Bhagavad Gita · 8.27 · Path of the Eternal God·27 of 28
नैते सृती पार्थ जानन्योगी मुह्यति कश्चन।तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु योगयुक्तो भवार्जुन ॥
naite sṛitī pārtha jānan yogī muhyati
kaśhchana tasmāt sarveṣhu kāleṣhu yoga-yukto bhavārjuna
Sanskrit recitation
Leaving and returning · 8.23–8.28 · Teaching
Translation
Knowing these paths, O Arjuna, no yogi is deluded; therefore, at all times, be steadfast in yoga.
Meaning
Knowing the nature of the two paths and the conseences they lead to, a Yogi never loses his discrimination. The Yogi who knows that the path of the gods or the path of light leads to Moksha (gradual liberation), and the path of darkness to Samsara or the world or region of birth and death, is no longer deluded. Knowledge of these two paths serves as a compass or a beaconlight to guide the Yogis steps at every moment. He strives to stick to the path of light.
After Swami Sivananda
Leaving and returning· 8.23–8.28→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 8.23Now I will tell you, O chief of the Bharatas, the times of departure at which the Yogis will return or not return.
- 8.24Fire, light, daytime, the bright fortnight, the six months of the northern path of the sun (the northern solstice) departing, then men who know Brahman go to Brahman.
- 8.25Attaining the lunar light through smoke, night time, the dark fortnight, and the six months of the southern path of the sun (the southern solstice), the yogi returns.
- 8.26The bright and dark paths of the world are thought to be eternal; one leads to no return, and the other leads to return.
8.27Knowing these paths, O Arjuna, no yogi is deluded; therefore, at all times, be steadfast in yoga.
- 8.28Whatever fruit of merit is declared (in the scriptures) to accrue from (the study of) the Vedas, (the performance of) sacrifices, (the practice of) austerities, and gifts, beyond all this goes the Yogi, having known this; and he attains to the Supreme, Primeval (first or ancient) Abode.
Word-by-word→
- na
- never
- ete
- these two
- bhava
- be
- yogī
- a yogi
- arjuna
- Arjun
- jānan
- knowing
- muhyati
- bewildered
- pārtha
- Arjun, the son of Pritha
- tasmāt
- therefore
- sṛitī
- paths
- kaśhchana
- any
- yoga-yuktaḥ
- situated in Yog
- sarveṣhu kāleṣhu
- always
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