Verse 8.11
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः | यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं सङ्ग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ||११||
Transliteration (IAST)
yad akṣaraṁ veda-vido vadanti viśanti yad yatayo vīta-rāgāḥ | yad icchanto brahmacaryaṁ caranti tat te padaṁ saṅgraheṇa pravakṣye ||11||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
That which the knowers of the Vedas call the Imperishable, which the self-controlled and passion-free ascetics enter, and desiring which they practice celibacy - that goal I shall briefly explain to you.
Commentary
Krishna introduces the teaching on Brahman realization through yoga. Shankaracharya explains that the 'akshara' here refers to Om, the syllable that represents Brahman. The three qualifications mentioned - Vedic knowledge, renunciation of desire, and brahmacharya - indicate the prerequisites for this highest realization.