Chapter 8 · The Imperishable Absolute

अर्जुनArjuna speaks

Text 8.1

अर्जुन उवाच किं तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते अधियज्ञ: कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभि:

arjuna uvācha kiṁ tad brahma kim adhyātmaṁ kiṁ karma puruṣhottama adhibhūtaṁ cha kiṁ proktam adhidaivaṁ kim uchyate adhiyajñaḥ kathaṁ ko ’tra dehe ’smin madhusūdana prayāṇa-kāle cha kathaṁ jñeyo ’si niyatātmabhiḥ

Recitation · Text 8.1
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Word-for-Word Śabda-Artha (29 words)

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Purport Overview & Key Insights

Arjuna asks the definitional questions the previous chapter left hanging: what is that brahman, what is the self, what is action? He is not changing the subject — he is refusing to let the terms stay decorative.

✨ Devotional Takeaway:He refuses to let the terms stay decorative, and asks for definitions.