Bhagavad Gita BG 8.3
Chapter 8, Verse 3 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
श्रीभगवानुवाच । अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते । भूतभावोद्भवकरो विसर्गः कर्मसंज्ञितः ॥
shri bhagavan uvaca aksharam brahma paramam svabhavo 'dhyatmam ucyate bhuta-bhav-odbhava-karo visargah karma-samjnitah
Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: The imperishable (Akshara) is the supreme Brahman. Its manifestation in the individual is called Adhyatma. The creative force that causes the arising of beings is called Karma.
Understanding
Krishna's threefold answer to the first three questions: (1) Brahman = akshaRam paramam (the Imperishable Supreme — from a-kshara: not-perishable). (2) Adhyatma = svabhava (one's own inherent nature — the self-aspect, the 'inner-self principle' as the Brahman expressing through the individual). (3) Karma = visargah bhuta-bhava-udbhava-karo (the visarga — the creative release/offering that causes the arising of beings and their states). Karma as cosmic creative principle, not just individual action-result.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अक्षरम् | aksharam | imperishable, undying (a+kshara = not-perishable) |
| परमम् | paramam | supreme, highest, ultimate |
| स्वभावः | svabhavah | one's own nature, inherent nature |
| भूतभावोद्भव | bhuta-bhava-udbhava | the arising of beings and their states |
| विसर्गः | visargah | creative release, the cosmic offering/outpouring |
| श्री भगवान् उवाच | śrī bhagavān uvāca | the blessed Lord said |
| अक्षरम् | akṣaram | the imperishable, indestructible |
| ब्रह्म | brahma | Brahman, the Absolute |
| स्वभावः | svabhāvaḥ | one's own nature, inherent nature |
| अध्यात्मम् | adhyātmam | the self |
| उच्यते | ucyate | is called |
| भूत-भाव-उद्भव-करः | bhūta-bhāva-udbhava-karaḥ | which causes the origin of beings |
| विसर्गः | visargaḥ | the act of offering, emanation |
| कर्म-संज्ञितः | karma-saṃjñitaḥ | known as karma (action) |