Aksara Brahma Yoga

Arjuna said: What is that Brahman, what is the supreme Self (adhyātma), what is action (karma), O Supreme Person (Puruṣottama)? And what is declared to be the domain of beings (adhibhūta), what is called the domain of gods (adhidaiva)?

How and who is the domain of sacrifice (adhiyajña) here in this body, O Slayer of Madhu (Madhusūdana)? And at the time of departure, how are you to be known by those of self-controlled minds?

The Blessed Lord (Śrī Bhagavān) said: The imperishable (akṣara) is the supreme Brahman, its own-nature (svabhāva) is called the supreme Self (adhyātma). The creative offering which causes the origin and development of beings, is known as action (karma).

The domain of beings (adhibhūta) is the perishable nature, and the Person (puruṣa) is the domain of gods (adhidaiva). I Myself am the domain of sacrifice (adhiyajña) here in the body, O best of the embodied ones (dehabhṛtāṃ vara).

And at the time of the end, remembering Me alone, having released the body, He who departs, he goes to My state of being (madbhāva); there is no doubt in this.

Or whatever state of being he remembers when he abandons the body at the end, To that very one he goes, O son of Kunti (Kaunteya), always transformed into that state of being.

Therefore, at all times remember Me and fight! With mind and understanding (buddhi) fixed on Me, you will come to Me alone, without doubt.

With a mind disciplined by the yoga of practice (abhyāsayoga), not wandering to anything else, To the Supreme Divine Person (Puruṣa) he goes, O son of Pritha (Pārtha), continuously meditating.

He who remembers the seer, the ancient, the ruler, smaller than the atom, The supporter of all, of unthinkable form, sun-colored, beyond the darkness,

At the time of departure, with an unmoving mind, disciplined with devotion (bhakti) and with the power of yoga, Having fully established the vital breath (prāṇa) between the eyebrows, he goes to that Supreme Divine Person (Puruṣa).

That which the knowers of the Veda call the Imperishable (akṣara), which the ascetics (yatayaḥ) freed from passion enter, Desiring which they practice the vow of celibacy (brahmacarya), that state I will briefly declare to you.

Having restrained all the gates of the body, and having confined the mind in the heart, Having placed his vital breath (prāṇa) in the head, established in yogic concentration (dhāraṇā),

Uttering the one-syllable Brahman, 'Om', and remembering Me, He who departs, abandoning the body, he goes to the supreme goal.

With a mind on no other, constantly he who remembers Me everyday, For him I am easy to attain, O son of Pritha (Pārtha), for the constantly disciplined yogi.

Having come to Me, rebirth, which is the impermanent abode of sorrow, The great souls (mahātmānaḥ) do not attain, having reached the highest perfection (saṃsiddhi).

Up to the world of Brahma, all worlds are subject to return, O Arjuna; But having come to Me, O son of Kunti (Kaunteya), rebirth does not exist.

An extent of a thousand ages (yugas), which they know as the day of Brahma, And a night ending in a thousand ages, those men are the knowers of day and night.

From the unmanifest, all manifestations come forth at the coming of the day; At the coming of the night, they dissolve, into that very thing called the unmanifest.

This very multitude of beings, having come into existence again and again, dissolves Helplessly at the coming of the night, O son of Pritha (Pārtha), and comes forth at the coming of the day.

But beyond that, there is another state of being, unmanifest, eternal, beyond that unmanifest, Which, among all beings perishing, does not perish.

The unmanifest is called the imperishable (akṣara), they call that the supreme goal; Having attained which they do not return, that is My supreme abode.

That Supreme Person (Puruṣa), O son of Pritha (Pārtha), is attainable by unswerving devotion (bhakti), Within whom all beings abide, by whom all this is pervaded.

But at what time to non-return, and also to return, yogis Departing go, that time I will declare, O best of the Bharatas (Bharatarṣabha).

Fire, light, day, the bright half of the month, the six months of the sun's northern course; Departing then, they go to Brahman, the men who know Brahman.

Smoke, night, and the dark half of the month, the six months of the sun's southern course; There, the yogi attaining the lunar light, returns.

For these two paths, the light and the dark, are thought to be eternal for the world. By the one, he goes to non-return; by the other, he returns again.

Knowing these two paths, O son of Pritha (Pārtha), no yogi is bewildered. Therefore, at all times, be disciplined in yoga (yogayukta), O Arjuna.

In the Vedas, in sacrifices, and in austerities (tapas), and in gifts, whatever fruit of merit is prescribed, The yogi passes beyond all that, having known this, and he goes to the supreme, primal abode.