Chapter 8: The Yoga of the Imperishable Absolute

Arjuna asks about Brahman, the Self, karma, and the gods. Krishna explains that whatever one remembers at the moment of death determines one's next state. Those who remember him at death attain him. He describes the cosmic cycles of creation and the path of no return.

Verses (28)

8.1
अर्जुन उवाच किं तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम। अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते।...

Understand the layers of reality: your inner purpose, your actions, and their ripple effects. Leaders who grasp this interconnection make wiser decisi...
8.2
अधियज्ञः कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन। प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभिः।।8.2।।

Focus on your essential purpose within your role. When you act with clarity and intention, you become irreplaceable and leave a lasting impact.
8.3
श्री भगवानुवाच अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते। भूतभावोद्भवकरो विसर्गः कर्मसंज्ञितः।।8.3...

Focus on your role and responsibilities rather than outcomes. Purposeful action aligned with your duty creates meaningful impact and sustains organiza...
8.4
अधिभूतं क्षरो भावः पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतम्। अधियज्ञोऽहमेवात्र देहे देहभृतां वर।।8.4।।

Focus on what's permanent within you—your core values and purpose—rather than external circumstances. This inner foundation guides meaningful action a...
8.5
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम्। यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः।।8.5।।

Focus your mind on your highest purpose during life's critical moments. What you concentrate on shapes your outcomes and legacy.
8.6
यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम्। तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः।।8.6।।

Your focus shapes your destiny. Leaders who concentrate on excellence, growth, or service naturally become excellent, grow, and serve—while those fixa...
8.7
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च। मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम्।।8.7।।

Focus your mind and effort on your highest purpose; dedicated attention to what matters most determines your outcomes and success.
8.8
अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना। परमं पुरुषं दिव्यं याति पार्थानुचिन्तयन्।।8.8।।

Focus your mind completely on one meaningful goal without distraction. This singular dedication leads to excellence and success in any endeavor.
8.9
कविं पुराणमनुशासितार मणोरणीयांसमनुस्मरेद्यः। सर्वस्य धातारमचिन्त्यरूप मादित्यवर्णं तमसः परस्तात्।...

Leaders who cultivate deep awareness of interconnected systems, remain humble before complexity, and align decisions with universal principles achieve...
8.10
प्रयाणकाले मनसाऽचलेन भक्त्या युक्तो योगबलेन चैव। भ्रुवोर्मध्ये प्राणमावेश्य सम्यक् स तं परं पुरुष...

Focus your mental energy with unwavering concentration on your highest purpose. This disciplined presence of mind, maintained even under pressure, con...
8.11
यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः। यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं संग्रहेण...

Focus on your core purpose with disciplined detachment from outcomes. Success comes to those who commit fully to meaningful goals while releasing atta...
8.12
सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च। मूर्ध्न्याधायात्मनः प्राणमास्थितो योगधारणाम्।।8.12।।

Master your attention, anchor your focus inward, and maintain steady discipline. This mental control is the foundation of sustained high performance a...
8.13
ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन्। यः प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम्।।8.13।।

Focus your mind on your highest purpose when making critical decisions. This clarity of intention, even in difficult moments, guides you toward meanin...
8.14
अनन्यचेताः सततं यो मां स्मरति नित्यशः। तस्याहं सुलभः पार्थ नित्ययुक्तस्य योगिनः।।8.14।।

Sustained focus on your core purpose, practiced consistently over time, makes success inevitable. Master concentration before mastering outcomes.
8.15
मामुपेत्य पुनर्जन्म दुःखालयमशाश्वतम्। नाप्नुवन्ति महात्मानः संसिद्धिं परमां गताः।।8.15।।

Focus on purpose-driven excellence. When leaders align with meaningful goals beyond personal gain, they transcend reactive cycles and build lasting im...
8.16
आब्रह्मभुवनाल्लोकाः पुनरावर्तिनोऽर्जुन। मामुपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते।।8.16।।

Focus on building lasting impact and purpose rather than chasing temporary success. True fulfillment comes from alignment with enduring principles, no...
8.17
सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तमहर्यद्ब्रह्मणो विदुः। रात्रिं युगसहस्रान्तां तेऽहोरात्रविदो जनाः।।8.17।।

Understanding vast timescales shifts perspective: today's crises are temporary. Focus on enduring principles rather than fleeting circumstances to lea...
8.18
अव्यक्ताद्व्यक्तयः सर्वाः प्रभवन्त्यहरागमे। रात्र्यागमे प्रलीयन्ते तत्रैवाव्यक्तसंज्ञके।।8.18।।

Everything cycles between creation and dissolution. Accept change as inevitable, focus on what you control today, and release attachment to outcomes b...
8.19
भूतग्रामः स एवायं भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते। रात्र्यागमेऽवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे।।8.19।।

Cycles are inevitable in business and life. Accept change, focus on what you control today, and trust renewal will follow naturally.
8.20
परस्तस्मात्तु भावोऽन्योऽव्यक्तोऽव्यक्तात्सनातनः। यः स सर्वेषु भूतेषु नश्यत्सु न विनश्यति।।8.20।।

Focus on unchanging principles within your organization. While strategies and structures change, core values and ethical foundations endure through al...
8.21
अव्यक्तोऽक्षर इत्युक्तस्तमाहुः परमां गतिम्। यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम।।8.21।।

Focus on unchanging principles and enduring values as your true north. Build decisions on what's permanent, not fleeting circumstances, and you'll cre...
8.22
पुरुषः स परः पार्थ भक्त्या लभ्यस्त्वनन्यया। यस्यान्तःस्थानि भूतानि येन सर्वमिदं ततम्।।8.22।।

Focus your energy single-mindedly on your purpose. Excellence comes through unwavering commitment to what matters most, not scattered effort across ma...
8.23
यत्र काले त्वनावृत्तिमावृत्तिं चैव योगिनः। प्रयाता यान्ति तं कालं वक्ष्यामि भरतर्षभ।।8.23।।

Know when to commit fully to your goals and when to remain flexible—timing determines whether decisions lead to lasting transformation or temporary ga...
8.24
अग्निर्ज्योतिरहः शुक्लः षण्मासा उत्तरायणम्। तत्र प्रयाता गच्छन्ति ब्रह्म ब्रह्मविदो जनाः।।8.24।।

Focus your energy on growth, clarity, and upward momentum. Consistent pursuit of knowledge and excellence creates lasting impact, both during your car...
8.25
धूमो रात्रिस्तथा कृष्णः षण्मासा दक्षिणायनम्। तत्र चान्द्रमसं ज्योतिर्योगी प्राप्य निवर्तते।।8.25।।

Those who pursue discipline with attachment to results eventually return to cycles of struggle. True progress requires detachment from outcomes, not j...
8.26
शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते। एकया यात्यनावृत्तिमन्ययाऽऽवर्तते पुनः।।8.26।।

Choose your daily habits wisely: some lead to lasting growth and mastery, while others trap you in repetitive cycles. Build practices that compound.
8.27
नैते सृती पार्थ जानन्योगी मुह्यति कश्चन। तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु योगयुक्तो भवार्जुन।।8.27।।

Master both action and reflection, but don't get lost choosing between them. Stay committed to your purpose consistently.
8.28
वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम्। अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा योगी परं स्थ...

Focus on your work's purpose rather than its rewards. Detachment from outcomes paradoxically unlocks your highest potential and peace.