Bhagavad Gita BG 8.23
Chapter 8, Verse 23 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
यत्र काले त्वनावृत्तिं आवृत्तिं चैव योगिनः । प्रयाता यान्ति तं कालं वक्ष्यामि भरतर्षभ ॥
yatra kale tv anavrttim avrttim caiva yoginah prayAtA yanti tam kalam vakshyAmi bharatarsabha
Meaning
I shall now declare the time (conditions) at which yogis depart and do not return, and (conditions at which they) return, O Best of the Bharatas.
Understanding
The introduction to the teaching of the two paths. Krishna will describe the kAla (time/conditions) at which a yogi departs (prayAta) to anavrtti (non-return — liberation) versus avrtti (return — rebirth). This is the ancient tradition of the two paths: the path of the flame/light (uttarayana) and the path of the smoke/dark (dakshina-ayana). The teaching addresses the question of post-death destinations based on the qualities of consciousness and conditions at the time of death.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अनावृत्तिम् | anavrttim | non-return, no rebirth (liberation) |
| आवृत्तिम् | avrttim | return, rebirth |
| प्रयाताः | prayAtAh | those who have departed, the dying |
| यान्ति | yanti | go, reach, attain |
| काल | kala | time, condition, circumstance |
| यत्र | yatra | at which time, to which |
| काले | kāle | at the time |
| तु | tu | but |
| अनावृत्तिम् | anāvṛttim | non-return, no rebirth |
| आवृत्तिम् | āvṛttim | return, rebirth |
| च | ca | and |
| एव | eva | also |
| योगिनः | yoginaḥ | the yogis |
| प्रयाताः | prayātāḥ | having departed |
| यान्ति | yānti | go to, attain |
| तम् | tam | that |
| कालम् | kālam | time, period |
| वक्ष्यामि | vakṣyāmi | I shall explain |
| भारतर्षभ | bhārataṛṣabha | O best of the Bharatas |