Chapter 8, Verse 15 (Bhagavad Gita 8.15)
Chapter 8: Akṣhar Brahma Yog – Path of the Eternal God
Sanskrit Shloka
मामुपेत्य पुनर्जन्म दुःखालयमशाश्वतम्। नाप्नुवन्ति महात्मानः संसिद्धिं परमां गताः
Transliteration
mām upetya punar janma duḥkhālayam aśhāśhvatam nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ sansiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ
Word Meanings
mām—me; upetya—having attained; punaḥ—again; janma—birth; duḥkha-ālayam—place full of miseries; aśhāśhvatam—temporary; na—never; āpnuvanti—attain; mahā-ātmānaḥ—the great souls; sansiddhim—perfection; paramām—highest; gatāḥ—having achieved
Translation
Having attained Me, these great souls, who are mahatmas, do not take birth again in this world, which is a transient abode of suffering, for they have achieved the ultimate perfection.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals the ultimate destination of the soul: His own eternal abode. By describing this material world as an 'abode of sorrow and impermanence,' Shri Krishna invites the seeker to recognize that true peace cannot be found in shifting material circumstances. When a devotee fully surrenders to Shri Krishna, they transcend the cycle of birth and death, entering a state of supreme liberation. This is not merely an escape, but the attainment of the highest perfection where the soul exists in eternal communion with the Divine. Shri Krishna promises that for those who fix their consciousness upon Him, the journey of suffering ends, replaced by the boundless bliss of His eternal presence.