In the path ruled by smoke, night, the dark fortnight, and the six months of the southern course, the yogi who departs there returns after reaching the moon's light.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 8.25
Hindi · हिन्दी
जिस मार्गमें धूमका अधिपति देवता, रात्रिका अधिपति देवता, कृष्णपक्षका अधिपति देवता और छः महीनोंवाले दक्षिणायनका अधिपति देवता है, शरीर छोड़कर उस मार्गसे गया हुआ योगी सकाम मनुष्य चन्द्रमाकी ज्योतिको प्राप्त होकर लौट आता है अर्थात् जन्ममरणको प्राप्त होता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
धूमःsmokeरात्रिःnightतथाandकृष्णःthe dark fortnightषण्मासाsix monthsदक्षिणायनम्the southern courseतत्रthereचान्द्रमसम्lunarज्योतिःlightयोगीthe yogiप्राप्यhaving reachedनिवर्ततेreturns
Read literallysmoke · night · and · the dark fortnight · six months · the southern course · there · lunar · light · the yogi · having reached · returns
Understanding the verse
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It shifts attention from vague spirituality to seeing the difference between a path that frees and a path that repeats.
A person who departs through this darker path reaches a lunar realm and returns again to mortal life.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna is still answering Arjuna on Kurukshetra, explaining the two post-death courses. After naming the bright path that leads beyond return, he names the darker path: one that ends in return. The point is to distinguish release from recurrence.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You choose what feels easier because it is familiar, then wonder why you are back in the same pattern again. Some choices carry you forward; others quietly send you in circles.
The takeaway
“Not every departure leads beyond return. Some paths circle back into the same struggle.”
A person who departs through this darker path reaches a lunar realm and returns again to mortal life.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 8.25?
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 8.25?
Verse 25 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 8.25 matter today?
You choose what feels easier because it is familiar, then wonder why you are back in the same pattern again. Some choices carry you forward; others quietly send you in circles.
It shifts attention from vague spirituality to seeing the difference between a path that frees and a path that repeats.
What this verse means
A person who departs through this darker path reaches a lunar realm and returns again to mortal life.
Context & commentary
Krishna is still answering Arjuna on Kurukshetra, explaining the two post-death courses. After naming the bright path that leads beyond return, he names the darker path: one that ends in return. The point is to distinguish release from recurrence.
Why this verse still matters
You choose what feels easier because it is familiar, then wonder why you are back in the same pattern again. Some choices carry you forward; others quietly send you in circles.
“Not every departure leads beyond return. Some paths circle back into the same struggle.”