Bhagavad Gita · Akshara Brahma Yoga — The Imperishable Absolute

Chapter 8, Verse 26

"Bhagavad Gita 8.26" — meaning and explanation.

Meaning

8.26 The bright and the dark paths of the world are verily thought to be eternal; by the one (the bright path) a man goes not to return and by the other (the dark path) he returns.

।।8.26।। जगत् के ये दो प्रकार के शुक्ल और कृष्ण मार्ग सनातन माने गये हैं । इनमें एक (शुक्ल) के द्वारा (साधक) अपुनरावृत्ति को तथा अन्य (कृष्ण) के द्वारा पुनरावृत्ति को प्राप्त होता है।।

Explanation

8.26 शुक्लकृष्णे bright and dark? गती (two) paths? हि verily? एते these? जगतः of the world? शाश्वते eternal? मते are thought? एकया by one? याति (he) goes? अनावृत्तिम् to nonreturn? अन्यया by another? आवर्तते (he) returns? पुनः again.Commentary The bright path is the path to the gods taken by the devotees. The dark path is of the manes taken by those who perform sacrifices or charitable acts with the expectation of rewards. These two paths are not open to the whole world. The bright path is open to the devotees and the dark one to those who are devoted to the rituals. These paths are as eternal as the Samsara.World here means devotees or people devoted to ritual.Pitriloka or Chandraloka is Svarga or heaven.

Life Lesson

Study Bhagavad Gita 8.26 slowly, then express its central teaching through one thoughtful action in daily life.

Context

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, verse 26, from Krishna's dialogue with Arjuna at Kurukshetra.

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