यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति
विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागा: |
यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति
तत्ते पदं संग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये || 11||
yad akṣharaṁ veda-vido vadanti
viśhanti yad yatayo vīta-rāgāḥ
yad ichchhanto brahmacharyaṁ charanti
tat te padaṁ saṅgraheṇa pravakṣhye
yat—which; akṣharam—Imperishable; veda-vidaḥ—scholars of the Vedas; vadanti—describe; viśhanti—enter; yat—which; yatayaḥ—great ascetics; vīta-rāgāḥ—free from attachment; yat—which; ichchhantaḥ—desiring; brahmacharyam—celibacy; charanti—practice; tat—that; te—to you; padam—goal; saṅgraheṇa—briefly; pravakṣhye—I shall explain
Translation:
I will now briefly describe to you that state which those who know the Vedas call the Imperishable, and into which enter the sannyāsis, self-controlled and freed from attachment, and in desire for which seekers lead the life of continence.
Commentary:
The Lord says that he would declare the Supreme briefly. The Supreme has no end as no words can fully describe it, so the Lord gives the very essence of the Vedas and the worship of the Supreme as the simple single syllable OM-Pranava.
The Vedas declare that Brahman alone is Eternal. Everything else is transitory and changing. It is this Reality that man has to understand and realise. Knowledge of all other things cannot confer the bliss of immortality. In Hinduism, every child when he starts his education begins with the sacred word OM, which is Brahman. So whatever else a man may learn and understand, he should not neglect the knowledge of the Imperishable Brahman. The knowers of Vedas, after a great deal of thought, have arrived at the highest goal Brahman, and thus attained absolute peace and bliss.
Who can enter this state? This question is also answered here. Only those who are free from attachment and desire, free from lust and hatred, can enter the Brahmi State. Let no man complain that he cannot attain that state. The key to this consummation is in his hands. It is purity. Let the mind be purged of all impure tendencies, and that very moment Brahman is realised.
Those who practise severe austerities, restraining the senses and controlling the mind are qualified and fit to realise Brahman.
Celibacy is the bedrock for all spiritual development. Those who aspire for the highest should be free from sensuality in thought, word and deed. They should live and move in Brahman, the pure and blessed untainted by anything else.
The Lord uses the emphatic term ‘Pravakshye’ to indicate the importance of Brahma-Vidya which he teaches to His disciple and through him to all mankind.
Question: What is the state of Paramatma?
Answer: He is imperishable.
Question: Who knows Him?
Answer: The knowers of Veda.
Question: Who enters that state?
Answer: Those who are freed from desire and who practise celibacy.
Question: Then, What is the way to attain Him?
Answer: Destruction of the Vasanas and the practice of Brahmacharya.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 8 🔻 (28 Verses)
