Chapter 8, Verse 23 (Bhagavad Gita 8.23)
Chapter 8: Akṣhar Brahma Yog – Path of the Eternal God
Sanskrit Shloka
यत्र काले त्वनावृत्तिमावृत्तिं चैव योगिनः। प्रयाता यान्ति तं कालं वक्ष्यामि भरतर्षभ
Transliteration
yatra kāle tvanāvṛittim āvṛittiṁ chaiva yoginaḥ prayātā yānti taṁ kālaṁ vakṣhyāmi bharatarṣhabha
Word Meanings
yatra—where; kāle—time; tu—certainly; anāvṛittim—no return; āvṛittim—return; cha—and; eva—certainly; yoginaḥ—a yogi; prayātāḥ—having departed; yānti—attain; tam—that; kālam—time; vakṣhyāmi—I shall describe; bharata-ṛiṣhabha—Arjun, the best of the Bharatas;
Translation
O best of the Bharatas, I shall now declare to you the times departing at which, the Yogis either return or do not return.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, begins to unveil the mysterious cosmic pathways of departure that dictate the soul's journey after leaving the material body. He addresses Arjuna as the best of the Bharatas, signaling that this secret knowledge is reserved for those who are sincerely committed to the path of Yoga. By speaking of 'return' or 'non-return,' Shri Krishna clarifies that the nature of one's consciousness at the time of death is intimately connected to the path one treads toward the eternal abode. This revelation serves as a divine invitation for the seeker to transcend mundane material existence and fix their mind solely upon the lotus feet of the Lord. Ultimately, Shri Krishna reveals that liberation is not merely a destination, but a state of divine communion that a Yogi achieves through unwavering surrender to Him.