📿 Shloka Collection

Yad Aksharam Vedavido

Gita 8.11 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 8 — Akshara Brahma Yoga
यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः ।
यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं संग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ॥
Yad aksharam vedavido vadanti vishanti yad yatayo veetaragah,
Yad ichchhanto brahmacharyam charanti tat te padam sangrahena pravakshye.
यत् अक्षरम्
that imperishable reality
वेदविदः
knowers of the Vedas
वदन्ति
speak of
विशन्ति
enter into
यतयः
renunciants
वीतरागाः
free from attachment
इच्छन्तः
desiring
ब्रह्मचर्यम्
brahmacharya (celibate discipline)
चरन्ति
practice
तत् ते पदम्
that state, to you
संग्रहेण
in brief
प्रवक्ष्ये
I shall explain

Krishna is about to share something precious. He says: that imperishable reality which the Vedic scholars describe, which renunciants free of attachment enter, and which seekers pursue through the discipline of brahmacharya — I will explain that supreme state to you in brief.

This shloka serves as an introduction. Krishna is essentially saying: what sages gained through years of austerity, I am about to share with you right now. Like a grandfather telling his grandchild — come, let me tell you the secret that my own grandfather once told me.

"Sangrahena pravakshye" — I will tell you in brief. Krishna knows Arjuna is on a battlefield. There is no time for a long lecture. So he will give the essence, the distilled truth.

This shloka introduces the yogic technique described in the next two verses (8.12-8.13) — sense-withdrawal, Om chanting, and breath control. The word "akshara" reappears here — the imperishable. This is the chapter's central theme: the akshara Brahman, that which never decays, is the ultimate goal.

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