Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 8 · Akshara Brahma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 8.28 वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव
श्लोक 8.28
वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव
दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम् ।
अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा
योगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम् ॥
vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva
dāneṣu yatpuṇyaphalaṃ pradiṣṭam |
atyeti tatsarvamidaṃ viditvā
yogī paraṃ sthānamupaiti cādyam ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
वेदों, यज्ञों, तपों और दान से जो भी पुण्य फल बताया गया है, इस रहस्य को जानने वाला योगी उन सबसे आगे निकल जाता है और सनातन परम धाम को प्राप्त होता है।
Meaning in English
Whatever merit is declared to come from the Vedas, sacrifices, austerities and charity - the yogi who knows this goes beyond all of it and reaches the supreme, primal abode.
Bhagavad Gita 8.28 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| वेदेषु | vedeṣu | in study of the Vedas |
| यज्ञेषु | yajñeṣu | in sacrifices |
| तपःसु | tapaḥsu | in austerities |
| च एव | ca eva | and also |
| दानेषु | dāneṣu | in gifts of charity |
| यत् पुण्यफलम् | yat puṇya-phalam | whatever fruit of merit |
| प्रदिष्टम् | pradiṣṭam | is declared |
| अत्येति | atyeti | goes beyond |
| तत् सर्वम् | tat sarvam | all that |
| इदम् विदित्वा | idam viditvā | having known this |
| योगी | yogī | the yogi |
| परम् स्थानम् | param sthānam | the supreme abode |
| उपैति | upaiti | attains |
| च आद्यम् | ca ādyam | and primal |
Explanation
Whatever fruit of merit is promised for Vedic study, sacrifices, austerities and charity, the yogi who knows this teaching goes beyond all of it and reaches the supreme, primal abode. Knowledge of God carries one further than all religious merit.
The chapter closes by setting this knowledge above all the traditional sources of religious merit. Vedic study, ritual, austerity and giving bring good results, but those results are limited and lead back to the world. Shankara says the knowledge meant is the full teaching of the seven questions answered in this chapter. Ramanuja reads it as knowledge of the Lord's greatness, which brings the highest goal. The verse does not reject good works; it says their true end is the knowledge and devotion that carry one beyond them.
भावार्थ
वेदों के पाठ, यज्ञ, तप और दान का जो पुण्यफल बताया गया है, इस तत्त्व को जानकर योगी उन सबका अतिक्रमण कर जाता है और आदि परम धाम को प्राप्त होता है।
Living it today
Keep doing good works, but do not stop at counting merit. Let them lead you towards understanding and love, which go further.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 8.28?
Whatever fruit of merit is promised for Vedic study, sacrifices, austerities and charity, the yogi who knows this teaching goes beyond all of it and reaches the supreme, primal abode. Knowledge of God carries one further than all religious merit.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 8.28?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 8 (Akshara Brahma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 8.28 in daily life?
Keep doing good works, but do not stop at counting merit. Let them lead you towards understanding and love, which go further.
Reflected on verse 8.28?
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