{"id":6712,"date":"2026-09-16T20:06:25","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T14:36:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/bhagavad-gita-chapter-8-akshara-brahma-yoga-iast\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T15:02:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T09:32:01","slug":"bhagavad-gita-chapter-8-akshara-brahma-yoga-iast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/bhagavad-gita-chapter-8-akshara-brahma-yoga-iast\/","title":{"rendered":"Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 in English IAST: Ak\u1e63ara Brahma Yoga"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u0cb2\u0cbf\u0caa\u0cbf \u00b7 \u0932\u093f\u092a\u093f\u0903 \u00b7 Script: \u0c95\u0ca8\u0ccd\u0ca8\u0ca1<\/a>  \u00b7  \u0938\u0902\u0938\u094d\u0915\u0943\u0924\u092e\u094d<\/a>  \u00b7  English IAST<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 8: Ak\u1e63ara Brahma Yoga<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Twenty-eight verses. Arjuna\u2019s seven questions, remembrance at the time of the end, the day and night of Brahma, and the two paths of light and of smoke are here.
Tap any verse card to open its page with the word-by-word meaning. Pages are ready for every verse of this chapter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

All eighteen chapters are listed here: \u015ar\u012bmad Bhagavad G\u012bt\u0101<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1<\/span>arjuna uv\u0101ca
ki\u1e43 tadbrahma kimadhy\u0101tma\u1e43 ki\u1e43 karma puru\u1e63ottama|
adhibh\u016bta\u1e43 ca ki\u1e43 proktamadhidaiva\u1e43 kimucyate || 1 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.1 \u2192<\/span><\/a>2<\/span>adhiyaj\u00f1a\u1e25 katha\u1e43 ko’tra dehe’sminmadhus\u016bdana|
pray\u0101\u1e47ak\u0101le ca katha\u1e43 j\u00f1eyo’si niyat\u0101tmabhi\u1e25 || 2 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.2 \u2192<\/span><\/a>3<\/span>\u015br\u012bbhagav\u0101nuv\u0101ca
ak\u1e63ara\u1e43 brahma parama\u1e43 svabh\u0101vo’dhy\u0101tmamucyate|
bh\u016btabh\u0101vodbhavakaro visarga\u1e25 karmasa\u1e43j\u00f1ita\u1e25 || 3 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.3 \u2192<\/span><\/a>4<\/span>adhibh\u016bta\u1e43 k\u1e63aro bh\u0101va\u1e25 puru\u1e63a\u015bc\u0101dhidaivatam|
adhiyaj\u00f1o’hamev\u0101tra dehe dehabh\u1e5bt\u0101\u1e43 vara || 4 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.4 \u2192<\/span><\/a>5<\/span>antak\u0101le ca m\u0101meva smaranmuktv\u0101 kalevaram|
ya\u1e25 pray\u0101ti sa madbh\u0101va\u1e43 y\u0101ti n\u0101styatra sa\u1e43\u015baya\u1e25 || 5 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.5 \u2192<\/span><\/a>6<\/span>ya\u1e43 ya\u1e43 v\u0101pi smaranbh\u0101va\u1e43 tyajatyante kalevaram|
ta\u1e43 tamevaiti kaunteya sad\u0101 tadbh\u0101vabh\u0101vita\u1e25 || 6 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.6 \u2192<\/span><\/a>7<\/span>tasm\u0101tsarve\u1e63u k\u0101le\u1e63u m\u0101manusmara yudhya ca|
mayyarpitamanobuddhirm\u0101mevai\u1e63yasyasa\u1e43\u015bayam || 7 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.7 \u2192<\/span><\/a>8<\/span>abhy\u0101sayogayuktena cetas\u0101 n\u0101nyag\u0101min\u0101|
parama\u1e43 puru\u1e63a\u1e43 divya\u1e43 y\u0101ti p\u0101rth\u0101nucintayan || 8 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.8 \u2192<\/span><\/a>9<\/span>kavi\u1e43 pur\u0101\u1e47amanu\u015b\u0101sit\u0101rama\u1e47ora\u1e47\u012by\u0101\u1e43samanusmaredya\u1e25|
sarvasya dh\u0101t\u0101ramacintyar\u016bpam\u0101dityavar\u1e47a\u1e43 tamasa\u1e25 parast\u0101t || 9 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.9 \u2192<\/span><\/a>10<\/span>pray\u0101\u1e47ak\u0101le manas\u0101calena bhakty\u0101 yukto yogabalena caiva|
bhruvormadhye pr\u0101\u1e47am\u0101ve\u015bya samyaksa ta\u1e43 para\u1e43 puru\u1e63amupaiti divyam || 10 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.10 \u2192<\/span><\/a>11<\/span>yadak\u1e63ara\u1e43 vedavido vadanti vi\u015banti yadyatayo v\u012btar\u0101g\u0101\u1e25|
yadicchanto brahmacarya\u1e43 caranti tatte pada\u1e43 sa\u1e45grahe\u1e47a pravak\u1e63ye || 11 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.11 \u2192<\/span><\/a>12<\/span>sarvadv\u0101r\u0101\u1e47i sa\u1e43yamya mano h\u1e5bdi nirudhya ca|
m\u016brdhny\u0101dh\u0101y\u0101tmana\u1e25 pr\u0101\u1e47am\u0101sthito yogadh\u0101ra\u1e47\u0101m || 12 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.12 \u2192<\/span><\/a>13<\/span>omityek\u0101k\u1e63ara\u1e43 brahma vy\u0101haranm\u0101manusmaran|
ya\u1e25 pray\u0101ti tyajandeha\u1e43 sa y\u0101ti param\u0101\u1e43 gatim || 13 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.13 \u2192<\/span><\/a>14<\/span>ananyacet\u0101\u1e25 satata\u1e43 yo m\u0101\u1e43 smarati nitya\u015ba\u1e25|
tasy\u0101ha\u1e43 sulabha\u1e25 p\u0101rtha nityayuktasya yogina\u1e25 || 14 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.14 \u2192<\/span><\/a>15<\/span>m\u0101mupetya punarjanma du\u1e25kh\u0101layama\u015b\u0101\u015bvatam|
n\u0101pnuvanti mah\u0101tm\u0101na\u1e25 sa\u1e43siddhi\u1e43 param\u0101\u1e43 gat\u0101\u1e25 || 15 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.15 \u2192<\/span><\/a>16<\/span>\u0101brahmabhuvan\u0101llok\u0101\u1e25 punar\u0101vartino’rjuna|
m\u0101mupetya tu kaunteya punarjanma na vidyate || 16 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.16 \u2192<\/span><\/a>17<\/span>sahasrayugaparyantamaharyadbrahma\u1e47o vidu\u1e25|
r\u0101tri\u1e43 yugasahasr\u0101nt\u0101\u1e43 te’hor\u0101travido jan\u0101\u1e25 || 17 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.17 \u2192<\/span><\/a>18<\/span>avyakt\u0101dvyaktaya\u1e25 sarv\u0101\u1e25 prabhavantyahar\u0101game|
r\u0101try\u0101game pral\u012byante tatraiv\u0101vyaktasa\u1e43j\u00f1ake || 18 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.18 \u2192<\/span><\/a>19<\/span>bh\u016btagr\u0101ma\u1e25 sa ev\u0101ya\u1e43 bh\u016btv\u0101 bh\u016btv\u0101 pral\u012byate|
r\u0101try\u0101game’va\u015ba\u1e25 p\u0101rtha prabhavatyahar\u0101game || 19 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.19 \u2192<\/span><\/a>20<\/span>parastasm\u0101ttu bh\u0101vo’nyo’vyakto’vyakt\u0101tsan\u0101tana\u1e25|
ya\u1e25 sa sarve\u1e63u bh\u016bte\u1e63u na\u015byatsu na vina\u015byati || 20 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.20 \u2192<\/span><\/a>21<\/span>avyakto’k\u1e63ara ityuktastam\u0101hu\u1e25 param\u0101\u1e43 gatim|
ya\u1e43 pr\u0101pya na nivartante taddh\u0101ma parama\u1e43 mama || 21 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.21 \u2192<\/span><\/a>22<\/span>puru\u1e63a\u1e25 sa para\u1e25 p\u0101rtha bhakty\u0101 labhyastvananyay\u0101|
yasy\u0101nta\u1e25sth\u0101ni bh\u016bt\u0101ni yena sarvamida\u1e43 tatam || 22 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.22 \u2192<\/span><\/a>23<\/span>yatra k\u0101le tvan\u0101v\u1e5bttim\u0101v\u1e5btti\u1e43 caiva yogina\u1e25|
pray\u0101t\u0101 y\u0101nti ta\u1e43 k\u0101la\u1e43 vak\u1e63y\u0101mi bharatar\u1e63abha || 23 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.23 \u2192<\/span><\/a>24<\/span>agnirjyotiraha\u1e25 \u015bukla\u1e25 \u1e63a\u1e47m\u0101s\u0101 uttar\u0101ya\u1e47am|
tatra pray\u0101t\u0101 gacchanti brahma brahmavido jan\u0101\u1e25 || 24 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.24 \u2192<\/span><\/a>25<\/span>dh\u016bmo r\u0101tristath\u0101 k\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a\u1e25 \u1e63a\u1e47m\u0101s\u0101 dak\u1e63i\u1e47\u0101yanam|
tatra c\u0101ndramasa\u1e43 jyotiryog\u012b pr\u0101pya nivartate || 25 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.25 \u2192<\/span><\/a>26<\/span>\u015buklak\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47e gat\u012b hyete jagata\u1e25 \u015b\u0101\u015bvate mate|
ekay\u0101 y\u0101tyan\u0101v\u1e5bttimanyay\u0101vartate puna\u1e25 || 26 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.26 \u2192<\/span><\/a>27<\/span>naite s\u1e5bt\u012b p\u0101rtha j\u0101nanyog\u012b muhyati ka\u015bcana|
tasm\u0101tsarve\u1e63u k\u0101le\u1e63u yogayukto bhav\u0101rjuna || 27 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.27 \u2192<\/span><\/a>28<\/span>vede\u1e63u yaj\u00f1e\u1e63u tapa\u1e25su caiva d\u0101ne\u1e63u yatpu\u1e47yaphala\u1e43 pradi\u1e63\u1e6dam|
atyeti tatsarvamida\u1e43 viditv\u0101 yog\u012b para\u1e43 sth\u0101namupaiti c\u0101dyam || 28 ||<\/span><\/span>Meaning of verse 8.28 \u2192<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

o\u1e43 tatsaditi \u015br\u012bmadbhagavadg\u012bt\u0101s\u016bpani\u1e63atsu brahmavidy\u0101y\u0101\u1e43 yoga\u015b\u0101stre \u015br\u012bk\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47\u0101rjunasa\u1e43v\u0101de ak\u1e63arabrahmayogo n\u0101ma a\u1e63\u1e6damo’dhy\u0101ya\u1e25 ||<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

About Akshara Brahma Yoga<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The seventh chapter left six words unexplained: Brahman, adhyatma, karma, adhibhuta, adhidaiva and adhiyajna. Its last line also spoke of remembrance at the time of death. The eighth chapter unfolds these very things through Arjuna\u2019s seven questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the centre of the chapter is a simple principle: remembrance at the last moment comes from whatever the mind has been steeped in throughout life. Hence the teaching \u2018remember me at all times, and fight\u2019. Alongside demanding yogic procedures, it also holds the gentle word \u2018I am easy to reach\u2019 for one who remembers the Lord every day with an undivided mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the chapter moves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Verses 1 and 2: Arjuna\u2019s seven questions, on Brahman, adhyatma, karma, adhibhuta, adhidaiva, adhiyajna, and how the Lord is to be known at the time of death.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verses 3 and 4: Short answers to the first six questions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verses 5 to 8: Remembrance at the time of the end, the rule of \u2018sada tadbhavabhavitah\u2019, and doing one\u2019s duty while remembering at all times.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verses 9 to 13: The supreme Person as the object of meditation, the life-breath between the eyebrows, restraint of the gates of the senses, and the yogi who departs with Om.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verses 14 to 16: The Lord is easy to reach for one who remembers him every day with an undivided mind, and for those who reach him there is no rebirth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verses 17 to 22: The day and night of Brahma, the cycle of creation and dissolution, the eternal unmanifest beyond it, and the supreme Person attained by undivided devotion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Verses 23 to 28: The two paths of light and smoke, the call \u2018be steadfast in yoga at all times\u2019, and the understanding that goes beyond every fruit of merit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    The Imperishable: three readings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    At \u2018aksharam brahma paramam\u2019 in the third verse the acharyas part ways. For both Shankara and Madhva the Imperishable is the Supreme Brahman. But Shankara understands \u2018svabhava\u2019 as that same Brahman present in each body, while Madhva understands it as the jiva. For Ramanuja the supreme Imperishable here is the individual self in its own nature, freed from prakriti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These pages do not decide between the readings. Wherever the acharyas part, each position is recorded in its own terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Uttarayana and dakshinayana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Many take the northern and southern courses of the sun, day and night, in verses twenty-four and twenty-five, as a rule about the date of death. But Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhva all understand them as presiding deities who lead the soul along the path. The Brahma Sutras too discuss the question, and hold that even a knower who dies at night or in dakshinayana does not lose the fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The last days and care<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Since this chapter speaks directly about death, the verse pages read it alongside some points of present-day palliative care. The breath practices of verses ten and twelve belong to accomplished yogis. It is not safe to try them on one\u2019s own from a book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sources:<\/strong> several.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The twenty-eight verses of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 in English IAST transliteration, each linked to its page with word-by-word meaning, Kannada and English.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6745,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"_manohara_link_phrases":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[156],"tags":[187,188],"class_list":["post-6712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bhagavad-gita","tag-krishna","tag-shlokada-artha"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6712"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6746,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6712\/revisions\/6746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dixith.com\/jeevana-sutra\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}