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Shloka 26

विभूति-योगः (Vibhūti-yoga) — Exemplary Manifestations as a Contemplative Index

शुक्लकृष्णे गती होते जगत: शाश्वते मते । एकया यात्यनावृत्तिमन्यया5<वर्तते पुन:,क्योंकि जगतके ये दो प्रकारके--शुक्ल और कृष्ण अर्थात्‌ देवयान और पितृयान मार्ग सनातन माने गये हैं।* इनमें एकके द्वारा गया हुआ“--जिससे वापस नहीं लौटना पड़ता, उस परम गतिको प्राप्त होता है और दूसरेके द्वारा गया हुआः फिर वापस आता है अर्थात्‌ जन्म-मृत्युको प्राप्त होता है

arjuna uvāca | śukla-kṛṣṇe gatī hī ete jagataḥ śāśvate mate | ekayā yāty anāvṛttim anyayā vartate punaḥ ||

เพราะสำหรับโลกนี้ มีคติสองประการ—สว่างและมืด (เทวะยานะและปิตฤยานะ)—ซึ่งถือว่าเป็นนิรันดร์. ผู้ไปโดยทางหนึ่ง ย่อมถึงภาวะไม่หวนคืน; ผู้ไปโดยอีกทางหนึ่ง ย่อมกลับมาอีก เข้าสู่วงจรเกิดและตาย.

शुक्लकृष्णेthe white and the black (two paths)
शुक्लकृष्णे:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशुक्ल + कृष्ण
Formfeminine, nominative, dual
गतीtwo courses/ways
गती:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगति
Formfeminine, nominative, dual
होतेare / exist
होते:
TypeVerb
Rootभू (हो)
Formpresent, 3rd, dual, ātmanepada
जगतःof the world
जगतः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootजगत्
Formneuter, genitive, singular
शाश्वतेin the eternal (doctrine)
शाश्वते:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootशाश्वत
Formneuter, locative, singular
मतेin the view/opinion
मते:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमत
Formneuter, locative, singular
एकयाby one (of them)
एकया:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootएक
Formfeminine, instrumental, singular
यातिgoes/attains
याति:
TypeVerb
Rootया
Formpresent, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada
अनावृत्तिम्non-return (state)
अनावृत्तिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअनावृत्ति
Formfeminine, accusative, singular
अन्ययाby the other (one)
अन्यया:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य
Formfeminine, instrumental, singular
आवर्ततेreturns/revolves back
आवर्तते:
TypeVerb
Rootआ + वृत्
Formpresent, 3rd, singular, ātmanepada
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः

अजुन उवाच

A
Arjuna
T
the bright path (śukla-gati / devayāna)
T
the dark path (kṛṣṇa-gati / pitṛyāna)
J
jagat (the world of beings)

Educational Q&A

The verse distinguishes two enduring ‘paths’ or destinies: one leading to anāvṛtti (non-return, liberation from rebirth), and the other leading to punaḥ-āvṛtti (return), i.e., continued saṃsāra. Ethically, it frames human life as oriented toward choices and disciplines that culminate either in liberation or in repeated worldly becoming.

In the Bhīṣma Parva dialogue setting, Arjuna speaks while seeking clarity about ultimate outcomes and the order governing beings. He articulates a doctrinal point: the tradition recognizes two cosmic routes—bright and dark—by which beings depart, resulting either in final release or in return to birth and death.