Chapter 8, Verse 1
अर्जुन उवाच | किं तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम | अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥1॥
arjuna uvāca | kiṁ tadbrahma kimadhyātmaṁ kiṁ karma puruṣottama | adhibhūtaṁ ca kiṁ proktamadhibaivaṁ kimucyate || 1 ||
"Arjuna said: O Supreme Person, what is Brahman? What is the self (Adhyatma)? What is action (Karma)? What is the physical manifestation (Adhibhuta), and what is the divine manifestation (Adhidaiva)?"
Key Insight:
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 8.1 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us through 8.1 that true peace is found when we align our actions with Dharma.
Detailed Meaning
At the conclusion of Chapter 7, Krishna introduced several profound metaphysical terms. Arjuna, acting as the ideal seeker, begins Chapter 8 by asking for precise definitions of these terms. He seeks to bridge the gap between hearing sacred vocabulary and attaining conceptual clarity, which is essential for spiritual practice and remembering the Divine at the time of death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core message of Gita 8.1?
Arjuna said: O Supreme Person, what is Brahman? What is the self (Adhyatma)? What is action (Karma)? What is the physical manifestation (Adhibhuta), and what is the divine manifestation (Adhidaiva)?