Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 11

English Translation

I shall speak to you briefly of that immutable Goal which the knowers of the Vedas declare, into which enter the deligent ones free from attachment, and aspiring for which people practise celibacy.

Detailed Commentary

[In the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth verses, there is an elaborate description of the Nirguna-Nirakara Paramatma, which was mentioned in the twenty-ninth verse of the seventh chapter.] 'Yad Aksharam Vedavido Vadanti' -- That which the knowers of the Vedas call Akshara – the Nirguna-Nirakara (attributeless, formless absolute) – which never perishes, which always remains uniform and constant, and which in the third verse of this very chapter was called 'Aksharam Brahma Paramam' (the supreme imperishable Brahman), that very Tattva (essence) is here described by the name 'Akshara'. 'Vishanti Yad Yatayo Vitaragah' -- Those Yatayas (ascetics) who are free from attachment (Vitaragah), whose minds are devoid of desire, whose hearts are completely pure, and who possess an intense longing to attain the supreme, unparalleled Tattva, such Yatayas enter into that Tattva. 'Yad Ichchhanto Brahmacharyam Charanti' -- Those whose sole aim is the attainment of Paramatma, and who have no other goal; those who observe Brahmacharya (continence) with the desire for Paramatma, keeping all their senses disciplined and indulging in no worldly objects of enjoyment. 'Tatte Padam Sangrahena Pravakshye' -- That Pada (state, abode) – that Tattva – which is the ultimate fruit of all spiritual practices, I will declare to you concisely and clearly. To state concisely means that the Tattva, described as extraordinary in the scriptures, is not easily attainable by all; its glory has been proclaimed. I will explain how that Pada (Tattva) is attained. To state clearly means that I will explicitly describe how those who worship Brahma attain that very Brahma. Connection -- To describe the method, along with its fruit, of attaining that Nirguna-Nirakara Tattva at the time of death, the next two verses are presented.