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Chapter 8 of 18

Attaining the Supreme

अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः

The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman

28 verses
1
अर्जुन उवाच
Arjuna said: O Supreme Person, what is Brahman? What is Adhyatma? What is Karma? What is Adhibhuta d
2
अधियज्ञः कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन।
O Madhusudana, who is Adhiyajna and how does He reside in this body? And how are You to be known by
3
श्री भगवानुवाच
The Blessed Lord said: The Imperishable is the Supreme Brahman; one's own nature is called the Self;
4
अधिभूतं क्षरो भावः पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतम्।
The perishable nature is Adhibhuta; the Divine Person is Adhidaiva; I am the Adhiyajna in this body,
5
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम्।
At death's end, remembering only Me and leaving the body, whoever goes attains My state; there is no
6
यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम्।
O son of Kunti, whatever state of being one remembers when quitting the body, that state they will a
7
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च।
Therefore, always remember Me and fight; with mind and intellect fixed on Me, you will surely attain
8
अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना।
O Partha, by a mind disciplined through practice and not wandering elsewhere, one attains the Suprem
9
कविं पुराणमनुशासितार
He who meditates on the Omniscient, the Ancient, the Ruler, subtler than the subtle, the Ordainer of
10
प्रयाणकाले मनसाऽचलेन
At the time of death, with an unwavering mind, united in devotion and by the power of yoga, fixing t
11
यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति
I will briefly tell you of that Imperishable Goal which the knowers of the Vedas declare, which the
12
सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च।
Closing all gates, confining the mind in the heart, fixing the life-breath in the head, and establis
13
ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन्।
He who departs leaving the body while uttering the single syllable Om, which is Brahman, and remembe
14
अनन्यचेताः सततं यो मां स्मरति नित्यशः।
O Partha, I am easily attained by the yogi who constantly remembers Me with an undivided mind
15
मामुपेत्य पुनर्जन्म दुःखालयमशाश्वतम्।
Having reached Me, great souls do not attain rebirth, which is an abode of sorrow and impermanent, h
16
आब्रह्मभुवनाल्लोकाः पुनरावर्तिनोऽर्जुन।
O Arjuna, all worlds up to Brahma's realm are subject to return; but O son of Kunti, upon reaching M
17
सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तमहर्यद्ब्रह्मणो विदुः।
Those who know the day of Brahma, which lasts a thousand yugas, and the night, which also lasts a th
18
अव्यक्ताद्व्यक्तयः सर्वाः प्रभवन्त्यहरागमे।
All manifested beings emerge from the Unmanifest at the coming of day, and dissolve back into the Un
19
भूतग्रामः स एवायं भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते।
O Partha, this same multitude of beings is born again and again, and dissolves helplessly at the com
20
परस्तस्मात्तु भावोऽन्योऽव्यक्तोऽव्यक्तात्सनात…
But beyond that Unmanifest is another eternal Unmanifest Reality, which is not destroyed when all be
21
अव्यक्तोऽक्षर इत्युक्तस्तमाहुः परमां गतिम्।
The Unmanifest, the Imperishable, is called the Supreme Goal
22
पुरुषः स परः पार्थ भक्त्या लभ्यस्त्वनन्यया।
O Partha, that Supreme Person is attained by undivided devotion; within Him all beings dwell, and by
23
यत्र काले त्वनावृत्तिमावृत्तिं चैव योगिनः।
O best of the Bharatas, I shall now speak of that time by which yogis depart, attaining either non-r
24
अग्निर्ज्योतिरहः शुक्लः षण्मासा उत्तरायणम्।
Fire, light, day, the bright fortnight, the six months of the northern solstice; departing then, kno
25
धूमो रात्रिस्तथा कृष्णः षण्मासा दक्षिणायनम्।
Smoke, night, the dark fortnight, and the six months of the southern solstice; there, attaining the
26
शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते।
These two paths of the world, white and black, are considered eternal
27
नैते सृती पार्थ जानन्योगी मुह्यति कश्चन।
O Partha, no yogi who knows these two paths is ever deluded
28
वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव
Knowing this, the yogi surpasses all merit from Vedas, sacrifices, austerities, and charity, and rea

About Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of the Bhagavad Gita is titled "Attaining the Supreme" (अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः). This chapter contains 28 verses and explores attaining the Supreme. The core teaching focuses on the process of remembering God at the time of death and achieving the supreme destination. The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman The Bhagavad Gita consists of 18 chapters and 700 verses in total, forming a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This chapter is part of the ancient Hindu scripture Mahabharata.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 about?

Chapter 8, titled "Attaining the Supreme" (अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः), contains 28 verses. The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman This chapter focuses on the process of remembering God at the time of death and achieving the supreme destination.

How many verses are in Chapter 8 of the Bhagavad Gita?

Chapter 8 — Attaining the Supreme — contains 28 verses. Each verse is available in original Sanskrit with transliteration. Full translations in 22 languages, word-by-word meanings, and audio recitation are available in the free Bhagavad Gita app.

What is the Sanskrit name of Chapter 8?

The Sanskrit name of Chapter 8 is "अक्षरब्रह्मयोगः," which translates to "Attaining the Supreme" in English. The Bhagavad Gita's 18 chapters each have a Sanskrit title ending in "Yoga," indicating a spiritual discipline or path.

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