Bhagavad Gita BG 8.11
Chapter 8, Verse 11 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः । यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं संग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ॥
yad aksharam veda-vido vadanti vishanti yad yatayo vita-ragah yad icchanto brahmacaryam caranti tat te padam sangrahena pravakshye
Meaning
That which the knowers of the Veda call the Imperishable; that which the disciplined (yati) who are free from passion enter; that which those who desire it practice brahmacharya — that state I will declare to you briefly.
Understanding
A triple description of the goal using three kinds of seekers: (1) Veda-vido — the knowers of Veda who call it 'akshara' (the Imperishable). (2) Yatayo vita-ragah — the disciplined ascetics, free from passion (vita = free from; raga = passion), who actually enter it. (3) Those who icchanto (desiring it) caranti brahmacharya (practice brahmacharya — the life of continence in the service of Brahman). All three point to the same padam (state, destination). Tat sangrahena pravakshye — 'that I shall declare briefly.' The promised brevity (sangrahena) signals a high-concentration teaching follows (v12-14 on OM and the yogic method of departure).
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अक्षरम् | aksharam | the Imperishable (a + kshara = not perishable); also the syllable OM |
| वेदविदः | veda-vidah | knowers of the Veda, those who have realized the Vedic teaching |
| यतयः | yatayah | the disciplined ones, the ascetics, those who strive |
| वीतरागाः | vita-ragah | free from passion/attachment (vita = free from, raga = passion) |
| ब्रह्मचर्यम् | brahma-caryam | brahmacharya — moving in Brahman, the disciplined life aimed at the Absolute |
| यत् | yat | which, what |
| अक्षरम् | akṣaram | the imperishable |
| वेद-विदः | veda-vidaḥ | the knowers of the Vedas |
| वदन्ति | vadanti | speak of, declare |
| विशन्ति | viśanti | enter into |
| यत् | yat | which |
| यतयः | yatayaḥ | the ascetics, the striving ones |
| वीत-रागाः | vīta-rāgāḥ | free from attachment |
| यत् | yat | which |
| इच्छन्तः | icchantaḥ | desiring, wishing for |
| चरन्ति | caranti | practice, observe |
| तत् | tat | that |
| ते | te | to you |
| पदम् | padam | abode, state |
| संग्रहेण | saṃgraheṇa | in brief, concisely |
| प्रवक्ष्ये | pravakṣye | I shall explain |
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