Bhagavad Gita — Akshara Brahma Yoga, Shloka 17

Akshara Brahma Yoga

Devanagari script

सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तमहर्यद्ब्रह्मणो विदुः । रात्रिं युगसहस्रान्तां तेऽहोरात्रविदो जनाः ॥ ८.१७ ॥

Transliteration

sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ | rātriṁ yuga-sahasrāntāṁ te ’ho-rātra-vido janāḥ || 8.17 ||

Translation

Those who know that Brahmā’s day lasts for a thousand yugas, and that his night too ends after a thousand yugas—such people truly know the principle of day and night.

Gita Press Meaning

ब्रह्मा का एक दिन हजार युगों तक का होता है और एक रात भी हजार युगों की होती है—जो लोग इसे जानते हैं, वे ही दिन-रात के तत्त्व को जाननेवाले हैं।

Critical Edition Meaning

Those who know day and night understand that Brahmā’s day lasts a thousand yugas, and his night also ends after a thousand yugas.

Comparative Note

यह श्लोक सांख्य-पुराणिक काल-मान (yuga-scale cosmology) से संगत बैठता है; कुछ आधुनिक व्याख्याएँ इसे प्रतीकात्मक रूप से ‘दीर्घ सृष्टि-प्रलय चक्र’ के संकेत के रूप में पढ़ती हैं, न कि गणितीय खगोल-निरूपण के रूप में।

Word by Word

• सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तम्: up to (the limit of) a thousand yugas
• Root: सहस्र-युग-पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)

• अहः: day
• अहः: Karma
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• यत्: which
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• विदुः: know
• Root: √विद् (जानने)

• रात्रिम्: night
• रात्रिम्: Karma
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)

• युगसहस्रान्ताम्: ending with a thousand yugas (i.e., of the measure of a thousand yugas)
• Root: युग-सहस्र-अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)

• ते: those
• ते: Karta
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• अहोरात्रविदः: knowers of day and night
• Root: अहोरात्र-विद् (प्रातिपदिक)

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)

Speakers

• Krishna
• Arjuna

Primary Concepts

• Kāla (time)
• Yuga
• Cosmic cycles
• Brahmā
• Pralaya

Key Themes

• Vast cosmological time
• Cyclic creation
• Perspective on impermanence

FAQs

Psychological significance?

Expands the time-horizon, relativizing personal concerns and encouraging detachment from short-term anxieties.

Metaphysical meaning?

Introduces cyclic cosmology in which creation and dissolution occur on immense temporal scales.

Contextual relevance?

Prepares for the next verses describing manifestation and dissolution across Brahmā’s day and night.

Modern Application?

Useful as a contemplative reminder of long-term cycles—supporting patience and humility.