Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 8 · Akshara Brahma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 8.3 अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते
श्लोक 8.3
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते ।
भूतभावोद्भवकरो विसर्गः कर्मसंज्ञितः ॥
śrībhagavānuvāca |
akṣaraṃ brahma paramaṃ svabhāvo'dhyātmamucyate |
bhūtabhāvodbhavakaro visargaḥ karmasaṃjñitaḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
श्रीभगवान ने कहा: परम अक्षर (अविनाशी) तत्व ब्रह्म है। अपना स्वभाव, अर्थात जीवात्मा, अध्यात्म कहलाता है। प्राणियों को उत्पन्न करने वाला सृजन-त्याग कर्म कहलाता है।
Meaning in English
The Blessed Lord said: The imperishable, the Supreme, is Brahman. Its presence as one's own essential nature is called adhyatma. The creative offering that brings beings into existence is called action (karma).
Bhagavad Gita 8.3 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| श्रीभगवान् उवाच | śrī-bhagavān uvāca | the Blessed Lord said |
| अक्षरम् | akṣaram | the imperishable |
| ब्रह्म | brahma | Brahman |
| परमम् | paramam | supreme |
| स्वभावः | svabhāvaḥ | one's own essential nature |
| अध्यात्मम् उच्यते | adhyātmam ucyate | is called adhyatma |
| भूतभावोद्भवकरः | bhūta-bhāva-udbhava-karaḥ | that which brings beings into existence |
| विसर्गः | visargaḥ | the creative offering, the outflow |
| कर्मसंज्ञितः | karma-saṃjñitaḥ | is known as karma |
Explanation
The Lord answers: Brahman is the supreme Imperishable. One's own inner nature is called adhyatma. The creative outpouring that brings beings into existence and sustains them is known as karma, action. In short, Krishna defines three of Arjuna's terms in a single line.
Krishna answers Arjuna's terms in order, briefly and precisely. Akshara, the imperishable, gives the chapter its name. Shankara takes svabhava as the inner Self present in each body, and visarga as the Vedic offering into the fire, which in turn produces rain, food and life. Ramanuja reads svabhava as the individual soul together with its subtle conditioning, and karma as the act that leads to embodiment. Tilak and Aurobindo see visarga as the vast creative movement of nature, of which all our actions are a part.
भावार्थ
श्री भगवान ने कहा — परम अक्षर (अविनाशी) तत्त्व ब्रह्म है। अपना स्वभाव अर्थात् जीवात्मा अध्यात्म कहलाता है। प्राणियों के भाव को उत्पन्न करने वाला जो त्याग या सृजन है, उसे कर्म कहा जाता है।
Living it today
See your own deepest nature as something imperishable, and your actions as part of a larger creative flow. It changes how small irritations look.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 8.3?
The Lord answers: Brahman is the supreme Imperishable. One's own inner nature is called adhyatma. The creative outpouring that brings beings into existence and sustains them is known as karma, action. In short, Krishna defines three of Arjuna's terms in a single line.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 8.3?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 8 (Akshara Brahma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 8.3 in daily life?
See your own deepest nature as something imperishable, and your actions as part of a larger creative flow. It changes how small irritations look.
Reflected on verse 8.3?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.