Chapter 8

Akṣara-brahma (अक्षर-ब्रह्म)

What is remembered at death, and the paths that leave with the breath.

Summary

Chapter 8 is what is remembered at the last hour, and the paths that leave with the breath. Brahman, the self, action, the person, and the lord of sacrifice are defined because Arjuna asks. The one who remembers Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण) at death goes to his being. Day and night, the northern and southern courses, are the two goings. The yogin is told which one is the no return.

नेपालीमा

अध्याय ८ अन्तिम घडीमा के सम्झिन्छ भन्ने कुरा र श्वाससँगै जाने मार्गहरूको कुरा हो। अर्जुनले सोधेकाले ब्रह्म, अध्यात्म, कर्म, अधिभूत र अधियज्ञको परिभाषा दिइन्छ। मृत्युको बेला कृष्णलाई सम्झने उहाँको भावमा पुग्छ। दिन र रात, उत्तर र दक्षिणको मार्ग, ती दुई गमन हुन्। कुन चाहिँ नफर्किने मार्ग हो भन्ने कुरा योगीलाई भनिन्छ।

1–8 Arjuna (अर्जुन), श्रीभगवान् Śrī Bhagavān · What is remembered at death

Summary

What is remembered at death. Arjuna asks for the definitions. Brahman, the self, action, the perishable, and the lord of sacrifice are answered in a few lines. And the last thought, whatever it is, is what one reaches. Therefore remember Kṛṣṇa (कृष्ण) at all times and fight. The section ties memory to the going.

नेपालीमा

मृत्युमा के सम्झिन्छ। अर्जुनले परिभाषा माग्छन्। ब्रह्म, अध्यात्म, कर्म, अधिभूत र अधियज्ञको जवाफ केही पङ्क्तिमै पाइन्छ। अन्तिम विचार जे हुन्छ, त्यही प्राप्त हुन्छ। त्यसैले सधैँ कृष्णलाई सम्झ र लड। यो खण्डले स्मृतिलाई गमनसँग जोड्छ।

8.1Arjuna (अर्जुन) said: What is that brahman (ब्रह्म), what is adhyātma (अध्यात्म), what is action, O highest person, and what is declared to be adhibhūta (अधिभूत), what is called adhidaiva (अधिदैव)?8.2Who is the adhiyajña (अधियज्ञ), and how, here in this body, slayer of Madhu (मधु)? And how are you to be known at the time of departure by those whose selves are held steady?8.3The supreme imperishable is brahman (ब्रह्म). One's own being is called adhyātma (अध्यात्म). The sending-forth that brings the being of creatures into existence is what is named action.8.4Perishable being is adhibhūta (अधिभूत), and the person is adhidaivata (अधिदैवत). I myself am the adhiyajña (अधियज्ञ) here in the body, O best of those who bear a body.8.5Who at the time of death remembers me and leaves the body, comes to my being.8.6Whatever being he remembers when he leaves the body, to that he goes.8.7Therefore remember me at all times, and fight.8.8With a mind yoked to the yoga of practice and not going elsewhere, one goes, son of Pṛthā (पृथा), to the supreme divine person, meditating on him.QuizFive questions on What is remembered at death.

9–22 श्रीभगवान् Śrī Bhagavān · The person and the path

Summary

The person and the path. The one who remembers the ancient poet, smaller than the small and setter of all, at the time of going, reaches the supreme person. The repetition of oṃ (ओं), and the offering of the breath, are said as the going of the yogin. What the Veda worshippers reach is subject to return. The unmanifest beyond that is the no return. The words describe the path. They are not a breathing drill.

नेपालीमा

पुरुष र मार्ग। जाने बेलामा सानोभन्दा सानो, सबैका विधाता, पुरातन कविलाई सम्झने परम पुरुषमा पुग्छ। ॐ को जप र श्वासको अर्पण योगीको गमनका रूपमा भनिन्छन्। वेद पुज्नेहरूले पुग्ने ठाउँबाट फर्किनुपर्छ। त्यसभन्दा परको अव्यक्त नफर्किने हो। शब्दहरूले मार्ग बताउँछन्। ती श्वासको तालिम होइनन्।

8.9Whoever would remember the seer, the ancient, the ruler, finer than the fine, the supporter of all, whose form cannot be thought, sun-colored, beyond darkness, is the man 8.10 follows to the end of the going.8.10At the time of departure, with an unmoving mind, yoked by devotion and by the strength of yoga, having rightly placed the breath between the two brows, he goes to that supreme divine person.8.11That imperishable which knowers of the Veda speak of, which strivers free of passion enter, and desiring which they walk in brahman — that station I shall declare to you in brief.8.12Having restrained all the gates and confined the mind in the heart, having placed the self's breath in the head, he is settled in the holding of yoga.8.13Uttering om (ओम्), the one-syllable brahman, and remembering me, whoever goes forth leaving the body goes to the supreme goal.8.14I am easy to reach, son of Pṛthā (पृथा), for the yogin whose mind is nowhere else, who remembers me constantly and always, the one forever yoked.8.15Having come to me, the great-souled do not reach rebirth, that impermanent home of suffering. They have gone to the supreme attainment.8.16The worlds up through Brahmā's (ब्रह्मा) world are subject to return, Arjuna (अर्जुन). But having come to me, son of Kuntī (कुन्ती), rebirth is not found.8.17Those who know day and night know the day of Brahmā (ब्रह्मा) that ends at a thousand ages, and the night that ends at a thousand ages.8.18All manifestations come forth from the unmanifest when the day comes; when the night comes they dissolve, right there, into what is called the unmanifest.8.19This very same host of beings, coming to be again and again, dissolves helplessly when the night comes, son of Pṛthā (पृथा), and comes forth when the day comes.8.20But higher than that is another unmanifest being, eternal, beyond the unmanifest, which does not perish when all beings perish.8.21Called the unmanifest, the imperishable, that is what they name the supreme goal. Having reached it, they do not return. That is my supreme abode.8.22That supreme person is reached by undivided devotion, son of Pṛthā (पृथा), in whom beings stand within, and by whom all this is pervaded.QuizFive questions on The person and the path.

23–28 श्रीभगवान् Śrī Bhagavān · Day and night

Summary

Day and night. Fire, light, day, the bright fortnight, and the six months of the northern course are the path of no return. Smoke, night, the dark fortnight, and the southern course are the path of return. The yogin who knows these two is not confused. The merit of Veda, sacrifice, austerity, and gift is surpassed by this knowing. The section is the calendar of the two goings.

नेपालीमा

दिन र रात। अग्नि, ज्योति, दिन, शुक्ल पक्ष र उत्तरायणका छ महिना नफर्किने मार्ग हुन्। धूवाँ, रात, कृष्ण पक्ष र दक्षिणायन फर्किने मार्ग हुन्। यी दुई मार्ग जान्ने योगी मोहित हुँदैन। वेद, यज्ञ, तप र दानको पुण्यलाई यो ज्ञानले नाघ्छ। यो खण्ड दुई गमनको पात्रो हो।

8.23The time at which yogins who have departed go to non-return, and the time at which they go to return, that time I shall declare, bull of the Bharatas.8.24Fire, light, day, the bright fortnight, the six months of the northern course: departing there, people who know brahman go to brahman.8.25Smoke, night, and so the dark fortnight, the six months of the southern course: there the yogin, having reached the moon's light, returns.8.26These two, the bright and the dark, are held to be the eternal paths of the world. By one he goes to non-return. By the other he returns again.8.27Knowing these two courses, son of Pṛthā (पृथा), no yogin at all is confused. Therefore at all times be yoked to yoga, Arjuna (अर्जुन).8.28Whatever fruit of merit is assigned in the Vedas, in sacrifices, in austerities, and in gifts, the yogin passes beyond all of it, and having known this he goes to the supreme primal place.QuizFive questions on Day and night.