Verse 8.26
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
शुक्लकृष्णे गती ह्येते जगतः शाश्वते मते | एकया यात्यनावृत्तिमन्ययावर्तते पुनः ||२६||
Transliteration (IAST)
śukla-kṛṣṇe gatī hy ete jagataḥ śāśvate mate | ekayā yāty anāvṛttim anyayāvartate punaḥ ||26||
Word-by-Word Meanings
śukla-kṛṣṇe-bright and dark
gatī-paths
jagataḥ-of the world
śāśvate-eternal
ekayā-by one
anāvṛttim-no return
anyayā-by the other
āvartate punaḥ-returns again
Translation
These two paths - the bright and the dark - are considered eternal for the world. By one, a person goes to non-return; by the other, one returns again.
Commentary
Krishna summarizes the two eternal paths. Madhva explains that these paths have existed since beginningless time and will continue as long as creation endures. The bright path (shukla gati) leads to liberation, while the dark path (krishna gati) leads to rebirth. The choice depends on one's spiritual attainment at the time of death.
Themes
karmamokshatime