Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 28 (BG 8.28)

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Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 28 — Meaning & Commentary | Live Gita

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वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव
दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम् |
अत्येति तत्सर्वमिदं विदित्वा
योगी परं स्थानमुपैति चाद्यम् ||८-२८||

vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva dāneṣu yatpuṇyaphalaṃ pradiṣṭam . atyeti tatsarvamidaṃ viditvā yogī paraṃ sthānamupaiti cādyam ||8-28||

Whatever fruit of merit is declared (in the scriptures) to accrue from (the study of) the Vedas, (the performance of) sacrifices, (the practice of) austerities, and gifts beyond all this goes the Yogi, having known this; and he attains to the Supreme Primeval (first or ancient) Abode.

In simple words

Krishna closes the chapter: "The yogi who knows all of this goes far beyond whatever merit comes from studying scriptures, performing rituals, practicing austerities, or giving charity. That yogi reaches the very first, most ancient dwelling place of the divine."

Word-by-word meanings

वेदेषुin the Vedasयज्ञेषुin sacrificesतपःसुin austeritiesचandएवalsoदानेषुin giftsयत्whateverपुण्यफलम्fruit of meritप्रदिष्टम्is declaredअत्येतिgoes beyondतत्thatसर्वम्allइदम्thisविदित्वाhaving known

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

Swami Sivananda

8.28 वेदेषु in the Vedas? यज्ञेषु in sacrifices? तपःसु in austerities? च and? एव also? दानेषु in gifts? यत् whatever? पुण्यफलम् fruit of merit? प्रदिष्टम् is declared? अत्येति goes beyond? तत् that? सर्वम् all? इदम् this? विदित्वा having known? योगी the Yogi? परम् Supreme? स्थानम् abode? उपैति attains? च and? आद्यम् primeval (first? ancient).Commentary The glory of Yoga is described in this verse. Whatever meritorious effect is declared in the scriptures to accrue from the proper study of the Vedas? from the performance of sacrifices properly? from the practice of austerities -- above all these rises the Yogi who rightly understands and follows the teaching imparted by Lord Krishna in His answers to the seven estions put by Arjuna? and who meditates on Brahman. He attains to the Supreme Abode of Brahman Which existed even in the beginning (primeval)? and is the first or ancient.Idam Viditva Having known this. Having known properly the answers given by the Lord to the seven estions put by Arjuna at the beginning of this chapter.(This chapter is known by the name Abhyasa Yoga also.)Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita? the science of the Eternal? the scripture of Yoga? the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna? ends the eighth discourse entitledThe Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman. ,

Swami Chinmayananda

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

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Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

Swami Sivananda

Swami Chinmayananda

Here, Lord Krishna emphasizes that any person possessing even a measure of spiritual aptitude should practice meditation. For the fruits of merit spoken of in the scriptures—those gained through the study of the Vedas, the performance of sacrifice, austerity, and charity—are attained by the yogi. Moreover, the Lord stresses with particular force that the yogi transcends even these fruits; that is, he attains the supreme fruit. Through the practice of meditation, the integration of one's being can be accomplished with far greater ease and swiftness—a hundred times over—than through the aforementioned means of sacrifice and the like. Yet here we proceed with the understanding that the seeker of meditation possesses both the necessary discernment and detachment. Through continuous, disciplined meditation, these too may be further developed. Thus, when the yogi attains through meditation the fruit of selfless action and worship, and maintains the continuity of his practice, he advances toward the highest summit of success. In the end, having reached My supreme abode—the primordial, imperishable Person—he returns to the world no more. Thus concludes the Eighth Chapter, named the Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman, from the Bhagavad Gita Upanishad—the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, the science of Brahman and yoga. In this manner, the Eighth Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita Upanishad—the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, embodying the science of Brahman and yoga—named the Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman, comes to completion. The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman means the path to the attainment of the imperishable Brahman. After answering the questions posed by Arjuna at the beginning of this chapter, Lord Krishna, moved by His divine inspiration, has described how those who remember the Supreme Person at the time of departure attain the infinite. He has instructed Arjuna to face the challenges of life's struggles with skill and wisdom, remembering the Divine.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8, Verse 28 (BG 8.28) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

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