I will briefly tell you that imperishable state, which the knowers of the Vedas call imperishable, which the detached ascetics enter, and which seekers follow through celibate discipline.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 8.11
Hindi · हिन्दी
वेदवेत्ता लोग जिसको अक्षर कहते हैं, वीतराग यति जिसको प्राप्त करते हैं और साधक जिसकी प्राप्तिकी इच्छा करते हुए ब्रह्मचर्यका पालन करते हैं, वह पद मैं तेरे लिये संक्षेपसे कहूँगा ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
यत्that whichअक्षरम्imperishableवेद-विदःknowers of the Vedasवदन्तिcallविशन्तिenterयत्whichयतयःasceticsवीत-रागाःfree from desireयत्whichइच्छन्तःseekingब्रह्मचर्यम्celibate disciplineचरन्तिpracticeतत्thatतेto youपदम्stateसंग्रहेणbrieflyप्रवक्ष्येI will speak
Read literallythat which · imperishable · knowers of the Vedas · call · enter · which · ascetics · free from desire · which · seeking · celibate discipline · practice · that · to you · state · briefly · I will speak
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the mind from pursuit of experience to release of craving as the condition for deeper realization.
Krishna says he will briefly describe the imperishable state that Vedic knowers speak of, detached ascetics enter, and disciplined seekers approach through celibate practice.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, with Arjuna still caught between collapse and action, Krishna turns from battlefield duty to the final aim beyond death. He names the imperishable state that sages describe, and says he will explain it plainly before teaching the method to reach it.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You are staring at the message that could change your life, but you keep refreshing instead of answering. The thing that matters most often arrives only when craving stops driving the hand.
The takeaway
“The deepest goal is not grabbed by wanting more, but by letting wanting fall away.”
Krishna says he will briefly describe the imperishable state that Vedic knowers speak of, detached ascetics enter, and disciplined seekers approach through celibate practice.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 8.11?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Akshara Brahma Yoga" (The Imperishable Absolute).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 8.11?
Verse 11 sits in Chapter 8 of the Bhagavad Gita — Akshara Brahma Yoga, "The Imperishable Absolute". The chapter has 28 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 8.11 matter today?
You are staring at the message that could change your life, but you keep refreshing instead of answering. The thing that matters most often arrives only when craving stops driving the hand.
It shifts the mind from pursuit of experience to release of craving as the condition for deeper realization.
What this verse means
Krishna says he will briefly describe the imperishable state that Vedic knowers speak of, detached ascetics enter, and disciplined seekers approach through celibate practice.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, with Arjuna still caught between collapse and action, Krishna turns from battlefield duty to the final aim beyond death. He names the imperishable state that sages describe, and says he will explain it plainly before teaching the method to reach it.
Why this verse still matters
You are staring at the message that could change your life, but you keep refreshing instead of answering. The thing that matters most often arrives only when craving stops driving the hand.
“The deepest goal is not grabbed by wanting more, but by letting wanting fall away.”
Explore related themes: vairagya (51 verses), moksha (34 verses), akshara (12 verses)