Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 27

Chapter 8 – Akshara Brahma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

नैते सृती पार्थ जानन्योगी मुह्यति कश्चन ।
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु योगयुक्तो भवार्जुन ॥

Transliteration

naite sṛtī pārtha jānanyogī muhyati kaścana .
tasmātsarveṣu kāleṣu yogayukto bhavārjuna ॥

Meaning

No yogi who knows these two paths, O Partha, is deluded. Therefore, O Arjuna, be steadfast in yoga at all times.

Word meanings

न – not
एते सृती – these two paths
पार्थ – O Partha
जानन् – knowing
योगी – the yogi
मुह्यति – is deluded
कश्चन – any
तस्मात् – therefore
सर्वेषु कालेषु – at all times
योगयुक्तः – steadfast in yoga
भव – be
अर्जुन – O Arjuna

Anvaya (word order)

पार्थ, एते सृती जानन् कश्चन योगी न मुह्यति; तस्मात् अर्जुन, सर्वेषु कालेषु योगयुक्तः भव ।

Explanation

After describing the bright and dark paths, the Lord now draws the practical conclusion. The fruit of knowing both is na muhyati: no yogi is deluded. Moha is confusion, taking the temporary for the lasting or being caught in desire for results. When the seeker knows that one path returns and the other frees, he is not trapped by the attraction of action done for fruit.

Then the instruction follows: tasmat sarveshu kaleshu yogayukto bhavarjuna, therefore be steadfast in yoga at all times. This is the same thread that appeared in 8.7 as sarveshu kaleshu mam anusmara. So the purpose of knowledge is not just information but staying joined to the Lord in every moment of life. Merely knowing the paths does not liberate; it is the daily yoga that makes that knowledge bear fruit.

Shankara explains that jananan means knowing in truth the situation at the time of departure, and that this knowledge gives the yogi fearlessness: he need not be disturbed at death by worry about the path, since his yoga is his path. Ramanuja calls it knowledge in the form of devotion, which makes the devotee free of care on all sides.

Thus the Lord brings Arjuna back from scripture to practical discipline: calculation and doctrine are not enough; one must become yogayukta.

Context

Verses 8.23-26 described the two paths. Here are the fruit and the instruction, and the next verse (8.28) closes the chapter by praising the supreme state above the fruits of Vedas, sacrifice, austerity and charity.

Life lesson

Knowledge is useful only when it enters daily conduct. Practise keeping the mind joined to God at all times, in joy, sorrow, work and rest; that is the greatest discernment.

Key terms

सृति: path, course of travel
मुह्यति: to be deluded or confused
योगयुक्त: one whose mind is ever joined to God or the Self