Bhagavad Gita BG 8.21
Chapter 8, Verse 21 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अव्यक्तोऽक्षर इत्युक्तस् तमाहुः परमां गतिम् । यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥
avyakto 'kshara ity uktas tam ahuh paramam gatim yam prapya na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama
Meaning
The Unmanifest called the Imperishable — that is said to be the supreme destination. Having reached which, they do not return. That is My supreme abode.
Understanding
The supreme destination named: avyakto akshara — the Unmanifest that is Imperishable. This is the paramam gatim (supreme destination). The defining characteristic: yam prapya na nivartante (having reached which, they do not return — the state of non-return, no more rebirth). Tat dhAma paramam mama — that is MY supreme abode (dhama). Not a place external to Krishna but Krishna's own being — the supreme, the parama, the highest. This verse closes the chapter's cosmological journey by pointing to the goal.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अव्यक्तः | avyaktah | the Unmanifest |
| अक्षरः | aksharah | the Imperishable |
| परमां गतिम् | paramam gatim | the supreme destination |
| न निवर्तन्ते | na nivartante | they do not return (no rebirth) |
| धाम | dhama | abode, home, dwelling, light (the supreme dwelling) |
| अव्यक्तः | avyaktaḥ | the unmanifest |
| अक्षरः | akṣaraḥ | the indestructible |
| इति | iti | thus |
| उक्तः | uktaḥ | is called, is spoken of |
| तम् | tam | that |
| आहुः | āhuḥ | they call |
| परमाम् | paramām | supreme |
| गतिम् | gatim | destination, goal |
| यम् | yam | which, whom |
| प्राप्य | prāpya | having attained |
| न | na | not |
| निवर्तन्ते | nivartante | they return |
| तत् | tat | that |
| धाम | dhāma | abode, realm |
| परमम् | paramam | supreme |
| मम | mama | My |