Bhagavadgeeta - Adhyaya 8

Bhagavadgeeta - Adhyaya 8

Chapter #: 8
Chapter Name: Akshara Brahma Yoga ( ಅಕ್ಷರಬ್ರಹ್ಮಯೋಗಃ)
Total verses (slokas) in this chapter: 28
Adhyaya - 8, Akshara Brahma Yoga Chapter of Gita (here after referred as BG) - Arjuna urges Krishna to tell him about the nature of the Self, God, and action. ... Krishna explains that true freedom is "union with the deathless," or God. He defines action as the Self's creative power that "causes the whole world to be." Human beings will enter whatever state they are in at the moment of their death.

BG:
This entire chapter has answers to these 8 questions from Arjuna:
Arjun said: O Supreme Lord, what is Brahman (Absolute Reality), what is adhyātma (the individual soul), and what is karma? What is said to be adhibhūta, and who is said to be Adhidaiva? Who is Adhiyajña in the body and how is He the Adhiyajña? O Krishna, how are You to be known at the time of death by those of steadfast mind?
ಕಿಂ ತದ್ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಕಿಮಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಂ ಕಿಂ ಕರ್ಮ ಪುರುಷೋತ್ತಮ ।
ಅಧಿಭೂತಂ ಚ ಕಿಂ ಪ್ರೋಕ್ತಮಧಿದೈವಂ ಕಿಮುಚ್ಯತೇ ॥ 8-1॥

ಅಧಿಯಜ್ಞಃ ಕಥಂ ಕೋಽತ್ರ ದೇಹೇಽಸ್ಮಿನ್ಮಧುಸೂದನ ।
ಪ್ರಯಾಣಕಾಲೇ ಚ ಕಥಂ ಜ್ಞೇಯೋಽಸಿ ನಿಯತಾತ್ಮಭಿಃ ॥ 8-2॥

At the conclusion of chapter seven Lord Krishna introduced terms like adhibhuta identifying with the material substratum, adhiyatma identifying with embodied beings and adhidaivas identifying with the demigods. These subjects are essential and must be well comprehended by an aspirant who seeks to become a qualified devotee of the Supreme Lord. They will be further elucidated in detail in this chapter. Since Lord Krishna had introduced these terms only briefly, Arjuna was curious to learn more about theses terms and how they relate to the Supreme Lord as well as to himself and so he raises seven queries in the first two verses. He wanted to know such things like if the term adhidaivam referred specifically to Indra the celestial chief or did it applied equally to all the demigods and also what exactly is included in adhibhutas.

Krishna says in below verse:The Supreme Indestructible Entity is called Brahman; one’s own self is called adhyātma. Actions pertaining to the material personality of living beings, and its development are called karma, or fruitive activities.
ಅಕ್ಷರಂ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಪರಮಂ ಸ್ವಭಾವೋಽಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮಮುಚ್ಯತೇ ।
ಭೂತಭಾವೋದ್ಭವಕರೋ ವಿಸರ್ಗಃ ಕರ್ಮಸಂಜ್ಞಿತಃ ॥ 8-3॥

MK:
ಧರ್ಮವೆಂಬುದದೇನು? ಕರ್ಮವೆಂಬುದದೇನು? ।
ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಾಂಡಕಥೆಯೇನು? ಜೀವಿತವಿದೇನು? ॥
ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವೆಲ್ಲಕು ಮೂಲ ಮಾಯೆ ತತ್ಕೃತಿಜಾಲ ।
ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವೇ ಜೀವನವೊ – ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ॥ 97 ||

dharma embudu enu karma embudu enu
brahmaanda kathe enu jeevitavu idenu
brahma ellakku moola maaye tat kruti jaala  
Brahmavee jeevanavo - Mankutimma

"What is the meaning of Dharma? What is the meaning of Karma? What is the

story of this universe? What is the meaning of this life? The Creator is the cause of everything. The universe around us is an illusion that he has created. He is Dharma. He weaves the story of this universe and the one who infuses life in us. He is Life - Mankutimma"

ನಶ್ವರಾಕೃತಿ ನಾಮಮಯ ವಿಶ್ವವಾರ್ಧಿಯಿದು।
ಶಾಶ್ವತಬ್ರಹ್ಮದುಚ್ವಾಸ ಘನಬಿಂದು ।।
ಪ್ರಶ್ವಸಿತದಲೆಗಳನೆ ಪಿಡಿದು ಗುರಿಯರಿತೀಜೆ ।
ವಿಶ್ವಮೂಲಾಪ್ತಿಯಲ – ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ।। 890 ||

nashvara aakruti naamamaya vishva vaaridhi idu
shaasvata brahmada uchhvaasa ghana bindu 
prasvasitada aley gaLane pididu guri aritu eeje
vishwa moolaaapti yala - Mankutimma

"This entire world is full of names and forms by our perception but this huge ocean like universe is just an atom of his breath . when the presence of wave makes us believe the presence of the ocean, so should we seek the creator through his very own creation - Mankutimma"

BG:
Krishna says : "Those who relinquish the body while remembering Me at the moment of death will come to Me. There is certainly no doubt about this."
ಅನ್ತಕಾಲೇ ಚ ಮಾಮೇವ ಸ್ಮರನ್ಮುಕ್ತ್ವಾ ಕಲೇವರಮ್ ।
ಯಃ ಪ್ರಯಾತಿ ಸ ಮದ್ಭಾವಂ ಯಾತಿ ನಾಸ್ತ್ಯತ್ರ ಸಂಶಯಃ ॥ 8-5॥

MK:
ವೇದಾಂತವಾಕ್ಯಗಳ ನಮಕಾನುವಾಕಗಳ ।
ಕೇದಾರಗೌಳ ಮಣಿರಂಗಾರಭಿಗಳ ।।
ನಾದಂಗಳಲಿ ಮನವ ಬೆರೆಸಿ ನೀನುತ್ಕ್ರಮಿಸೆ ।
ಸಾಧನವೊ ಮುಕ್ತಿಗದು – ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ।। 931 ||

vedanta vaakyagaLa namakaanuvaakagaLa
kedaara gauLa manirangaarabhigaLa
naadangaLali manava berasi neenu utkramise 
saadhanavo muktigadu - Mankutimma

"Oh Mankutimma, if you transcend this world (leave your body) whilst immersing your mind in Vedantic aphorisms, Vedic chants and their interpretations, listening to the sonorous sounds of Kedaragaula, Manirangu and Arabhi, that is your path to liberation!"

In above verse DVG hints that one should have both atma shudhhi (only when you can think of vendanta) and mana shuddhi (so you can immerse in music without materialistic worries) when he departs this life. When he can keep himself in that pure state, he is sure to reach God.

BG:
Krishna says: one can reach such a state in death, only when he is continuously living such a life with practice. - "With practice, O Parth, when you constantly engage the mind in remembering Me, the Supreme Divine Personality, without deviating, you will certainly attain Me."
ಅಭ್ಯಾಸಯೋಗಯುಕ್ತೇನ ಚೇತಸಾ ನಾನ್ಯಗಾಮಿನಾ ।
ಪರಮಂ ಪುರುಷಂ ದಿವ್ಯಂ ಯಾತಿ ಪಾರ್ಥಾನುಚಿನ್ತಯನ್ ॥ 8-8॥

MK:
ಮನವನಾಳ್ವುದು ಹಟದ ಮಗುವನಾಳುವ ನಯದೆ।
ಇನಿತಿನಿತು ಸವಿಯುಣಿಸುಸವಿಕಥೆಗಳಿಂದೆ ॥
ಅನುಕೂಲಿಸದು ಬರಿಯ ಕೂಗು ಬಡಿತಗಳಿನದು।
ಇನಿತಿತ್ತು ಮರಸಿನಿತು – ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ।। 375 ||

manava naaLvudu haTada maguva naaLuva nayade
initanitu saviyuNisu savikathegaLinde
anukUlisadu bariya kUgu baDitagaLinadu
initittu marasinita - mankutimma

"Like how one cajoles a stubborn cranky child through sweet candies, short stories and deviates the kid to forget his initial want, so does one need to tame his mind by yielding to it a little to please and staying firm on others to make it forget eventually. Just like hitting or punishing the child wont fetch good results, being stubborn with one's own mind to control it would never work - Mankutimma"

BG:
Krishna says: - When you have these 3 gunas - Samate , Samyama, Kshma - then your buddhi will be in a state of control, when buddhi is in control - you can overcome mamate. once you lose mamate - you gain Jnana.
The words sarva-dvārāṇi-sanyamya mean “controlling the passages that enter the body.”  This implies restricting the senses from their normal outgoing tendencies.  The words hṛidi nirudhya mean “locking the mind in the heart.”  This denotes directing devotional feelings from the mind to the akṣharam imperishable Supreme Lord enthroned there.  The words yoga-dhāraṇām mean “uniting the consciousness with God.”  This refers to meditating upon Him with complete attention.
ಸರ್ವದ್ವಾರಾಣಿ ಸಂಯಮ್ಯ ಮನೋ ಹೃದಿ ನಿರುಧ್ಯ ಚ ।
ಮೂರ್ಧ್ನ್ಯಾಧಾಯಾತ್ಮನಃ ಪ್ರಾಣಮಾಸ್ಥಿತೋ ಯೋಗಧಾರಣಾಮ್ ॥ 8-12॥

MK:
ಸಮತೆಸಂಯಮಶಮಗಳಿಂ ಭವವನೋಲಗಿಸೆ ।
ಸಮನಿಪುದು ಮತಿಯ ಹದವಾತ್ಮಾನುಭವಕೆ ।।
ಮಮತೆಯಳಿವಿಂ ಜ್ಞಾನ; ಪಾಂಡಿತ್ಯದಿಂದಲ್ಲ ।
ಶ್ರಮಿಸಿಳೆಯ ಗಾಣದಲಿ – ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ।। 704 ||

Samate samyama shama bhavavanu olagise
samanipudu matiya hadavu aatma anubhavake
Mamate aliye jnaana Pamditya dindalla
shramisu ileya gaanadali - Mankutimma

"One should service the world with Equanimity, have restraint and inner control of self and learn to temper his mind for experience of ‘aatma’ (which is a wave of parramatma). Only Dissolution of attachment gets you wisdom and not the profiency. Work hard for those things in this grind of life - Mankutimma"

ಬರಿ ಭಕ್ತಿ ಬರಿಕರ್ಮ ಬರಿತರ್ಕ ದೊರಕಿಸದು ।
ಪರಮಾತ್ಮದರ್ಶನವ ; ಬೇಕದಕೆ ತಪಸು ।।
ಪರಿಪೂರ್ಣ ಜೀವನಾನುಭವತಾಪದಿ ಮತಿಯು ।
ಪರಿಪಕ್ವವಾಗಲದು – ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ।। 810 ||

bari bhakti bari karma bari tarka dorakisadu 
paramaatma darshanava beku adake tapassu 
paripoorna jeevana anubhava taapadi matiyu 
paripakva vaagaladu - Mankutimma

"Mere devotion, mere living and mere logic won’t lead to vision of God. One needs the severity of a meditation to reach him. Only when man endures the hardships in his experience of life does his mind ripen and mature, to experience Paramatma - Mankutimma"

BG:

Krishna says: "I shall now describe to you the different paths of passing away from this world, O best of the Bharatas, one of which leads to liberation and the other leads to rebirth. Those who know the Supreme Brahman, and who depart from this world, during the six months of the sun’s northern course, the bright fortnight of the moon, and the bright part of the day, attain the supreme destination. The practitioners of Vedic rituals, who pass away during the six months of the sun’s southern course, the dark fortnight of the moon, the time of smoke, the night, attain the celestial abodes. After enjoying celestial pleasures, they again return to the earth. These two, bright and dark paths, always exist in this world. The way of light leads to liberation and the way of darkness leads to rebirth."
ಯತ್ರ ಕಾಲೇ ತ್ವನಾವೃತ್ತಿಮಾವೃತ್ತಿಂ ಚೈವ ಯೋಗಿನಃ ।
ಪ್ರಯಾತಾ ಯಾನ್ತಿ ತಂ ಕಾಲಂ ವಕ್ಷ್ಯಾಮಿ ಭರತರ್ಷಭ ॥ 8-23॥

ಅಗ್ನಿರ್ಜ್ಯೋತಿರಹಃ ಶುಕ್ಲಃ ಷಣ್ಮಾಸಾ ಉತ್ತರಾಯಣಮ್ ।
ತತ್ರ ಪ್ರಯಾತಾ ಗಚ್ಛನ್ತಿ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವಿದೋ ಜನಾಃ ॥ 8-24॥

ಧೂಮೋ ರಾತ್ರಿಸ್ತಥಾ ಕೃಷ್ಣಃ ಷಣ್ಮಾಸಾ ದಕ್ಷಿಣಾಯನಮ್ ।
ತತ್ರ ಚಾನ್ದ್ರಮಸಂ ಜ್ಯೋತಿರ್ಯೋಗೀ ಪ್ರಾಪ್ಯ ನಿವರ್ತತೇ ॥ 8-25॥

ಶುಕ್ಲಕೃಷ್ಣೇ ಗತೀ ಹ್ಯೇತೇ ಜಗತಃ ಶಾಶ್ವತೇ ಮತೇ ।
ಏಕಯಾ ಯಾತ್ಯನಾವೃತ್ತಿಮನ್ಯಯಾವರ್ತತೇ ಪುನಃ ॥ 8-26॥

But he also says in below verse - real yogi need not worry about all those above (23-26) and he can still reach god. yogi performs no actions with a desire to attain any rewards on Earth or even to reach the heavenly spheres by which desiring one is guaranteed rebirth again from another womb. Therefore the conclusion is to remain always attentive and established in yoga and traverse forever this ever changing, precarious material existence. 

Krishna says : "Yogis who know the secret of these two paths, O Parth, are never bewildered. Therefore, at all times be situated in Yog (union with God)."
ನೈತೇ ಸೃತೀ ಪಾರ್ಥ ಜಾನನ್ಯೋಗೀ ಮುಹ್ಯತಿ ಕಶ್ಚನ ।
ತಸ್ಮಾತ್ಸರ್ವೇಷು ಕಾಲೇಷು ಯೋಗಯುಕ್ತೋ ಭವಾರ್ಜುನ ॥ 8-27॥

MK:
ಹರ್ಮ್ಯಾಗ್ರಕೇರಿ ಸೋಪಾನದಿನತೀತನಹೆ ।
ನಿರ್ಮಮತೆಗೇರಿ ಕರ್ಮಾತೀತನಪ್ಪೆ ।।
ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಪದದಿಂದ ಧರ್ಮಾಧರ್ಮಗಳ ನಿಯಮ ।
ನಿರ್ಮಾಲ್ಯವಾಗುವುದು – ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ।। 802 ||

Hamyaagrake eri sopaana dinateetanahe 
nirmama mamatege eri karma ateeta nappe
Brahmapadadinda dharma adharmagaLa niyama 
nirmaalya vaaguvudu - Mankutimma

"Once you reach the terrace of your home through the steps, there is little to worry on the steps as you have already overcome them. Similar is the one who has broken the attachment with his worldly existence in which he has already overcome his karma (doings of life). He is hence beyond the effects of his actions. Once ‘Brahmapada’ is reached, right and wrong acts is irrelevant and they all are just revered offerings to God - Mankutimma"