Chapter 8

Shloka 8.28 “Knowing this, the yogi transcends the fruits of Vedas, sacrifices, austerities, and gifts, attaining the supreme, primal abode.” Key Teaching: Knowing cosmic truths, the yogi transcends rituals to attain the supreme abode. Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Akshara Brahma Yoga. Description: Krishna teaches that a yogi, knowing these truths, transcends the fruits of Vedas, sacrifices, […]

Shloka 8.27 “Knowing these two paths, O Arjuna, a yogi is not deluded; therefore, be steadfast in yoga at all times.” Key Teaching: Knowing the two paths prevents delusion and requires steadfast yoga. Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Akshara Brahma Yoga. Description: Krishna teaches that a yogi who knows the paths of light and darkness is not

Shloka 8.26 “These two paths—light and darkness—are eternal; by one, one does not return; by the other, one returns.” Key Teaching: The paths of light and darkness determine liberation or rebirth. Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Akshara Brahma Yoga. Description: Krishna teaches that the paths of light and darkness are eternal; the path of light leads to

Shloka 8.25 “Smoke, night, the dark fortnight, the six months of the southern solstice—departing then, the yogi attains the lunar light and returns.” Key Teaching: Departing in inauspicious times leads to rebirth via lunar light. Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Akshara Brahma Yoga. Description: Krishna teaches that those who depart during smoke, night, the dark fortnight, or

Shloka 8.24 “Fire, light, day, the bright fortnight, the six months of the northern solstice—departing then, knowers of Brahman reach Brahman.” Key Teaching: Departing in auspicious times leads knowers of Brahman to Brahman. Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Akshara Brahma Yoga. Description: Krishna teaches that those who depart during fire, light, day, the bright fortnight, or the

Shloka 8.22 “That Supreme Person, in whom all beings abide, pervading all, is attained by unswerving devotion, O Arjuna.” Key Teaching: Unswerving devotion attains Krishna, the Supreme Person. Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Akshara Brahma Yoga. Description: Krishna teaches that the Supreme Person, in whom all beings abide and who pervades all, is attained through unswerving devotion.

Shloka 8.21 “That unmanifest is called the imperishable, the supreme goal; attaining it, none return; that is My highest abode.” Key Teaching: The imperishable unmanifest is Krishna’s supreme abode, ending rebirth. Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Akshara Brahma Yoga. Description: Krishna teaches that the eternal unmanifest, called the imperishable, is the supreme goal; attaining it ends rebirth,

Shloka 8.20 “Beyond this unmanifest is another eternal unmanifest, which does not perish when all beings perish.” Key Teaching: An eternal unmanifest exists beyond the perishable unmanifest. Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Akshara Brahma Yoga. Description: Krishna teaches that beyond the perishable unmanifest is another eternal unmanifest, which remains when all beings perish. This verse, continuing 8.19,

Shloka 8.19 “This multitude of beings, born repeatedly, dissolves at night and remanifests at day, O Arjuna, helplessly.” Key Teaching: Beings repeatedly manifest and dissolve in cosmic cycles. Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Akshara Brahma Yoga. Description: Krishna teaches that the multitude of beings, born repeatedly, dissolves at Brahma’s night and remanifests at day, helplessly bound by

Shloka 8.18 “At the day’s dawn, all beings manifest from the unmanifest; at night, they dissolve into the unmanifest.” Key Teaching: Beings manifest and dissolve in Brahma’s cosmic cycles. Theme: Guidance, Dharma, Akshara Brahma Yoga. Description: Krishna teaches that at Brahma’s day’s dawn, beings manifest from the unmanifest, and at night, they dissolve back into