.७॥
tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu mām-anusmara yudhya ca |
mayyarpitamanobuddhir-mām-evaiṣyasyasaṃśayaḥ
||8.7||

tasmāt[35] sarveṣu kāleṣu[36] mām anu-smara, ca yudhya | mayyarpita-manobuddhiḥ asaṃśayaḥ mām eva eṣyasi |

Therefore (tasmāt), remember (anu-smara) Me (mām) all (sarveṣu) the time (kāleṣu) and (ca) fight (yudhya). With the mind and intellect offered unto Me (mayyarpita-manobuddhiḥ), undoubtedly (asaṃśayaḥ) you will reach (eṣyasi) Me (mām) alone (eva). ||8.7||

(8th to 16th ślokas are about Saguṇa Nirākāra Īśvara)
अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना ।
परमं पुरुषं दिव्यं याति पार्थानुचिन्तयन्‌ ॥८.८॥
abhyāsayogayuktena cetasā nānyagāminā |
paramaṃ puruṣaṃ divyaṃ yāti pārthānucintayan
||8.8||

pārtha! abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena[37] nānyagāminā[38] cetasā[39] anu-cintayan[40]  paramaṃ divyaṃ puruṣaṃ[41] yāti |

O, Son of Pṛthā! (pārtha!) Reflecting in keeping with the teaching (anu-cintayan) with a mind (cetasā) made steadfast with practice of yoga/meditation (abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena) that does not (na) stray away (anyagāminā), he reaches (yāti) the limitless (paramam) self-effulgent (divyam) person (puruṣam). ||8.8||

(Description of that Paramam Divyam Puruṣam (in the previous śloka)
(9 and 10 together because of one sentence/concept with usage of yaḥ saḥ)
कविं पुराणमनुशासितारम्‌
अणोरणीयंसमनुस्मरेद्यः।
सर्वस्य धातारमचिन्त्यरूप-
मादित्यवर्णं तमसः परस्तात्‌ ॥८.९॥
प्रयाणकाले मनसाऽचलेन
भक्त्या युक्तो योगबलेन चैव ।
भ्रुवोर्मध्ये प्राणमावेश्य सम्यक्‌
स तं परं पुरुषमुपैति दिव्यम्‌ ॥८.१०॥
kaviṃ purāṇam-anuśāsitāraṃ
aṇor-aṇīyāṃsam-anusmared[42]-yaḥ |
sarvasya dhātāram-acintyarūpam-
ādityavarṇaṃ tamasaḥ parastāt
||8.9||

prayāṇakāle manasācalena
bhaktyā yukto[43] yogabalena caiva |
bhruvor-madhye prāṇam-āveśya samyak
sa taṃ paraṃ puruṣam-upaiti divyam
||8.10||

yaḥ kaviṃ purāṇam anuśāsitāram[44], aṇoḥ aṇīyāṃsaṃ, sarvasya dhātāram, acintya-rūpam[45], āditya-varṇaṃ tamasaḥ parastāt[46] anu-smaret ......
.....saḥ[47] bhaktyā yuktaḥ prayāṇakāle yoga-balena[48] bhruvoḥ madhye prāṇam samyak āveśya [49] [50]ca acalena manasā[51] (smaran) taṃ paraṃ divyaṃ puruṣam[52] upaiti |

The one who (yaḥ) contemplates (anu-smaret) upon the omniscient (kavim), the most ancient (purāṇam), the ruler (anu-śāsitāram), who is subtler (aṇīyāṃsam) than the subtlest (aṇoḥ), basis (dhātāram) of all (sarvasya), whose form cannot be conceived of (acintya-rūpam), who is effulgent like the sun (āditya-varṇam), who is beyond (parastāt) ignorance (tamasaḥ) (and knowledge)..... ||8.9||

…...at the time of death (prayāṇakāle), with an unwavering (acalena) mind (manasā), endowed (yuktaḥ) with devotion (bhaktyā), and (ca) indeed (eva) strength gathered by yoga (yogabalena), placing (āveśya) the breath (prāṇam) properly (samyak) between (madhye) the brows (bhruvoḥ), he (saḥ) indeed (eva) reaches (upaiti) that (tam) limitless (param) effulgent (divyam) person (puruṣam). ||8.10||

यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति
विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः।
यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति
तत्ते पदं संग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ॥८.११॥
yad-akṣaraṃ vedavido[53] vadanti
viśanti yad[54]-yatayo[55] vītarāgāḥ |
yad[56]-icchanto[57] brahmacaryaṃ caranti
tat te padaṃ saṅgraheṇa pravakṣye[58]
||8.11||

vedavidaḥ yat akṣaraṃ [59]vadanti, vītarāgāḥ yatayaḥ[60] yat viśanti, yat icchantaḥ brahmacaryaṃ[61] caranti, tat[62] padaṃ te saṅgraheṇa pravakṣye |

(I) will tell (pravakṣye) you (te) briefly (saṅgraheṇa) about that (tat) end (padam), which (yat) does not decline (akṣaram), about which the knowers of the Veda (vedavidaḥ) talk (vadanti) about, which (yat) the renunciates (yatayaḥ) free from desires (vītarāgāḥ) enter (viśanti), and desiring (icchantaḥ)  which  (yat) (people) follow/live/lead (caranti) a life of study and discipline/asceticism (brahmacaryam). ||8.11||

(12th and 13th to be read together since prayāti is the single verb)
सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च ।
मूध्न्या।र्धायात्मनः प्राणमास्थितो योगधारणाम्‌ ॥८.१२॥
ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन्‌ ।
यः प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम्‌ ॥८.१३॥
sarvadvārāṇi saṃyamya mano[63] hṛdi nirudhya ca |
mūrdhnyādhāyātmanaḥ prāṇam-āsthito[64] yogadhāraṇām
||8.12||

om-ityekākṣaraṃ brahma vyāharan mām-anusmaran |
yaḥ prayāti tyajan-dehaṃ sa yāti paramāṃ gatim
||8.13||

sarva-dvārāṇi saṃyamya[65], ca  manaḥ hṛdi nirudhya[66], prāṇam mūrdhni ādhāya[67], ātmanaḥ yoga-dhāraṇām āsthitaḥ....

....om iti ekākṣaraṃ brahma vyāharan[68], mām anu-smaran[69], dehaṃ tyajan[70] yaḥ prayāti,  saḥ[71] paramāṃ gatim[72] yāti |

Closing (saṃyamya) all the gates of perception/sense organs (sarva-dvārāṇi), and (ca) withdrawing (nirudhya) the mind (manas) into the heart (hṛdi), placing (ādhāya) his (ātmanaḥ) breath (prāṇam) at the top of his head (mūrdhni), remaining (āsthitaḥ)  holding (his breath) by yoga (yoga-dhāraṇām), chanting (vyāharan) the single (eka) syllable (akṣaram) Om (om iti), which is Brahman (brahma), giving up (tyajan) the body (deham), the one (yaḥ) who departs (prayāti) remembering (anu-smaran) Me (mām), he (saḥ) goes (yāti ) to the most exalted (paramām) end (gatim). ||8.12-13||

अनन्यचेताः सततं यो मां स्मरति नित्यशः।
तस्याहं सुलभः पार्थ नित्ययुक्तस्य योगिनः॥८.१४॥
ananyacetāḥ satataṃ yo[73] māṃ smarati nityaśaḥ |
tasyāhaṃ sulabhaḥ pārtha! nityayuktasya yoginaḥ
||8.14||

pārtha! yaḥ (mayi) ananyacetāḥ[74], nityaśaḥ satataṃ māṃ smarati, tasya nitya-yuktasya yoginaḥ[75] ahaṃ sulabhaḥ[76] |

O, Son of Pṛthā (pārtha!)! The one who (yaḥ) has a mind that thinks of no other (ananya-cetāḥ), who constantly (satatam) remembers (smarati) Me (mām) regularly (nityaśaḥ), for (tasya) that yogī (yoginaḥ) who is always united (nitya-yuktasya) with Me, I (aham) am easily gained (sulabhaḥ). ||8.14||

मामुपेत्य पुनर्जन्म दुःखालयमशाश्वतम्‌ ।
नाप्नुवन्ति महात्मानः संसिद्धिं परमां गताः॥८.१५॥
mām-upetya punarjanma duḥkhālayam-aśāśvatam |
nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ saṃsiddhiṃ paramāṃ gatāḥ
||8.15||

mahātmānaḥ[77], mām upetya[78] duḥkhālayam aśāśvataṃ punarjanma[79] na āpnuvanti | paramāṃ saṃsiddhiṃ [80] gatāḥ |

Reaching (upetya) Me (mām), the wise persons (mahātmānaḥ) do not (na) gain (āpnuvanti) another (punar) birth (janma), which is the abode of misery (duḥkhālayam), finite (aśāśvatam). They have reached (gatāḥ) the ultimate (paramām) success (saṃsiddhim). ||8.15||
आब्रह्मभुवनाल्लोकाः पुनरावर्तिनोऽर्जुन ।
मामुपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ॥८.१६॥
ābrahmabhuvanāl[81]lokāḥ punarāvartinorjuna! |
mām-upetya tu kaunteya! punarjanma na vidyate
||8.16||

arjuna! ābrahma-bhuvanāt lokāḥ punarāvartinaḥ | tu kaunteya! mām upetya[82] punar-janma na vidyate |

O, Arjuna! (arjuna!) All the worlds (where beings exist) (lokāḥ) up to the world of Brahmāji (ābrahma-bhuvanāt) are subject to return (punar-āvartinaḥ). However (tu), having reached (upetya) Me (mām) O Son of Kunti (kaunteya!)!  there is (vidyate) no (na) rebirth (punar-janma). ||8.16||

(Day and Night of Brahmāji)
सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तमहर्यद्‌ ब्रह्मणो विदुः।
रात्रिं युगसहस्रान्तां तेऽहोरात्रविदो जनाः॥८.१७॥
sahasrayugaparyantam-ahar-yad[83] brahmaṇo viduḥ |
rātriṃ yugasahasrāntāṃ te’[84]horātravido[85] janāḥ
||8.17||

brahmaṇaḥ yat ahaḥ sahasra-yuga-paryantaṃ, rātriṃ yuga-sahasrāntāṃ (ye) viduḥ, te[86] janāḥ ahorātra[87]-vidaḥ[88] |

Those (te) people (janāḥ) who know (viduḥ) that a day (aha) of Brahmāji (brahmaṇaḥ) consists of one thousand yugas (sahasra-yuga-paryantam), and a night (rātrim) (of Brahmāji) measuring one thousand yugas (yuga-sahasrāntām), know about the day and night (ahorātra-vidaḥ). ||8.17||

(Description of beings being born and dying repeatedly)
अव्यक्ताद्‌ व्यक्तयः सर्वाः प्रभवन्त्यहरागमे ।
रात्र्यागमे प्रलीयन्ते तत्रैवाव्यक्तसंज्ञके ॥८.१८॥
avyaktād[89] vyaktayaḥ sarvāḥ prabhavantyaharāgame[90] |
rātryāgame pralīyante[91] tatraivāvyaktasañjñake
||8.18||[92]

sarvāḥ vyaktayaḥ ahar-āgame avyaktāt pra-bhavanti | rātryāgame tatra avyakta-sañjñake eva pra-līyante  [93]|

At the beginning (āgame) of the day (aha), all things (sarvāḥ) that are manifest (vyaktayaḥ) arise (pra-bhavanti) from the unmanifest (avyaktāt). At the approach (āgame) of the night (rātrī), they resolve (pra-līyante) in that (tatra) alone (eva), which is called unmanifest (avyakta-sañjñake)| ||8.18||

भूतग्रामः स एवायं भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते ।
रात्र्यागमेऽवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे ॥८.१९॥
bhūtagrāmaḥ sa evāyaṃ bhūtvā bhūtvā pralīyate |
rātryāgame’vaśaḥ pārtha! prabhavatyaharāgame[94]
||8.19||

pārtha! saḥ eva ayaṃ bhūtagrāmaḥ bhūtvā bhūtvā[95] avaśaḥ rātryāgame pra-līyate[96] | ahar-āgame pra-bhavati |

O, Son of Pṛthā! (pārtha!) This (ayam) group of beings (bhūta-grāmaḥ) indeed (eva), having come into being repeatedly (bhūtvā bhūtvā), necessarily dissolves (pra-līyate) when the night (rātri of Brahmāji) comes (āgame). When the day (aha) comes (āgame), it again comes into being (pra-bhavati). ||8.19||

(Description of the eternal avyakta that is above this avyakta)
परस्तस्मात्तु भावोऽन्योऽव्यक्तोऽव्यक्तात्सनातनः।
यः स सर्वेषु भूतेषु नश्यत्सु न विनश्यति ॥८.२०॥
paras-tasmāt tu bhāvo’[97]nyo’[98]vyakto’[99]vyaktāt sanātanaḥ | [100] [101]
yaḥ sa sarveṣu bhūteṣu naśyatsu na vinaśyati
||8.20||
tu tasmāt avyaktāt[102] paraḥ anyaḥ, yaḥ sanātanaḥ avyakta bhāvaḥ | saḥ[103] sarveṣu bhūteṣu naśyatsu[104], na vi-naśyati [105]|

However (tu), distinct (paraḥ) from that (tasmāt) unmanifest (avyaktāt - Paramātmā) is another (anyaḥ) unmanifest (avyaktaḥ - Brahmāji), which is existent (bhāvaḥ) and eternal (sanātanaḥ), who (yaḥ) is not (na) destroyed (vinaśyati) when all (sarveṣu) beings (bhūteṣu) are destroyed (naśyatsu). ||8.20||

(That avyakta is called akṣara, paramāṃ-gati, paramaṃ-dhāma,
paramam-puruṣa)
अव्यक्तोऽक्षर इत्युक्तस्तमाहुः परमां गतिम्‌ ।
यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥८.२१॥
avyakto’[106]kṣara ityuktas-tam-āhuḥ paramāṃ gatim |
yaṃ prāpya na nivartante tad[107] dhāma paramaṃ mama[108]
||8.21||

avyaktaḥ akṣaraḥ iti uktaḥ | taṃ[109] paramāṃ gatim āhuḥ, yaṃ prāpya[110] na ni-vartante tat mama paramaṃ dhāma[111] |

The unmanifest (avyakta) that (tam) was spoken of (uktaḥ) as (iti) is indestructible (akṣaraḥ), the highest (paramām) end (gatim), they say (āhuḥ). That (tat) abode (dhāma) of Mine (mama), is the highest (paramam) gaining (prāpya) which (yam) (people) do not (na) return (ni-vartante). ||8.21||

 (Bhakti introduced now.
That is obtained through ananyā bhakti)
पुरुषः स परः पार्थ भक्त्या लभ्यस्त्वनन्यया ।
यस्यान्तःस्थानि भूतानि येन सर्वमिदं ततम्‌ ॥८.२२॥
puruṣaḥ sa paraḥ pārtha! bhaktyā labhyas-tvananyayā |
yasyāntaḥsthāni bhūtāni yena sarvam-idaṃ tatam
||8.22||

pārtha! yasya antaḥsthāni bhūtāni, yena sarvam idaṃ tatam[112] saḥ paraḥ puruṣaḥ[113] tu ananyayā bhaktyā[114] labhyaḥ |

O, Son of Pṛthā (pārtha!)! The One (yasya), in whom (antaḥsthāni) all beings (bhūtāni) have their being, by whom (yena) all (sarvam) this (idam) is pervaded (tatam); That (saḥ) limitless (paraḥ) Puruṣa (puruṣaḥ) is gained (labhyaḥ) only (tu) by exclusive (ananyayā) devotion (bhaktyā). ||8.22||

(The gati (onward travel) during Śukla and Kṛṇa)
यत्र काले त्वनावृत्तिमावृत्तिं चैव योगिनः।
प्रयाता यान्ति तं कालं वक्ष्यामि भरतर्षभ ॥८.२३॥
yatra kāle tvanāvṛttim-āvṛttiṃ caiva yoginaḥ |
prayātā yānti taṃ kālaṃ vakṣyāmi bharatarṣabha!
||8.23||

bharatarṣabha! yatra kāle prayātāḥ yoginaḥ[115]  tu anāvṛttim eva yānti | ca taṃ kālaṃ (yatra) āvṛttiṃ, vakṣyāmi |

O, The foremost in the clan of Bharata (bharatarṣabha!)! I will tell (vakṣyāmi) you that (tam) time/route (kālam) of no return (anāvṛttim) by which (kāle) the departed (prayātāḥ) yogis (yoginaḥ) go (yānti), and (ca) also (eva) the time/route of return (āvṛttim). ||8.23||

{Śukla mārga (path)}
अग्निर्ज्योतिरहः शुक्लः षण्मासा उत्तरायणम्‌ ।
तत्र प्रयाता गच्छन्ति ब्रह्म ब्रह्मविदो जनाः॥८.२४॥
agnir-jyotir-ahaḥ śuklaḥ ṣaṇmāsā-uttarāyaṇam |
tatra prayātā gacchanti brahma brahmavido[116] janāḥ
||8.24||

jyotiḥ agniḥ ahaḥ śuklaḥ[117] uttarāyaṇam[118] ṣaṇ[119]māsāḥ | tatra prayātāḥ brahmavidaḥ janāḥ brahma gacchanti |

Departing (prayātāḥ) through that path (tatra) in which the deity of fire (agniḥ), the deity of light (jyotiḥ), the deity of the day (ahaḥ), the deity of the bright fortnight (śuklaḥ), the deity of the six months (ṣaṇ-māsāḥ) of the northern solstice (uttarāyaṇam) are present, the meditators of Brahman (brahmavidaḥ janāḥ) go (gacchanti) to Brahmaloka (brahma). ||8.24||

{Kṛṇa marga (path)}
धूमो रात्रिस्तथा कृष्णः षण्मासा दक्षिणायनम्‌ ।
तत्र चान्द्रमसं ज्योतिर्योगी प्राप्य निवर्तते ॥८.२५॥
dhūmo[120] rātris-tathā kṛṣṇaḥ ṣaṇmāsā dakṣiṇāyanam |
tatra cāndramasaṃ jyotir-yogī prāpya nivartate
||8.25||

dhūmaḥ rātriḥ tathā kṛṣṇaḥ[121] dakṣiṇāyanam[122] ṣaṇ-māsāḥ | tatra yogī cāndramasaṃ jyotiḥ prāpya[123] ni-vartate |

The yogī (yogī) (traveling by the route) where (tatra) the presiding deity of clouds (dhumaḥ), the deity of night (rātriḥ), and (tathā) the deity of dark fortnight  (kṛṣṇaḥ), and the deity of the six months (ṣaṇ-māsāḥ) of the southern solstice (dakṣiṇāyanam) (are present), gaining (prāpya) the world of the moon (cāndramasa jyotiḥ), returns (ni-vartate). ||8.25||

(Knowledge of Śukla and Kṛṇa)
शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते ।
एकया यात्यनावृत्तिमन्ययावर्तते पुनः ॥८.२६॥
śuklakṛṣṇe gatī hyete jagataḥ śāśvate mate |
ekayā yātyanāvṛttim-anyayāvartate punaḥ
||8.26||

hi jagataḥ ete śukla-kṛṣṇe gatī śāśvate[124] mate | ekayā anāvṛttiṃ yāti, anyayā punaḥ āvartate |

As is well known (hi) in the śāstra, these (ete) two paths (gatī) of the world (jagataḥ), the bright and the dark (śukla-kṛṣṇe) are considered (mate) eternal (śāśvate). By one (ekayā - path), one goes (yāti) to a place of no return (anāvṛttim), by the other (anyayā), one returns (āvartate) again (punaḥ). ||8.26||

नैते सृती पार्थ जानन्योगी मुह्यति कश्चन ।
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु योगयुक्तो भवार्जुन ॥८.२७॥
naite sṛtī pārtha! jānan-yogī muhyati kaścana |
tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu yogayukto[125] bhavārjuna!
||8.27||

pārtha! ete sṛtī jānan[126], kaścana yogī na muhyati | arjuna! tasmāt[127] sarveṣu kāleṣu[128] yogayuktaḥ[129] bhava |

O, Son of Pṛthā (pārtha!)! Knowing (jānan) the two paths (sṛtī), a (kaścana) yogi (yogī) is never (na) deluded (muhyati). O Arjuna (arjuna!)! Therefore (tasmāt), at all (sarveṣu) times (kāleṣu) may you be (bhava) united to yoga (yoga-yuktaḥ). ||8.27||

{(Phalaśruti) - result of knowing the concepts discussed in this chapter}
वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव
दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम्‌।
अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा
योगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम्‌ ॥८.२८॥
vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva
dāneṣu yat puṇyaphalaṃ pradiṣṭam |
atyeti tat sarvam-idaṃ viditvā
yogī paraṃ sthānam-upaiti cādyam
||8.28||

yogī idaṃ viditvā[130] [131]vedeṣu, ca yajñeṣu, tapaḥsu, dāneṣu, yat puṇya-phalaṃ pradiṣṭam, tat[132] sarvam atyeti | ca ādyaṃ paraṃ sthānam upaiti |

The yogi (yogī) knowing (viditvā) this (idam), goes beyond (atyeti) all (sarvam) things (tat) taught by the śāstra (pra-diṣṭam), wrt the result of good actions (puṇya-phalaṃ), which (yat) abides in the (study of the) Veda (vedeṣu), and (ca) the rituals (yajñeṣu), disciplines (tapaḥsu), even (eva) charities (dāneṣu). And (ca) he reaches (upaiti) the primal cause (of creation) (ādyam), which is the highest (param) state (sthānam). ||8.28||

***

ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे
श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे अक्षरब्रह्मयोगो नामाष्टमोऽध्यायः॥८॥
oṃ tat sat
iti śrīmad-bhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyāṃ yogaśāstre śrīkṛṣṇārjuna-saṃvāde akṣarabrahma-yogo nāma aṣṭamo’dhyāyaḥ (8)

***
 Om, That (tat) is the only reality (sat).
Thus concludes the eighth chapter titled Akṣara-brahma-yogaḥ (Topic of Imperishable Brahman), in the Bhagavadgītā, which is the essence of the Upaniṣads, whose subject matter is both knowledge of Brahman and Yoga, which is in the form of a dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna.
 ***






[1] ato ror-aplutād-aplute - A6.1.113 (ut, ati, sahitāyām) 
    + eṅaḥ padāntāt ati - A6.1.109 (pūrva, eka pūrvaparayoḥ, sahitāyām)
[2] jhalāṃ jaśo'nte - A8.2.39 (padasya)
[3] puruṣebhyaḥ (5th or 6th puruṣāṇām?) uttamaḥ, puruṣottamaḥ 6TP- Shaṣṭhī Tatpuruṣaḥ
    The one who transcends all beings.
[4] brahma - Arjuna's question in Ch 7.29
[5] adhyātmam - Arjuna's question in Ch 7.29
[6] adhyātmam - Avyayībhāvaḥ
[7] karma - Arjuna's question in Ch 7.29
[8] adhibhūtam - Arjuna's question in Ch 7.30
[9] adhidaivam - Arjuna's question in Ch V 7.30
[10] Naturally Arjuna asks clarification about adhyātmam, adhibhūtam, (because Kṛṣṇa                raised these three terms in the previous chapter - adhyātmaṃ  Ch 7.29,                                  sādhibhūtādhidaivaṃ sādhiyajñaṃ in Ch 7.30)
[11] ato ror-aplutād-aplute - A6.1.113 (ut, ati, sahitāyām) 
      + eṅaḥ padāntat ati - A6.1.109 (pūrva, eka pūrvaparayoḥ, sahitāyām)
[12] eṅaḥ padāntat ati - A6.1.109 (pūrva, eka pūrvaparayoḥ, sahitāyām)
[13] ato ror-aplutād-aplute - A6.1.113 (ut, ati, sahitāyām) 
      + eṅaḥ padāntat ati - A6.1.109 (pūrva, eka pūrvaparayoḥ, sahitāyām)
[14] Madhusūdana includes Kaiṭabhasūdana
[15] adhiyajña also - Arjuna's question in Ch 7.30
[16] ātmā - means mind here.
[18] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[19] paramaṃ (adj) akṣaraṃ (adj) brahma (noun)
[20] Answer to - kim tad brahma?
[21] adhyātmam - Answer to kim tad adhyatmam
[22] visargaḥ karmasañjñitaḥ - Answer to kim karma
[23] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[24] stoḥ ścunā ścuḥ - A8.4.40 (saṃhitāyām)
[25] ato ror-aplutād-aplute - A6.1.113 (ut, ati, sahitāyām) 
    + eṅaḥ padāntat ati - A6.1.109 (pūrva, eka pūrvaparayoḥ, sahitāyām)
[26] Compared to "akṣaraṃ" brahma, adhibhūtaṃ is "kṣaraḥ"
[27] dehabhṛtāṃ vara - very apt address when adhyātmam and adhibhūtam are being discussed.
[28] adhiyajñaḥ - The presiding deity of any yajña is Viṣṇu as per Viṣṇusūktam.
[29] smaran - lakṣaa-hetvo kriyāyā - A  3.2.126 (laaḥ, śat-śānacau, dhātoḥ, vartamāne,
   pratyaya,  paraśca)
[30] muktvā - samāna-kartkayo pūrvakāle - A 3.4.21 (ktvā, dhāto, pratyaya, paraśca)
[31] yaḥ (relative) saḥ (co-relative)
[32] ya yam - peculiar usage in Sanskrit.
[33] yaṃ yam (relative) taṃ tam (co-relative)
[34]There is a clause - (having thought about it always- सर्वेषु कालेषु).
[35] logic (hetau) as in the previous śloka. akartaryṛurṇe pañcamī -  A2.3.24 (hetau)
[36] sarveṣu (dp) kāleṣu (noun)
[37] Yoga - here means meditation, continuing from previous chapter of Dhyānayoga
[38] nānyagāminā (na anyagāminā) - saha supā - Aṣ  2.1.4
[39] abhyāsayoga-yuktena (adj) nānyagāminā (adj) cetasā (noun)
[40] anu-cintayan - lakṣaṇa-hetvo kriyāyā - A  3.2.126 (laaḥ, śat-śānacau, dhātoḥ, vartamāne,
   pratyaya, paraśca)
[41] paramaṃ (adj) divyam (adj) puruṣam (noun)
[42] jhalāṃ jaśo'nte - A8.2.39 (padasya)
[43] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[44] anuśāsitāraṃ -
     भीषाऽस्माद्वातः पवते भीषोदेति सूर्यः । भीषाऽस्मादग्निश्चेन्द्रश्च मृत्युर्धावति पञ्चम इति
     - तैत्तिरीयोपनिषत्, ब्रह्मानन्दवल्ली 8
[45] acintyarūpam - He is formless, so not kailāśe vartate, vaikuṇṭhe vartate
[46] tamasaḥ parastāt -
      अन्यत्र धर्मादन्यत्राधर्मादन्यत्रास्मात्कृताकृतात्
   अन्यत्र भूताच्च भव्याच्च यत्तत्पश्यसि तद्वद - कठोपनिषत् 1.2.14
[47] yaḥ in 8.9 (relative) saḥ in 8.10 (co-relative)
[48] yogabalena - which comes by the constant practice of meditation (samādhi)
[49] āveśya - samāse'nañ-pūrve ktvo lyap - A7.1.37 (agasya)
[50] prāṇam-āveśya samyak - concentrating the whole will and self-consciousness
[51] acalena (adj) manasā (noun)
[52] paraṃ puruṣaṃ divyam of the previous sloka - Divyam -
      तमेव भान्तमनुभाति सर्वं, तस्य भासा सर्वमिदं विभाति - कठोपनिषत् 2.2.15
[53] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[54] jhalāṃ jaśo'nte - A8.2.39 (padasya)
[55] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[56] jhalāṃ jaśo'nte - A8.2.39 (padasya)
[57] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[58] सर्वे वेदा यत्पदमामनन्ति, तपांसि सर्वाणि यद्वदन्ति
   यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति,   तत्ते पदं संग्रहेण ब्रवीम्योमित्येतत् - कठोपनिषत् 1.2.15
[59] yat (dp) akṣaram (noun)
[60] vītarāgāḥ (adj) yatayaḥ (noun)
[61] brahmacaryam - a religious student who willingly takes up the vow of continence etc. to        lead a life of study and discipline/asceticism to know Brahman, the equation of                      jīveśvara-aikyam
[62] yat yat yat (relative)  tat (co-relative)
[63] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[64] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[65] saṃyamya - samāse'nañ-pūrve ktvo lyap - A7.1.37 (agasya)
[66] nirudhya - samāse'nañ-pūrve ktvo lyap - A7.1.37 (agasya)
[67] ādhāya - samāse'nañ-pūrve ktvo lyap - A7.1.37 (agasya)
[68] vyāharan - lakṣaṇa-hetvo kriyāyā - A  3.2.126 (laaḥ, śat-śānacau, dhātoḥ, vartamāne,
   pratyaya, paraśca)
[69] anu-smaran - lakṣaṇa-hetvo kriyāyā - A  3.2.126 (laaḥ, śat-śānacau, dhātoḥ, vartamāne,
    pratyaya, paraśca)
[70] tyajan - lakṣaṇa-hetvo kriyāyā - A  3.2.126 (laaḥ, śat-śānacau, dhātoḥ, vartamāne,
   pratyaya, paraśca)
[71] yaḥ (relative) saḥ (co-relative)
[72] paramām (adj) gatim (noun)
[73] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[74] ananyacetāḥ = na anyacetāḥ (nañ tatpuruṣaḥ samāsaḥ), declines like naciketas - naciketā
[75] tasya (dp) nitya-yuktasya (adj) yoginaḥ (noun)
[76] aham (subject) sulabhaḥ (predicate)
[77] mahātmānaḥ - kta-ktavatū niṭhā - A 1.1.26
  - kartṛ-karmaṇoh kṛti A 2.3.65 (aṭhī, anabhihite)
    6th case negated by -  lokavyaya-niṭhā-khalarthatṛnām - A 2.3.69 (aṭhī)
  - kartṛ-karaṇos-tṛtīyā - A 2.3.18 (anabhihite)
[78] upetya - samāse'nañ-pūrve ktvo lyap - A7.1.37 (agasya)
[79] duḥkhālayam (adj) aśāśvatam (adj) punar-janma (noun)
[80] paramām (adj) saṃsiddhim (noun)
[81] ābrahma-bhuvanāt-lokāḥ - ābrahmabhuvanāl-lokāḥ - tor'li - A 8.4.60  (para-savarṇa,
      sahitāyām)
[82] 2nd mām-upetya - samāse'nañ-pūrve ktvo lyap - A7.1.37 (agasya)
[83] jhalāṃ jaśo'nte - A8.2.39 (padasya)
[84] eco'yavāyāvaḥ (aci sahitāym) - A 6.1.78
[85] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ata ro ut saṃhitāyām)
[86] ye (relative) te (co-relative)
[87] ahorātraḥ (ahaśca rātriśca, anayoḥ samāhāraḥ - Dvandvah
      - cārthe dvandvah - A 2.2.29 (vibhāṣā, sup, samāsa)
[88] te (dp) ahorātra-vidaḥ (adj) janāḥ (noun)
[89] jhalāṃ jaśo'nte - A8.2.39 (padasya)
[90] 1st prabhavantyaharāgame
[91] 1st rātryāgame pralīyante
[92] अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत
    अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना ॥ - Ch 2.28
[93] pra-bhavanti - pra-līyante - antonyms
[94] 2nd prabhavantyaharāgame.
[95] bhūtvā bhūtvā - (dvitvam) - ābhīkṣṇye ṇamul ca - Aṣ-3.4.22 (samāna-kartkayo                    pūrvakāle, ktvā, dhāto, pratyaya, paraśca)
[96] 2nd rātryāgame pra-līyate
[97] ato ror-aplutād-aplute - A6.1.113 (ut, ati, sahitāyām) 
      + eṅaḥ padāntat ati - A6.1.109 (pūrva, eka pūrvaparayoḥ, sahitāyām)
[98] ato ror-aplutād-aplute - A6.1.113 (ut, ati, sahitāyām) 
      + eṅaḥ padāntat ati - A6.1.109 (pūrva, eka pūrvaparayoḥ, sahitāyām)
[99] ato ror-aplutād-aplute - A6.1.113 (ut, ati, sahitāyām) 
     + eṅaḥ padāntat ati - A6.1.109 (pūrva, eka pūrvaparayoḥ, sahitāyām)
[100] paras-tasmāt tu bhāvo’nyo’vyakto’vyaktāt sanātanaḥ |
       
Yamaka alaṅkāra (
Śabdālaṅkāra). First avyakta = Paramātmā. Second avyakta =                   Brahmāji
[101] 3rd and last place where a śloka cannot be broken in the middle
[102] tasmāt (dp) avyaktāt (noun)
[103] yaḥ (relative) saḥ (co-relative)
[104] sarveṣu bhūteṣu naśyatsu - yasya ca bhāvena bhāva-lakṣaṇam - A2.3.37 (saptamī)
[105] naśyatsu, na vi-naśyati - Virodhābhāa alaṅkāra (Arthālaṅkāra). When a conflict (                  virodha) in the meaning appears (ābhāa), which is not a conflict (virodhābhāa) at all.          The one who is not destroyed (indestructible) when all beings (physical bodies) are                destroyed.
    समं सर्वेषु भूतेषु तिष्ठन्तं परमेश्वरम्
    विनश्यत्स्वविनश्यन्तं यः पश्यति पश्यति ॥ - Ch.13.27
[106] ato ror-aplutād-aplute - A6.1.113 (ut, ati, sahitāyām) 
       + eṅaḥ padāntat ati - A6.1.109 (pūrva, eka pūrvaparayo sahitāyām)
[107] jhalāṃ jaśo'nte - A8.2.39 (padasya)
[108] यं प्राप्य निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥ - Ch 8.21 (ya tat)
       यद्गत्वा निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥ - Ch 15.6 (yat tat)
[109] tam (co-relative) yam (relative)
[110] prāpya - samāse'nañ-pūrve ktvo lyap - A7.1.37 (agasya)
[111] paramam (adj) dhāma (noun)
[112] यस्यान्तःस्थानि भूतानि येन सर्वमिदं ततम्॥ - Ch 8.22
    यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम्। - Ch 18.46
[113] saḥ (dp) paraḥ (adj) puruṣaḥ (noun)
[114] ananyayā (adj) bhaktyā (noun)
[115] prayātāḥ (adj) yoginaḥ (noun)
[116] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[117] of the waxing moon
[118] the sun’s apparent travel towards the north
[119]  ṣaṭ-māsāḥ - ṣaṇ-māsāḥ - yaro'nunāsike'nunāsiko vā - A 8.4.45 (sahitāyām)
[120] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[121] of the waning moon
[122] the sun’s apparent travel towards the south
[123] prāpya - samāse'nañ-pūrve ktvo lyap - A7.1.37 (agasya)
[124] ete (dp) śukla-kṛṣṇe (adj)  gatī (noun) śāśvate (adj)
[125] haśi ca - A6.1.114 (ataḥ, roḥ, ut, saṃhitāyām)
[126] jānan - logic - lakṣaṇa-hetvo kriyāyā - A  3.2.126 (laaḥ, śat-śānacau, dhātoḥ, vartamāne,
           pratyaya, paraśca)
[127] tasmāt - akartaryṛurṇe pañcamī  A2.3.24 (hetau)
[128] sarveṣu (dp) kāleṣu (noun)
[129] Yoga has deeper meaning here - to be together, and always united with Īśvara.
[130] viditvā - samāna-kartkayo pūrvakāle - A 3.4.21 (ktvā, dhāto, pratyaya, paraśca)
[131] the answers to Arjuna’s questions here
[132] yat (relative) tat (co-relative)

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Srimad BhagavadGita Chapter - 10

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