Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 8 · Akshara Brahma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 8.1 किं तद् ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म
श्लोक 8.1
अर्जुन उवाच ।
किं तद् ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम ।
अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥
arjuna uvāca |
kiṃ tad brahma kimadhyātmaṃ kiṃ karma puruṣottama |
adhibhūtaṃ ca kiṃ proktamadhidaivaṃ kimucyate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
अर्जुन ने कहा: हे पुरुषोत्तम (परम पुरुष कृष्ण), वह ब्रह्म क्या है? अध्यात्म क्या है? कर्म क्या है? अधिभूत किसे कहते हैं और अधिदैव किसे कहा जाता है?
Meaning in English
Arjuna said: O Purushottama (Supreme Person, Krishna), what is that Brahman? What is the inner self (adhyatma)? What is action? What is called the material realm (adhibhuta), and what is the divine realm (adhidaiva)?
Bhagavad Gita 8.1 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अर्जुन उवाच | arjuna uvāca | Arjuna said |
| किम् | kim | what |
| तत् | tat | that |
| ब्रह्म | brahma | Brahman, the Absolute |
| किम् | kim | what |
| अध्यात्मम् | adhyātmam | the individual self (adhyatma) |
| किम् | kim | what |
| कर्म | karma | action |
| पुरुषोत्तम | puruṣottama | O Supreme Person |
| अधिभूतम् | adhibhūtam | the realm of beings (adhibhuta) |
| च | ca | and |
| किम् प्रोक्तम् | kim proktam | what is said to be |
| अधिदैवम् | adhidaivam | the realm of the gods (adhidaiva) |
| किम् उच्यते | kim ucyate | what is it called |
Explanation
Arjuna asks: O Supreme Person, what is that Brahman? What is the adhyatma, the individual self? What is karma, action? What is meant by adhibhuta, the realm of beings, and what is called adhidaiva, the realm of the divine powers?
At the close of Chapter 7 (7.29–30) Krishna used these technical terms without defining them, saying the wise know him together with adhibhuta, adhidaiva and adhiyajna. Arjuna, a careful student, now asks for each term to be explained. His seven questions (continued in 8.2) open Chapter 8, the Akshara Brahma Yoga. Shankara treats them as the framework for knowing God in every aspect, from the cosmic to the personal, and Ramanuja reads them as distinguishing the goals of different kinds of seekers.
भावार्थ
अर्जुन ने पूछा — हे पुरुषोत्तम, वह ब्रह्म क्या है? अध्यात्म क्या है? कर्म क्या है? अधिभूत किसे कहा गया है और अधिदैव किसे कहते हैं? अर्जुन पिछले अध्याय में आए इन शब्दों का अर्थ जानना चाहते हैं।
Living it today
When a teacher uses words you do not understand, ask plainly, as Arjuna does. Honest questions are the start of real learning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 8.1?
Arjuna asks: O Supreme Person, what is that Brahman? What is the adhyatma, the individual self? What is karma, action? What is meant by adhibhuta, the realm of beings, and what is called adhidaiva, the realm of the divine powers?
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 8.1?
Arjuna speaks this verse, in Chapter 8 (Akshara Brahma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 8.1 in daily life?
When a teacher uses words you do not understand, ask plainly, as Arjuna does. Honest questions are the start of real learning.
Reflected on verse 8.1?
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