Chapter 8, Verse 26 (Bhagavad Gita 8.26)
Chapter 8: Akṣhar Brahma Yog – Path of the Eternal God
Sanskrit Shloka
शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते। एकया यात्यनावृत्तिमन्ययाऽऽवर्तते पुनः
Transliteration
śhukla-kṛiṣhṇe gatī hyete jagataḥ śhāśhvate mate ekayā yātyanāvṛittim anyayāvartate punaḥ
Word Meanings
śhukla—bright; kṛiṣhṇe—dark; gatī—paths; hi—certainly; ete—these; jagataḥ—of the material world; śhāśhvate—eternal; mate—opinion; ekayā—by one; yāti—goes; anāvṛittim—to non return; anyayā—by the other; āvartate—comes back; punaḥ—again
Translation
The bright and dark paths of this world are considered eternal; by the one, a soul attains liberation from which there is no return, while by the other, the soul returns to the cycle of birth and death.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Bhagwan Shri Krishna elucidates the two fundamental trajectories that define the soul's journey through existence. The 'bright' path, illuminated by the light of wisdom and surrender, leads the devotee directly to the eternal abode of Shri Krishna, transcending the cycle of samsara. Conversely, the 'dark' path, characterized by material attachment and karmic entanglement, binds the individual to the repetitive cycle of rebirth. Shri Krishna, the Supreme Lord, reminds Arjuna that these paths are not mere metaphors but cosmic realities that govern the destiny of all beings. By choosing the path of devotion and transcendental knowledge, the seeker aligns their consciousness with the Divine, ultimately attaining the state of moksha where the soul rests eternally in the grace of Shri Krishna.