Bhagavad Gita BG 8.26
Chapter 8, Verse 26 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते । एकया यात्यनावृत्तिम् अन्ययावर्तते पुनः ॥
shukla-krishne gati hy ete jagatah shashvate mate ekaya yaty anavrttim anyaya vartate punah
Meaning
These two paths of the world — the bright and the dark — are considered eternal. By one, one goes to non-return; by the other, one returns again.
Understanding
The summary verse of the two-path teaching. Shukla-krishne (the bright and the dark — the two paths). Ete gati (these two movements/paths). Jagatah shashvate mate (considered eternal in/for the world — these are not temporary arrangements but the permanent structure of how souls move). Ekaya (by one — the bright path) yaty anavrttim (one goes to non-return — a-nAvRtti: no coming-back). Anyaya (by the other — the dark path) vartate punah (one returns again). A crisp, complete statement of the two options facing every soul. The Gita's practical message is clear: aim for the bright path — the path of non-return.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| शुक्लकृष्णे | shukla-krishne | the bright and the dark (the two paths, lit. white and black) |
| गती | gati | paths, movements, directions (dual form) |
| शाश्वते | shashvate | eternal, everlasting, permanent |
| अनावृत्तिम् | anavrttim | non-return, the state of not coming back |
| आवर्तते | avartate | returns, comes back around, revolves |
| शुक्ल-कृष्णे | śukla-kṛṣṇe | the bright and dark (paths) |
| गती | gatī | the two paths |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| एते | ete | these |
| जगतः | jagataḥ | of the world |
| शाश्वते | śāśvate | eternal, permanent |
| मते | mate | considered, held to be |
| एकया | ekayā | by one (path) |
| याति | yāti | goes, attains |
| अनावृत्तिम् | anāvṛttim | non-return |
| अन्यया | anyayā | by the other |
| आवर्तते | āvartate | returns |
| पुनः | punaḥ | again |