Fire, daylight, the bright fortnight, and the six months of the northward course: those who depart then, knowing the supreme reality, go to the supreme reality.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 8.24
Hindi · हिन्दी
जिस मार्गमें प्रकाशस्वरूप अग्निका अधिपति देवता, दिनका अधिपति देवता, शुक्लपक्षका अधिपति देवता, और छः महीनोंवाले उत्तरायणका अधिपति देवता है, शरीर छोड़कर उस मार्गसे गये हुए ब्रह्मवेत्ता पुरुष पहले ब्रह्मलोकको प्राप्त होकर पीछे ब्रह्माजीके साथ ब्रह्मको प्राप्त हो जाते हैं ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
अग्निःfireज्योतिःlightअहःdayशुक्लःbrightषण्मासाsix monthsउत्तरायणम्northward courseतत्रthereप्रयाताःhaving departedगच्छन्तिgoब्रह्मthe supreme realityब्रह्मविदःknowers of the supreme realityजनाःpeople
Read literallyfire · light · day · bright · six months · northward course · there · having departed · go · the supreme reality · knowers of the supreme reality · people
Understanding the verse
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Fire, daylight, the bright fortnight, the northern half-year: Krishna names the bright path that knowers of Brahman take.
Those who leave the body during an auspicious path of light and know the supreme reality reach that supreme reality.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna turns from battle duty to the final question: how the knower of the supreme reality passes beyond return. This verse names the bright path of departure.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You sit beside a hospital bed, signing a document you never wanted to sign. The mind wants certainty, but the teaching points to the quality of consciousness at the threshold, not the panic around it.
The takeaway
“Those who know Brahman and leave by the bright path reach Brahman.”
Those who leave the body during an auspicious path of light and know the supreme reality reach that supreme reality.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 8.24?
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 8.24?
Verse 24 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 8.24 matter today?
You sit beside a hospital bed, signing a document you never wanted to sign. The mind wants certainty, but the teaching points to the quality of consciousness at the threshold, not the panic around it.
Fire, daylight, the bright fortnight, the northern half-year: Krishna names the bright path that knowers of Brahman take.
What this verse means
Those who leave the body during an auspicious path of light and know the supreme reality reach that supreme reality.
Context & commentary
Krishna turns from battle duty to the final question: how the knower of the supreme reality passes beyond return. This verse names the bright path of departure.
What it looks like today
You sit beside a hospital bed, signing a document you never wanted to sign. The mind wants certainty, but the teaching points to the quality of consciousness at the threshold, not the panic around it.
“Those who know Brahman and leave by the bright path reach Brahman.”
Explore related themes: akshara (12 verses)