Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 26

Chapter 8 – Akshara Brahma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते ।
एकया यात्यनावृत्तिमन्ययावर्तते पुनः ॥

Transliteration

śuklakṛṣṇe gatī hyete jagataḥ śāśvate mate .
ekayā yātyanāvṛttimanyayāvartate punaḥ ॥

Meaning

These two paths of the world, the bright and the dark, are held to be eternal. By one a person goes to non-return, and by the other returns again.

Word meanings

जगतः – of the world
एते – these two
शुक्लकृष्णे – bright and dark
गती – paths
हि – indeed
शाश्वते – eternal, ever-existing
मते – are held to be
एकया – by one
याति – goes
अनावृत्तिम् – to non-return
अन्यया – by the other
आवर्तते पुनः – returns again

Anvaya (word order)

जगतः एते शुक्लकृष्णे गती हि शाश्वते मते; एकया अनावृत्तिं याति, अन्यया पुनः आवर्तते ।

Explanation

This verse gives the summary of the previous two (8.24-25). Two fundamental paths have always existed in the world, shukla and krishna. The word shashvate tells us that both are beginningless currents; since there has been a world, souls have been passing along these two roads.

The results are two: one path leads to anavritti, the other to return. The first is the path of knowledge and worship, the second the path of action with desire. Shankara sees this verse as the conclusion of the whole subject: one who goes by the path of light with knowledge attains liberation, and one who only wants the fruit of action returns. For Ramanuja the first path belongs to the devotee, who becomes established in the supreme state.

Notice also that the Lord has not simply placed a bleak picture before us. The dark path is described so that the seeker sees that the fruit of action is limited and is drawn toward the bright path. This teaching is for discernment, not for fear.

From one angle it can be said that every moment places before us a choice of light or darkness: knowledge or ignorance, desirelessness or craving. The extension of that very choice appears at the end as these two paths.

Context

Verses 8.24 and 8.25 gave the two paths separately. This verse sums them up, and the next verse (8.27) speaks of the fruit of knowing them: the yogi is not deluded.

Life lesson

Small daily choices build our larger direction. By repeatedly choosing the bright path of knowledge, service and devotion, life naturally moves upward.

Key terms

शुक्ल-कृष्ण गति: the two paths named bright and dark
शाश्वत: beginningless, ever flowing
अनावृत्ति / आवृत्ति: non-return / return