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Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 8

The Imperishable Absolute

Akṣara Brahma Yoga

Questions about what endures, and about the moment of death.

Bhagavad Gītā, Chapter 8 (traditional text)

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The story for Chapter 8 — The Imperishable Absolute hasn’t been filmed yet. Everything below — the text, the verses and the reflections — is ready to read.

Story

What happens

Arjuna asks what is meant by brahman, by the self, by action and by sacrifice. The answers turn on what does not perish, and on the direction of attention — what a person holds in mind at the last is continuous with what they have practised holding in mind throughout.

Key ideas

What this chapter turns on

  • The imperishable
  • Death
  • Attention

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Verses from this chapter

Verses for this chapter haven’t been added to the library yet. Only sourced text is published here.

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In plain language

Explanation — written by Frenly Divine, not scripture

Arjuna asks a series of definitional questions. Krishna answers with the imperishable, and speaks of attention at the end of life.

Reflect

Something to sit with

  • What has your attention been practising?
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