Chapter 8, Verse 3 (Bhagavad Gita 8.3)
Chapter 8: Akṣhar Brahma Yog – Path of the Eternal God
Sanskrit Shloka
श्री भगवानुवाच अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते। भूतभावोद्भवकरो विसर्गः कर्मसंज्ञितः
Transliteration
śhrī bhagavān uvācha akṣharaṁ brahma paramaṁ svabhāvo ’dhyātmam uchyate bhūta-bhāvodbhava-karo visargaḥ karma-sanjñitaḥ
Word Meanings
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Blessed Lord said; akṣharam—indestructible; brahma—Brahman; paramam—the Supreme; svabhāvaḥ—nature; adhyātmam—one’s own self; uchyate—is called; bhūta-bhāva-udbhava-karaḥ—Actions pertaining to the material personality of living beings, and its development; visargaḥ—creation; karma—fruitive activities; sanjñitaḥ—are called
Translation
The Supreme Lord Shri Krishna said: Brahman is the Imperishable, the Supreme; its essential nature is called Adhyatma (Self-knowledge); the offering known as Visarga, which brings beings into existence and sustains them, is termed Karma (action).
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound revelation, Lord Krishna defines the fundamental pillars of cosmic existence. By identifying Himself as the source of the immutable Brahman, Shri Krishna invites the seeker to look beyond the transient material world toward the eternal Truth. He explains that true Self-knowledge, or Adhyatma, is the inherent nature of the soul when aligned with the Divine. By clarifying the nature of Karma as a sacred offering that sustains creation, Shri Krishna teaches us that all worldly activities can become a path to liberation when performed with divine consciousness. Through this instruction, the Supreme Lord transforms our mundane duties into a sacrifice that leads the soul back to His eternal abode.