अव्यक्तोऽक्षर इत्युक्तस्तमाहुः परमां गतिम् ।
यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥
यं प्राप्य न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
उसीको अव्यक्त और अक्षर कहा गया है और उसीको परमगति कहा गया है तथा जिसको प्राप्त होनेपर जीव फिर लौटकर नहीं आते, वह मेरा परमधाम है ॥
English
That is called the unmanifest and the imperishable. It is the highest goal. Having reached it, one does not return. It is my supreme abode.
What this verse means
The highest reality is beyond change and form. Whoever reaches it does not come back to the cycle of repeated return.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is still frozen while Krishna explains what lies beyond all changing worlds. After describing the unmanifest and imperishable, Krishna names it his supreme abode: the final destination from which no one returns.
Why this verse still matters
You finally choose the harder right over the easier wrong, and something in you knows there is no going back. This verse speaks to that irreversible threshold.
The takeaway
There is relief in knowing that the deepest destination is permanent, not temporary.
Word-by-word translation
अव्यक्तः (unmanifest) / अक्षरः (imperishable) / इति (thus) / उक्तः (called) / तम् (that) / आहुः (they call) / परमाम् (highest) / गतिम् (goal) / यम् (which) / प्राप्य (having attained) / न (not) / निवर्तन्ते (return) / तत् (that) / धाम (abode) / परमम् (supreme) / मम (my)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga — The Imperishable Absolute, which contains 28 verses.
Explore related themes: akshara (12 verses), avyakta (10 verses)