The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 8 : Absolute Freedom |

अथ अष्टमो‌உध्यायः ।

अर्जुन उवाच ।

किं तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम ।

अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥ 1 ॥

अधियज्ञः कथं को‌உत्र देहे‌உस्मिन्मधुसूदन ।

प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयो‌உसि नियतात्मभिः ॥ 2 ॥

श्रीभगवानुवाच ।

अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावो‌உध्यात्ममुच्यते ।

भूतभावोद्भवकरो विसर्गः कर्मसञ्ज्ञितः ॥ 3 ॥

अधिभूतं क्षरो भावः पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतम् ।

अधियज्ञो‌உहमेवात्र देहे देहभृतां वर ॥ 4 ॥

अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम् ।

यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥ 5 ॥

यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम् ।

तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावितः ॥ 6 ॥

तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च ।

मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम् ॥ 7 ॥

अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना ।

परमं पुरुषं दिव्यं याति पार्थानुचिन्तयन् ॥ 8 ॥

कविं पुराणमनुशासितारमणोरणीयंसमनुस्मरेद्यः ।

सर्वस्य धातारमचिन्त्यरूपमादित्यवर्णं तमसः परस्तात् ॥ 9 ॥

प्रयाणकाले मनसाचलेन भक्त्या युक्तो योगबलेन चैव ।

भ्रुवोर्मध्ये प्राणमावेश्य सम्यक्स तं परं पुरुषमुपैति दिव्यम् ॥ 10 ॥

यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः ।

यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं सङ्ग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ॥ 11 ॥

सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च ।

मूर्ध्न्याधायात्मनः प्राणमास्थितो योगधारणाम् ॥ 12 ॥

ओमित्येकाक्षरं ब्रह्म व्याहरन्मामनुस्मरन् ।

यः प्रयाति त्यजन्देहं स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ 13 ॥

अनन्यचेताः सततं यो मां स्मरति नित्यशः ।

तस्याहं सुलभः पार्थ नित्ययुक्तस्य योगिनः ॥ 14 ॥

मामुपेत्य पुनर्जन्म दुःखालयमशाश्वतम् ।

नाप्नुवन्ति महात्मानः संसिद्धिं परमां गताः ॥ 15 ॥

आब्रह्मभुवनाल्लोकाः पुनरावर्तिनो‌உर्जुन ।

मामुपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ॥ 16 ॥

सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तमहर्यद्ब्रह्मणो विदुः ।

रात्रिं युगसहस्रान्तां ते‌உहोरात्रविदो जनाः ॥ 17 ॥

अव्यक्ताद्व्यक्तयः सर्वाः प्रभवन्त्यहरागमे ।

रात्र्यागमे प्रलीयन्ते तत्रैवाव्यक्तसञ्ज्ञके ॥ 18 ॥

भूतग्रामः स एवायं भूत्वा भूत्वा प्रलीयते ।

रात्र्यागमे‌உवशः पार्थ प्रभवत्यहरागमे ॥ 19 ॥

परस्तस्मात्तु भावो‌உन्यो‌உव्यक्तो‌உव्यक्तात्सनातनः ।

यः स सर्वेषु भूतेषु नश्यत्सु न विनश्यति ॥ 20 ॥

अव्यक्तो‌உक्षर इत्युक्तस्तमाहुः परमां गतिम् ।

यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥ 21 ॥

पुरुषः स परः पार्थ भक्त्या लभ्यस्त्वनन्यया ।

यस्यान्तःस्थानि भूतानि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ॥ 22 ॥

यत्र काले त्वनावृत्तिमावृत्तिं चैव योगिनः ।

प्रयाता यान्ति तं कालं वक्ष्यामि भरतर्षभ ॥ 23 ॥

अग्निर्जोतिरहः शुक्लः षण्मासा उत्तरायणम् ।

तत्र प्रयाता गच्छन्ति ब्रह्म ब्रह्मविदो जनाः ॥ 24 ॥

धूमो रात्रिस्तथा कृष्णः षण्मासा दक्षिणायनम् ।

तत्र चान्द्रमसं ज्योतिर्योगी प्राप्य निवर्तते ॥ 25 ॥

शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते ।

एकया यात्यनावृत्तिमन्ययावर्तते पुनः ॥ 26 ॥

नैते सृती पार्थ जानन्योगी मुह्यति कश्चन ।

तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु योगयुक्तो भवार्जुन ॥ 27 ॥

वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम् ।

अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वायोगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम् ॥ 28 ॥

ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे

अक्षरब्रह्मयोगो नामाष्टमो‌உध्यायः ॥8 ॥

Summary

Arjuna urges Krishna to tell him about the nature of the Self, God, and action. He also asks Krishna to explain worship and how to be with God at the time of death. Krishna explains that true freedom is "union with the deathless," or God. He defines action as the Self's creative power that "causes the whole world to be." Human beings will enter whatever state they are in at the moment of their death. Therefore, because one never knows the time of one's death, it is essential to meditate at all times. This way, a person who thinks of Krishna when their last breath is taken will be with God. Thus, Krishna tells Arjuna, "Meditate on the Guide /... the Primordial / Poet, smaller than an atom / ... brilliant as the sun." Beings who meditate continuously on Krishna, he adds, and "whose love / has grown deep through meditation" will not need to be reborn.

According to Krishna, one single day or night for God lasts four billion years. Embodied beings come from God at the dawn and sink back into the "unmanifest nature" of God with nightfall. Beyond the realm of unmanifest is another realm, which is the unmanifest state of primal existence. When all things are destroyed with cycling of the universe, primal existence is what remains. Krishna says men who reach this state, which he calls "supreme dwelling," will not be reborn again. He calls each of these rare individuals a Supreme Being. Krishna brings forth all matter in the time of light and destroys all matter in the time of darkness before it dissolves again into dormancy. The enlightened person understands this part of the universe's ongoing nature.

Krishna then explains how men of yoga will be reborn, or return again. Men who die during the six months of darkness will be reborn. Those who die during the six months of light will not be reborn and "go to absolute freedom."

Analysis

In this chapter Krishna gives Arjuna a deeper understanding of the workings of the universe and how they coincide with rebirth and freedom from the cycle of rebirth. Again, the interchanging use of terms such as Supreme Person, God, and Krishna are part of a complex understanding. A person of yoga mediates on the nature of the Self and God as existing beyond the body, mind, and senses as a supreme, unchanging soul. Through meditating upon this supreme soul or Krishna, that person will achieve freedom. They will be unattached to either suffering or serenity while living. In this state, while meditating on the union of God and Self, a person will find release from the cycle of rebirth when they die. They will become one again with God (or the Supreme Person, Self, essence of the universe). However, Krishna insists that this union will happen only if the enlightened person dies in light, such as daylight, firelight, or during the six months when the days are lengthening. If the enlightened person dies in the dark of the year or at night, then they will enter the cycle of rebirth once more. The concept of light and dark is symbolic of the larger cycle of rebirth and liberation from rebirth.

Application in human affairs 

The nature of time in this worldview is expansive, as Krishna explains. This worldview sees the time period of embodied existence as spanning four ages, lasting billions of years. Over the period of these four ages, the embodied world moves from a perfect state into an increasingly corrupt one, and then the cycle restarts.

This chapter of the Bhagavad Gita provides valuable insights that can be applied to enhance human life. The key teachings offer a guide for spiritual seekers on achieving liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Here are some practical applications:

1. Meditation and Mindfulness: The emphasis on continuous meditation serves as a reminder to cultivate mindfulness in daily life. By being aware of the present moment and maintaining a connection with the divine, individuals can find inner peace and reduce anxiety.

2. Living with Purpose: Understanding the nature of the Self and God encourages individuals to live a purposeful life aligned with spiritual principles. This can guide decision-making and actions, fostering a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.

3. Fear of Death:The chapter addresses the fear of death by emphasizing the importance of being in union with the divine at the time of death. This perspective can help alleviate the fear of the unknown, promoting a more serene approach to mortality.

4. Time Management: The concept of the cyclical nature of the universe and the importance of dying during the "light" period metaphorically underscores the significance of positive actions. It encourages individuals to make ethical choices and contribute positively to the world during their lifetime.

5. Liberation through Knowledge:The teachings stress the importance of understanding the nature of existence and the universe. Seeking knowledge and wisdom becomes a pathway to liberation, encouraging a commitment to lifelong learning and self-discovery.

6. Balancing Life's Dualities: The symbolic representation of light and dark cycles mirrors life's ups and downs. Learning to navigate challenges with equanimity and maintaining spiritual focus during difficult times can lead to personal growth and resilience.

In summary, this chapter provides a roadmap for individuals seeking spiritual growth, inner peace, and liberation from the cycle of rebirth. The practical

 applications involve incorporating these teachings into daily life, fostering a holistic approach to well-being and personal development.

 कृष्णम् वन्दे जगद्गुरुम्🙏